Allen says no to another run for Fayetteville City Council
Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Alderman Nancy Allen announced Wednesday that she will not seek another term on the Fayetteville City Council.
The filing period for aldermen is Aug. 6-26, but Allen's decision already makes it clear that two of four city council seats on the ballot in November will change hands. Lioneld Jordan, who represents Ward 4, is running for mayor and will vacate his seat in January no matter what the outcome of that race.
Allen represents Ward 2 alongside Alderman Kyle Cook.
In an emailed announcement to supporters and media Wednesday, Allen said she had gone through "months of soul searching," but wanted to spend time on "other things I care about and enjoy."
"The council has been the most interesting job I have ever had. It has also been disillusioning," she wrote. "I have discovered that I am not a politician, but I regret none of it and am proud that I did not deviate from the things I said I would do, stood up for my principles, asked hard questions, and have not been intimidated."
Allen became a candidate for the City Council in 2006 when Alderman Don Marr resigned to pursue business interests. She was elected to finish out Marr's term, which comes up on the November general election ballot. As recently as April, she had said she was leaning toward running for a full term.
Matthew Petty, who describes himself as a social entrepreneur and a sustainability proponent, announced in April that he would seek Allen's Ward 2 post.
Bernard Sulliban, a Fayetteville substitute teacher who ran against Allen for the seat in 2006, is also campaigning for the position.
Former science teacher and Fayetteville Council of Neighborhoods chairman Sarah Lewis is campaigning for Jordan's seat.
Read tomorrow's Northwest Arkansas Times for all the details on this story!
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I hope Nancy's friends in Ward 2 will let her know how much they appreciate her service. And maybe suggest she change her decision before the day comes for official registration as a candidate.
Nancy resigned from the Council of Neighborhoods and announced her candidacy for the council position after Don Marr resigned from the council less than half-way through his second term. That was right after the council was stampeded into voting to approve the Divinity Hotel across Dickson Street from Collier's Drug store and the U.S. Post Office. Thanks to a couple of long-time Fayetteville residents who filed suit against the city for passing the project it was never built and the developer got invited to bankruptcy court for some of his previous mistakes. Meanwhile, Nancy led the effort to limit building height on Dickson Street, something those who loved Fayetteville back when Fayetteville was cool could appreciate.
Her announcement was the start of what I expected to be a serious change for the good on the council. Women just seem to understand the needs of people more than a lot of men. At that time I thought we were headed toward a truly "kinder, gentler, more thoughtful council."
This announcement diminishes my hope for such a change. But maybe another highly principled woman will step up and campaign for the seat. Fayetteville needs men and women who care what the people think and care about. And Nancy's example should certainly inspire someone else, man or woman, with integrity to make the sacrifice to seek the position and take the responsibility.
Posted by aubunique
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