FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The race for the City of Fayetteville's Ward 1 position that was left empty after former Councilmember Sonia Harvey moved away is heating up, as four candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the vacant seat.
Early voting totals tell us that 339 residents have cast their votes ahead of schedule, almost twice as many as the special election for Ward 2 last year.
Where is Ward 1 in Fayetteville?
According to a map on the city's website, Ward 1 runs from the area around Lake Sequoyah all the way east toward Farmington and the Arkansas Air and Military Museum in the southern part of the city near Drake Field.
Who's Running?
David Phillips (left in photo)
Phillips has stated that he is a municipal attorney and avid cyclist. He also reportedly retired from the U.S. Army, where he served mainly in Europe with The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He says he was in the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Phillips, an NWA native, has lived in Fayetteville since 2006, and says that although "We are facing many challenges, I am eager to serve residents of Ward 1 and participate in taking Fayetteville into the future."
Phillips says, "I'm looking at maintaining some of the advances that city council and the mayor have already made and applying that into the future. What I'd like to do is address the issues of homelessness and the affordable housing crisis, but also the safety and security of the people in Ward One."
Katy Sager (center-left in photo)
Sager is a second-generation Fayetteville native who graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1995, the University of Arkansas in 1999, and the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2002.
In a statement, Sager notes that she has practiced law in NWA for over 20 years, focusing primarily on real estate, estate planning, and corporate contracts. Sager says that her "roots are deep in Fayetteville, and the fact that I chose to build a business and raise my children here shows I’m committed to the future of this beautiful city.”
Sager says that her focus as a prospective candidate would center around projects that improve the local economy, prioritize public safety, and improve infrastructure.
"My priorities for my campaign include Reviving quality education in Fayetteville, promoting economic vitality in our community, while protecting what makes Fayetteville unique, prioritizing public safety for all residents of Fayetteville; and Supporting the growing need for improved infrastructure in Ward 1," said Sager.
Bob Stafford (center-right in photo)
Stafford states that his priority list centers around making "Fayetteville an even better place for everyone." In this list, he names local housing affordability as his top priority, though he also lists equity, the fostering of a creative economy, the homelessness crisis, environmental issues, and infrastructure for non-vehicle transportation as subjects he hopes to tackle.
"What I want to do is I want to activate a South school corridor ... If we build that out, we can fit people in the growth that's coming. We can fit that in there and not disturb our existing neighborhoods," Stafford explained.
Stafford calls himself a "proud product of Fayetteville's Public Schools," and says that he uses his background in architecture, photography, construction, and fabrication to help run a digital marketing agency.
S Robert Smith (right in photo)
Smith says that serving is in his nature; "whether it is serving our country, coaching youth athletics when our children were younger, serving as a deacon or elder, leading small groups, or volunteering." Smith says that his initial areas of focus would cover plans for "integrated housing, work, play, shopping, as well as safe connections for pedestrians and bikers to the ever-growing trail system."
Smith says that his service in the U.S. Marines transformed his life, and after getting a degree in science and electrical engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, he worked in the aerospace business while managing to be a single father. He went on to state that his expanse of business and personal experience widened his perspective and leadership skills.
Aside from his focus on housing along the 71B Corridor and homelessness issues in the city, he expressed he would like to "Modify the aesthetics of city improvement," and "get some of the [mountain biking] connections right .... some of the trails been then impacted by the racing that happens. [Biking] is a beautiful thing. It's great for the local area. Let's get those trails beefed up so that we can have that robust connection."
"Effective communication and conflict resolution were the key skills for my career success and will be essential in the City Council position," said Smith. "No one person has the approach to difficult problems, I strive to work together in open, constructive dialogue, as the result provides the best approach."
When is the election?
According to the City of Fayetteville, the special election is set to be held on November 14, 2023.
5NEWS will update this story as more information becomes available.
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