Former State Rep. Harold Copenhaver will vie to become next mayor in Jonesboro

Former Arkansas Representative Harold Copenhaver will challenge incumbent Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin for his job this fall.

Copenhaver, 55, exclusively told Talk Business & Politics he will lay out his plans for the city in the next two weeks. The plans will include his ideas on how to improve police pay, relieve congestion on city streets, how to grow the economy, and other issues facing Northeast Arkansas’ hub city. Specifics solutions are still being developed and details of those will be released soon, he said.

“We need to be more proactive than reactive … I think I’m the right guy to do that,” he said.

The former district 58 state rep will join an already crowded field in the mayoral race. Perrin, and three other challengers, Nathan Coleman, Amanda Dunavant, and Thomas Elwood, have filed in the non-partisan race, according to information from the Craighead County Clerk’s Office on Wednesday (Aug. 17). Copenhaver said he hoped to have his candidacy filed by Thursday.

In a released statement, Copenhaver said its time for the city to be “managed by a leader of integrity, who will focus on transparency while solving all the problems in our community.” Copenhaver didn’t level direct criticism against Perrin, or his policies, but said a change at city hall was needed. Many in the community and his own family members have approached him in recent months encouraging a run, he added.

In 2012, Copenhaver was elected to the state house as a Democrat, but narrowly lost his seat two years later. He’s been talking to Democrats, Republicans and city residents from both political spectrums who share common concerns, he said. The quality of life and an improved economy are at the top of the list, he said.

Copenhaver said he is willing to debate his opponents if a debate or debates can be scheduled, he said.

Copenhaver attended but did not graduate ASU and has lived in the area for 46 years and raised three children, with his wife, Kathleen. Two are ASU graduates, and the third child is seeking a degree, he said. Copenhaver works as the vice-president for business development at Centennial Bank, and said he will leave the bank in the coming weeks to focus on his campaign. If elected, Copenhaver said he hopes to foster deeper ties with ASU, one of the primary job providers and economic developers in the region, he said.

The former lawmaker worked 25 years in the insurance industry. He majored in business administration with a focus on agriculture business at ASU. He has also served on several boards and with other entities in the community. Should he be elected, his message to the citizenry in the city is simple, he said.

“I will always have an open door to guarantee the ideas and needs of the people of Jonesboro are heard,” he said.