Lioneld Jordan elected mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas, by 14-percent advantage

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of Megan Jordan celebrating her father's victory in the race for mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Megan was a big part of the crew of Lioneld Jordan supporters holding signs on intersections in Fayetteville in recent weeks. Jordan's campaign was all about people, family and friends and people who need friends.

The Morning News
Local News for Northwest Arkansas

Jordan Wins Mayor Position
By Skip Descant
THE MORNING NEWS
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/11/25/news/112608fzfaymayor.txt
FAYETTEVILLE -- Lioneld Jordan, a city councilman who pledged to put trust back into city hall, was elected as Fayetteville's next mayor Tuesday.
Jordan faced incumbent Mayor Dan Coody, a two-term mayor, in a runoff election.
With all precincts counted, Jordan received 5,796 votes (57 percent). Coody trailed with 4,319 votes (43 percent).
"We've come so far," an excited Jordan said from his campaign party at Uncle Gaylord's Mountain Cafe, as more than 100 supporters wearing Jordan campaign Mardi Gras beads cheered in the background.
"We've been on this campaign trail for nearly a year, working every day. This was an election about being face to face with the voters and learning about their issues and concerns and now moving Fayetteville forward," Jordan said.
Coody praised the many hours of hard work accomplished by Jordan and his supporters.
"Lioneld and his crew did a good job, and my congratulations goes out to all of them," Coody said before joining a small group of supporters at Tim's Pizza on the downtown square.
"I was expecting this," he added.
But the outgoing mayor had nothing but praise and admiration for the job he's held the past eight years.
"Being mayor of Fayetteville was the second highest job in my life," Coody said. His first is his marriage, he added.
Coody noted he has no definite plans when he leaves City Hall in January, but may do some traveling and work on his home.
Jordan, 55, who has served on the council since 2001, campaigned on his history in Fayetteville and a populist mantra to "put people first" and work to grow the area's job creation and earning potential.
Jordan picked up multiple endorsements from fire and police union associations as well as the four other mayoral candidates in the general election.
Coody, 56, campaigned on calls for clean-tech economic development while continuing to grow city amenities such as biking trails, a regional park and other perks like a more robust arts and entertainment community.
Coody won his re-election for a second term hands-down in the 2004 general election with 12,683 votes (52 percent) to Doug Kuntz's 9,717 votes (40 percent). Cyrus Young earned 2,122 votes (9 percent).
In November 2000, Coody won his first term as mayor in a runoff election against incumbent Mayor Fred Hanna. He received 7,194 votes (60 percent) to Hanna's 4,855 votes (40 percent).
Jordan's campaign pulled in issues such as the need for a balanced budget, while still searching for cost-of-living raises for most city employees. He pledged to freeze the salaries of city workers earning $80,000 a year or more, which would include the mayor's $107,000 salary. Tuesday night Jordan noted he had no immediate plans to change staffing at City Hall, but added changes may be considered.
"A new administration wants the staff to reflect that administration," Jordan said.
Other issues pulled into the political orbit were the much talked about SouthPass regional park plan and the now-complete Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant, which finally was finished, albeit years behind schedule and $60 million above its original cost.