Letters to the Editor

Fayetteville not easy; Jordan makes it work

I was employed by the city of Fayetteville for six years, under two mayoral administrations (three years each). I was in a position to interact directly with both of those mayors, with the City Council, top city staff management and hear directly from Fayetteville community members. That is why I feel compelled to share my experiences and opinions.

Fayetteville is an extremely diverse community -- much more than most people realize. Every day the city administration and the mayor must find a balance between opposing public demands. They must be able to make decisions and move our city forward in a way that is most beneficial to our community at-large. The mayor we choose sets the tone and direction.

There are people in Fayetteville -- right now -- who believe the city should restrict all new development until a larger percentage of our existing buildings are occupied. However, there are also those who believe the city should allow any new development that comes to the our city, regardless of the quality of the project, how it will impact those already living here and regardless of what it will cost the taxpayers to provide the required infrastructure to support that development.

There are people in Fayetteville who believe the city should not devote resources toward promoting our community. They don't want people to know we are one of the best places to live in the United States because they don't want more new people moving here. On the other hand, there are also people who believe the city should not devote resources to protecting our local heritage or retain our great quality of life, but focus entirely on bringing in new business, new development and new people.

The majority of Fayetteville people have a viewpoint somewhere in between the two extremes and I believe we co-exist pretty well.

Fayetteville is not easy. The needs of our community change and periodically the focus and strengths of our leadership must change with it. Past mayors remembered for leading our city in the right direction did so at a time when their strengths and priorities were needed in Fayetteville. That does not mean they would be as successful as mayor in Fayetteville today. We have changed -- our people, and our needs and values as a community. As such, we need a mayor that is appropriate for Fayetteville today.

We need a mayor who embraces the challenges of Fayetteville today, cares about the welfare of all our community members equally, believes in creating opportunities for everyone and above all respects and values our diversity. In this election, there is only one person who can do the job Fayetteville needs today. That person is Lioneld Jordan.

Julie McQuade-Heyes

Fayetteville