Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker to seek sixth term

Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker announced Thursday afternoon he will seek a sixth term as mayor, and in doing so was critical of those who think the mayor should have an economic development background and critical of “faceless” groups who seek candidates to run for local positions.

Baker previously said he would not announce until March 2010, but rumors about his election plans forced his hand. He said he was “overwhelmed by the number of people” who encouraged him to seek reelection.

“I had not anticipated having to stand before the cameras in 2009 and make a declaration of political intentions,” Baker explained during his 2 p.m. press conference Thursday (Sept. 24). “I had thought that 2009 would go by and we would slide gently into 2010 and then we would be ready to face the political season … but, evidently, some very eager beavers jumped the gun and wanted to start a campaign 14 months before the actual election takes place.”

The only other person to announce for mayor is Sandy Sanders, who said Sept. 15 that  the next mayor should have a strong economic development background.

Baker, during the press conference, reiterated his complaint about Fort Smith’s form of city government, including his belief that the city manager be directly elected by the citizens instead of hired by the city’s seven elected city directors (The city has a manager-council form of government, with Baker indicating a mayor-council form is preferable.). However, Baker said, he would not actively seek a change in the form of government if reelected.

Baker said he would have more information about his campaign and positions by “mid-year” 2010.

As to Sanders’ statement about the mayor position requiring more focus on economic development, Baker reminded that the mayor’s position is ceremonial and city staff and the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce are responsible for job growth.

“Now, my would-be opponent says that the mayor should be a business person. That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. The mayor was never intended to be a business person, he was just to be a citizen, male or female, who would make the job what it was supposed to be. The thing about it is, knowledge of business is not a qualification for the job of mayor,” Baker said.

Continuing, Baker said the mayor also should be neutral, and criticized Sanders for using the chamber board room to make his announcement.

When told of Baker’s critique, Chamber President Paul Harvel said the chamber is neutral and many groups and individuals use the chamber board room each month.

“We’re 100% neutral. You know that. … He (Mayor Baker) could have used it (board room) today,” Harvel explained. Harvel has said the chamber is not likely to endorse a mayoral candidate.

Sanders said he never claimed the mayor should be a business person; he said the mayor should have business and economic development experience. Sanders said the mayor position can be more than just ceremonial because the right person may exert “political leadership” that encourages those in authority to pursue a particular policy.

“In these tough economic times, we definitely need a mayor with an economic development background and a background in business who knows how to get those (economic development) players together and support them,” Sanders explained.

Baker, in a comment that appeared to disparage the democratic tradition of political activity by groups or individuals sharing mutual self-interests, expressed displeasure with groups working behind the scenes to find candidates to run for the city’s elected positions.

“The sad part in our community is that there are faceless individuals, small groups that want to have a say in the running of our city. And so when they become displeased with individuals, or they don’t think that things are moving to their benefit, then they seek out candidates to run. They recruit individuals to be candidates against someone they want removed from office.”

Baker will have served 20 years as mayor when his term ends in 2010. Another term would have him serving as mayor for almost a quarter of a century.