Bemberg Announces City Council Bid

FAYETTEVILLE — A local poet, musician and University of Arkansas senior became the first person to formally announce he’ll challenge Matthew Petty, Ward 2’s alderman, in November’s City Council election.

“I think I have the knowledge of Fayetteville and the love for this city to make sure we grow in the right way,” Martin Bemberg said Wednesday.

Bemberg, 24, is a lifelong resident. He’s a Spanish and German major at the University of Arkansas and works as a foreign language tutor.

Bemberg said his thirst for knowledge would suit him well on the council.

“The number one value in life, I think — other than love — is that we never stop learning,” he said. “I love learning, and I love listening. And all these people want me to run, so it sounds like a pretty good job for me.”

If elected, Bemberg said he would like to end paid parking in the downtown entertainment district and expand the trail system, particularly by adding east-west connections and finding more ways to keep trails safe at night.

Another issue in the next four years will be finding a balance between development near campus and preserving neighborhoods, Bemberg said. Building in developed areas rather than on the outskirts of town serves the university’s growing student population and helps nearby business, he said.

“But at the same time, we have to respect the people who bought homes in that neighborhood and expected a particular zoning,” he said.

Resident Kathy Short taught Bemberg in fifth grade at Springdale’s T.G. Smith Elementary School, where she said Bemberg’s mother was a counselor. The two have kept in touch since, and Short said Bemberg is an outstanding candidate for public office.

“He’s extremely creative, extremely intelligent and has an open mind,” Short said. “I think those are three things that would be a good addition to the council.”

Short said the fact Bemberg is young isn’t a knock on his resume. She said he would bring fresh ideas and a different perspective to the council.

Petty, 28, is the only one of four aldermen up for re-election this year who has said he plans to run again.

“I really do like serving,” Petty said. “It took me a while — not just to learn how government works, but also to learn how to be persuasive.

“I think I’ve really done a good job of that. I have some things I still want to get done and hope to be able to do that in my second term.”

Brenda Boudreaux, Bobby Ferrell and Sarah Lewis all have said they’ll step down when their terms end in December.

Bemberg, who lived in the same split-level house as Petty in 2010, criticized Petty’s votes to prohibit smoking in bars and to implement the city’s paid parking system.

“I’m not focusing my campaign on Matt Petty,” he said. “I’m focusing my campaign on how to grow Fayetteville in the right way.”

The official filling period for the Nov. 6 election begins July 27.