Williams Vies For Fayetteville Ward 4 Seat

Williams
Williams

FAYETTEVILLE -- Robert Williams said he'll work to rein in public spending and retain manufacturing jobs if he's elected to replace outgoing Alderwoman Rhonda Adams.

Williams, 45, is one of seven candidates to file for Adams' Ward 4 seat.

Profile

Robert Williams

Fayetteville City Council

Ward 4, Position 1

Age: 45

Residency: Moved to Northwest Arkansas in 1985; Fayetteville resident for the past two years

Family: Unmarried, four children

Employment: Project manager, Milestone Construction

Education: Graduate, Farmington High School

Military Experience: None

Political Experience: None

A project manager with Milestone Construction in Springdale, Williams said he would bring a "common sense" approach to the council from "someone from the business world."

He was most critical Friday of aldermen's decision in past years to borrow from the city's reserve to pay for employee raises.

"Reserves should be for emergencies like ice storms and tornadoes," Williams said. "We shouldn't pay for planned expenditures out of the reserve fund."

Williams also mentioned recent layoffs at Superior Industries' Rogers plant and at Apex Tool Group's Springdale facility.

"We have a few plants in Fayetteville, and we have to find a way to keep those jobs here and grow jobs," he said. "We've got to work on a business-friendly environment to grow our business base."

Williams, like several other City Council candidates, came to the City Administration Building on Tuesday to oppose a contentious Civil Rights Administration ordinance. He didn't speak at the council meeting.

Ron Witherspoon, a friend of Williams, said Friday he thought Williams would make a good alderman.

"I know that he is of good character, and he has Fayetteville's interests at heart," Witherspoon said.

Williams moved to Farmington from California in 1985. He lived in Fayetteville and Springdale before moving back to Fayetteville about two years ago.

Williams faces Ray Boudreaux, Michael Collins, Craig Honchell, D'Andre Jones, John La Tour and Phillip McKnight in the Nov. 4 general election. Adams plans to move to Tampa, Fla., where her husband has accepted a job as dean of the Honors College at the University of South Florida.

If one of the seven candidates garners more than 50 percent of votes cast or wins at least 40 percent of votes and has 20 percent more votes than his closest opponent, he will become alderman. If neither of those conditions is met, a Nov. 25 run-off election between the top two vote-getters will be required.

Ward 4 encompasses a wide swath of west Fayetteville, including the Pratt Place Inn, Holt Middle School, Holcomb Elementary School, Razorback Golf Course, the city's West Side Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville.

Early voting for the Nov. 4 election begins Oct. 20.

NW News on 08/23/2014

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