Candidates Debate

FAYETTEVILLE — An event Wednesday at the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce gave residents one last chance to watch Dan Coody and Lioneld Jordan formally debate before early voting begins.

The two candidates for Fayetteville mayor discussed economic development, downtown parking, environmental sustainability and regional partnerships before taking several questions from an audience of about 50 people.

Kyle Kellams, KUAF news director, moderated Wednesday’s event. Coody and Jordan were both provided with advance copies of Kellams’ questions, which were developed by chamber officials.

Jordan and Coody opened with statements about jobs, the economy and financial management, issues both said are paramount in the four years ahead.

“We looked at a situation when I came into office where the economy was in really, really bad shape,” Jordan said.

Annual sales tax proceeds fell by nearly 5 percent — from $16.5 million to $15.7 million — in 2009, according to the city’s budget and research division. So far this year, sales tax numbers are up more than 5 percent compared to 2011.

“The city’s rebounded,” Jordan said. “But we’ve got to keep a good handle on the finances.”

Coody said his administration left the city in sound financial shape.

Unallocated money in the city’s general fund, often referred to as reserves, exceeded $9 million in 2008. That was well above a 60-day operating reserve city officials are required by ordinance to keep on hand. The 60-day operating reserve works out to about $5.7 million in 2012 terms, Paul Becker, Fayetteville finance director, said prior to Wednesday’s debate. General fund reserves have grown to more than $12 million this year.

Coody criticized Jordan for stashing away money that could have been used to stimulate the local economy.

“We’re taking the money and keeping it instead of reinvesting it into our future,” Coody said.

Coody said one initiative he’d take on if elected is repurposing the former Tyson Mexican Original building at Huntsville and Happy Hollow roads into some type of incubator for startup businesses. Coody negotiated a $1.1 million purchase of the old Tyson plant in 2004. Planned uses for the building at one point included a new fire station and joint fire and police command center.

Coody said local officials need to better capitalize on the University of Arkansas and its ability to draw research and technology firms to town.

“We need to be doing things in Fayetteville, Ark., that elevate us, that make Fayetteville what it is,” he said. “We have big ideas and big visions. We need to keep those big ideas and visions coming or we will shrink as a community.”

Jordan said his approach to economic development has been more regional than Coody’s.

Jordan said he meets regularly with mayors and chamber of commerce heads in Bentonville, Rogers and Springdale, and, he said, that group has traveled to Washington, D.C., every two years to lobby for projects of mutual interest.

Jordan also mentioned a partnership announced earlier this year with Mayor Sandy Sanders of Fort Smith. The two mayors agreed to advocate for a list of projects, including deepening the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System to facilitate more shipping along the Arkansas River.

“As the governor says, ‘A rising tide lifts all boats,’ and that’s what we’re doing,” Jordan said.

In response to a question from Evan Bukey, a former history professor at the University of Arkansas, both candidates said they would complete renovations to historic bridges on Lafayette and Maple streets. The project was part of a $65.9 million transportation improvement bond program Fayetteville voters approved in 2006.

Bukey said following the debate he was glad to see something will be done after decades of disrepair.

“I think that the debate was certainly much more intelligent, specific and civil than the presidential debate (Tuesday) and that people learned a lot,” Bukey said.