Fayetteville chamber endorses Jordan for third term as mayor, makes city council endorsements

The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce on Thursday (Oct. 27) endorsed Mayor Lioneld Jordan for re-election. The chamber also announced endorsements for City Council seats, favoring two aldermen for re-election, choosing a challenger for another seat and supporting a planning commissioner in a contest for an open seat.

Jordan is seeking a third term as mayor. He is opposed by Tom Terminella, a real estate developer, and Ron Baucom, who works as a caregiver for his mother and at part-time jobs.

“Mayor Jordan’s experience on City Council and leadership as the mayor speaks volumes to his commitment to the residents of Fayetteville,” the chamber endorsement said. “His continued guidance will help provide businesses the tools they need to succeed and encourage responsible development across the city.”

Asked about the endorsement, Jordan told Talk Business and Politics the chamber has been “a great partner” with the city.

“We’ve worked with the chamber as a partner since I’ve been in office we’ve accomplished a lot of wonderful things together.”

Jordan said when he took office in 2009, he told chamber officials “if you can bring in the businesses, I’ll build the infrastructure for you.”

Jordan, Terminella and Baucom were invited to present their platforms at a forum on Oct. 20 sponsored by the chamber. Jordan appeared but Terminella and Baucom issued a joint news release 90 minutes before the event began announcing they would not attend. They said they didn’t believe the forum represented the most effective way to deliver their messages because “the forums are attended by a small percentage of Fayetteville voters, who, generally, have already decided their votes.”

At the chamber forum where he sat at the table alone, Jordan said “we wouldn’t be averaging a business a day if things were falling apart or everyone was going up north.” The notion that the city is losing businesses to Springdale and Benton County “is a bunch of hogwash,” he said, adding that “we’re the startup city of the South.”

Jordan said he supports managed development and “I don’t believe in anything goes.” The development permit process would move faster if the city didn’t have such provisions as streamside or hillside protections, he noted, “but you don’t want that.” He said he has met regularly with developers in recent years to discuss the permit process but that he wants to develop property “the Fayetteville way.”

In the news release announcing he wouldn’t participate in the chamber’s forum, Terminella said he was “running as the pro-business candidate.” In a blog post in August on his campaign website, Terminella said he’d heard from “entrepreneurs who don’t feel welcome in Fayetteville and choose to start their business elsewhere, home builders who have given up on building in Fayetteville due to the hostile climate in City Hall, small business owners who need to close down because smothering city regulations make it hard to thrive economically in Fayetteville.”

Baucom has campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility and “prioritizing the needs that will bring the most added value to our citizens.”

CITY COUNCIL SEATS
The chamber’s endorsements for council seats were:
• Ward 1
Paul Phaneuf, a book author and owner of Liberty Consulting LLC who is challenging Alderman Sarah Marsh in her bid for a second term. The chamber said Phaneuf “has exhibited a strong understanding of city government and expressed interest in working with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce to help promote and facilitate a strong business climate that will be beneficial to all residents.”

• Ward 2
Alderman Matthew Petty, who is seeking a third term and is challenged by Gary McHenry, a Washington County justice of the peace. The chamber said Petty “has displayed a high level of experience not only as an alderman but as a developer, knowledge which we believe will help lead Fayetteville towards addressing issues with the permitting process and streamlining development.”

• Ward 3
Tracy Hoskins, a Fayetteville Planning Commission member and real estate developer. He is seeking an open council seat contested by Sarah Bunch, who also served on the planning commission and is a real estate agent, and Ben Harrison, a youth ministry intern and member of the city’s civil rights commission. The chamber said Hoskins’ “goal of streamlining the permit and development process will ensure businesses in Fayetteville have the resources and help available in order for them to be successful.”

• Ward 4
Alderman Alan Long, who is seeking a second term on the council. He is challenged by Nathan Allen, a minister and missions consultant. The chamber said Long “has proven to be a strong leader who listens and clearly communicates with his constituents.”