Truth-Telling Leads To Mayoral Pick

WHEN IT COMES TO LEADERSHIP AT CITY HALL, ‘IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT’

Local campaigning has started in earnest, especially now that interviews, panels, and debates have begun, so this is my 2 cents’ worth of opinion on one Fayetteville race.

I’ve known both mayoral candidates for about 20 years and have kept a close eye on them through several elections, in and out of numerous issues, and during countless speeches, council meetings, forums, and public functions. Any opinions I have at this point have been formed from experience with both, including being a donor to and a worker in their campaigns (at diff erent times, of course). Because friends and acquaintances have begun to ask me, “What about the mayoral race?” here is what I wish voters would consider.

What do you want in acity administrator and do you contrast that to what you want in a politician? For example, do you like to be romanced for your vote or do you prefer a straight shooter, who’ll tell you the facts surrounding diff erent topics even though you might not like what you hear?

Choosing for whom we vote is as much about us as it is about the candidate, so first we need to know ourselves and admit where our values and motivations lie. The noninvolved resident may want certain city amenities, but does not want to get too well-acquainted with city processes, which are sometimes messy (parking lots come to mind).

In contrast, some folks have great ideas for our town and also want to work to make them become reality.

Mayor Lioneld Jordan’s working vision, “Fayetteville Forward,” is the perfect avenue for them. (Search “How do you move a city forward?” on YouTube)

For the last 26 years, one issue or another has taken me to City Hall to stand before diff erent mayors and city councils of the time. It was not until Jordan took oft ce, however, that it seemed both mayor and council began to behave as if they are actually employees of the citizens. Jordan’s emphasis on “The People” may sound corny to some, but unless you’ve ever stood at the podium in front of that raised dais of political determiners - hat-in-hand, so to speak - hoping for agreement with your pointof view, you really haven’t got a clue what it’s like to deal with City Hall. (Note to aldermen candidates: Anyone running for oft ce should first be required to have been in that citizen position at least once.)

Because I like the dynamic of the citizenry being the real leadership of a community, Jordan’s equitable treatment of the public at the podium and elsewhere strongly appeals to me. I also like someone, who knows the history of issues and votes, and who will acknowledge when he’s been wrong from time to time. Jordan also does not suff er from revisionist history syndrome, leaving out parts that may not be flattering to him, nor does he blame others when things do not work out as hoped. He also has a dozen years of continuous experience, never missing acouncil meeting in his eight years as an alderman nor in his almost four years as mayor.

Another characteristic I seek in candidates is a “what you see is what you get” persona so I do not spend the entire election cycle trying to fi gure out who they really are at their core. This honesty is, in my definition at least, the basis of someone’s integrity.

As proof of that quality, especially since we do not always agree, I can say Lioneld Jordan has never lied to me. No matter what issues arise, it’s the constancy of that characteristic that matters most to me because integrity aff ects everything that happens to this city.

Evidently I’m not alone in appreciating the current mayor. The local Fraternal Order of Police took the political risk of endorsingJordan in 2008, their fi rst mayoral endorsement ever, and they are doing so again in 2012. The International Association of Fire Fighters has also endorsed Jordan both times. Seven of the eight current aldermen are on his supporters’ list, as are former council members Shirley Lucas, Kevin Santos, Ann Henry, Fred Vorsanger, Conrad Odom, Robert Reynolds and Nancy Allen, who is also his campaign manager.

We hillbillies are well known for cutting philosophically to the chase when we say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Our city is in good shape, folks. Let’s don’t mess that up.

FRAN ALEXANDER IS A FAYETTEVILLE RESIDENT WITH A LONGSTANDING INTEREST IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND AN OPINION ON ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE.

Opinion, Pages 13 on 09/30/2012

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