Jonesboro mayoral candidates square off at multiple forums in October

Jonesboro incumbent Mayor Harold Copenhaver and his three opponents have engaged in a series of debates in different forums throughout Northeast Arkansas’ hub city during the month of October. Challengers L.J. Bryant, Thomas Elwood and Jeremy Terrell are vying for the seat. A number of issues were broached at these debates and each of the candidates spent time explaining how they would tackle them.

One consistent issue raised by voters is crime. Copenhaver said his administration has done a lot to curb crime during the four years he’s been in office and statistically it is down this year, he added. Technology upgrades and pay increases for police officers are among the changes he’s made in recent years.

Jonesboro’s strategic place in the Delta – in between large cities such as Memphis, Little Rock and St. Louis – means it will have to deal with some criminal elements that are not directly connected to the city. He noted that 30% of crimes committed in the city are from perpetrators who don’t live in Jonesboro.

“We have addressed this … it’s a top priority every day,” Copenhaver said.

Bryant, who has been an alderman on the city council for seven years, fired back, noting that only five police officers have been hired in the last four years. Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott has stated that there is a gang problem among the city’s youth, he said.

During his campaign, he and his campaign staff and volunteers have knocked on over 9,000 doors, Bryant said. Crime is among the top issues for voters he has heard.

“The mayor won’t recognize … he won’t face the facts … I feel like we are stealing people’s watches and then telling them what time it is,” Bryant said. “We love to make excuses. The fact that 30% of the folks that commit crimes aren’t from here … what does that say about what we are doing to make it so appetizing that they want to come here and commit crime.”

Since he announced his run for mayor more than a year ago, Terrell said he’s been talking about crime. He recently went on a tour of the Craighead County Detention Center and it is filled to capacity every single day, he said. The criminals are aware the jail is full and they know there will be little if any consequences for their actions, he said.

Someone can break into your car tonight and the police won’t do anything, he added.

“My opponents here on the city council and the mayor didn’t talk about crime. They ignored it,” Terrell said. “It may be as bad as we’ve ever had it … at some point we have to stop kidding ourselves.”

Elwood, who first ran for mayor in 2016, noted that police officers revolted under then Mayor Harold Perrin seeking pay increases. The city doesn’t have its own jail and that is a problem, he added. People are often arrested and taken straight to the Detention Center and aren’t being vetted, he said.

“Jonesboro is growing and will continue to grow … you know you’re going to have more and more problems,” he said. “Until we get the facility, we cannot run an effective, modern police system.”

When asked about improving quality of life metrics in the city, Elwood responded without hesitation.

“I’m going to plant trees. That is quality of life,” Elwood said.

Increasing the number of trees and green spaces in the city will help with mosquito control and encourage more birds to live here, he said. Urban forestry will help with air quality as well, he added.

Terrell said there has been a lot of conversation about increasing the number of biking trails in the city, but he’s not sure if that’s the only thing that should be a priority. He noted that he’s an avid disc golfer.

If elected, he said he will work to expand and improve Craighead Forest, the city’s signature park. He said it’s already close but he would like to make a few changes like adding paddle boats for the lake and a place for target shooting.

“The only thing they talk about is bike paths. I don’t think bikers need $20 million worth of bike paths … I don’t think disc golfers deserve $20 million worth of disc golf. What I do believe is we need to spread that around,” he said.

When the subject of bike trails is broached, it doesn’t just impact hard core cyclists, Bryant said. Senior citizens, moms pushing strollers and others would benefit from expanded trails, he said. The obesity rate in the Delta is 41%, and opportunities to provide exercise options need to be seized upon.

Bryant said the city has to fund a comprehensive trail system and it needs to be done quickly. It will come from a mix of funds from the city, private donors, non-profits, grants and others.

“There’s an Andy Griffith component to this. People want to be out with one another. People want to have community. People want to know their neighbors,” he said. “The demand is there.”

When he was first elected, Copenhaver said one of his first priorities was building a park in eastern Jonesboro. Although the city has more than 20 parks, that area was lacking, he said. A $3 million park has finally been approved and funded.

The mayor noted that projects of this magnitude take time.

“I’m going to agree with so many aspects of the councilman (Bryant is saying) … we need to connect them (parks) with our trails and walkways. Obesity is an issue where you see less of it when you see more pathways and trails.”