Molly Rawn wins runoff for Fayetteville mayor

With 51% of the vote, Molly Rawn defeated Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan in a runoff Tuesday (Dec. 3), according to unofficial results. Rawn will start her term in January. The results show Rawn received 5,411 votes (51.14%), while Jordan received 5,169 votes (48.86%).

Rawn said she was excited about the runoff results. She said the voter turnout was good, and her supporters were motivated. She also wasn’t surprised by the results after being down by 10 points in the general election. She said it was “affirming.”

“Voters are ready for change,” she said. “They are ready for a new vision.”

Her top goals for her first term include continuing to discuss housing and how to make it more accessible and improving partnerships, such as those with the University of Arkansas and nonprofits.

“I want to be the mayor for everyone,” she said.

Jordan faced Rawn in the runoff after not receiving enough votes to win in the Nov. 5 general election. The race initially included four candidates. Of the total Nov. 5 vote, Jordan received 46.93% (16,649 votes), Rawn received 36.91% (13,095 votes), Tom Terminella received 12.39% (4,394 votes) and Adam Fire Cat received 3.78% (1,340 votes), official results show.

Jordan has been the mayor of Fayetteville since 2009 and is serving his fourth term. Mayoral terms are for four years. During his tenure as mayor, Fayetteville has won multiple awards, completed a library expansion project, created a housing assessment plan to meet population growth, adopted a parks master plan, secured a $25 million grant for trails and roads, built three fire stations and a police headquarters, and approved a $226 million bond issue for multiple infrastructure projects.

Rawn, a native Arkansan, has lived in Fayetteville since 2005. Since August 2016, she has served as CEO of Experience Fayetteville, the destination marketing organization for Fayetteville. She oversees a $4.8 million budget and manages 19 full-time staff. Rawn led the team that organized the 2022 Walmart UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships, the second time the event was hosted in the United States in the past 72 years.

She previously was director of development and communications for the Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville and managed the museum’s $28.5 million capital campaign to ensure its completion.

Rawn said her term as mayor starts the day of the first city council meeting in January, which is set for Jan. 7.