Arkansas Blog

Crime is the biggest issue in this race and Stodola is clearly the best candidate on crime. With his background as a prosecutor and a city attorney, he has the experience to take care of the crime problem. We need Mark Stodola.

Agreed...

Mark Stodola for mayor...

Barbara Graves' plan? Build more predominantly white, affluent subdivisions! Problem solved!

Stodola has won my respect over the years, and I would vote for him if I lived in LR. He has an understanding of the sprawl and sustainable growth issues that are slowly draining the city's resources, and his prosecutorial experience helps him understand the crime problem. If you guys can dump Mayor Milquetoast AND get Stodola, I'd call that a win-win.

why is there a big drop off in the number in comments on this blog....

Crime is a serious issue in Little Rock. Not only are our citizens frightened in their own homes, but our murder rate is one of the highest in the nation. We're losing population and businesses won't want to locate here. It's a bad deal. Stodola has, by far, the best record in dealing with crime. He has my vote.

Besides, Ms. Graves is aiding and abetting the criminals, by selling panties and hose for them to cover their heads with.

Give me a break. Stodola is another Barney Fife. While he was prosecutor, we expereinced our worst crime wave in our history. He was considered "soft on crime" by many in the law enforcement community. Everyone is against crime and everyone would like to hire more cops and put more criminals behind bars. It will take more than Mayor Barney Stodola to make it happen. It will require the leadership and experience of Mayor Graves to bring everyone into agreement as to how to help solve the problem.

I wish Stodola could be trusted. So far his every offering smacks of slick politician rather than leader. Out of such a weak field, it looks like Mason to me.

Graves is a joke. Except for her ego and her money she has no business in the race.

You said: He was considered "soft on crime" by many in the law enforcement community.

That is patently false. Stodola has been invited to lecture to the Drug Enforcement Administration, he prosecuted more than 12,000 felonies a year as our prosecutor and he shut down a record number of drug houses. Face facts: Stodola is strongest candidate on crime and this race is about crime!

If the problem were so easily solved by adding more police officers, then why hasn't City Board done that already?

You said: He was considered "soft on crime" by many in the law enforcement community.

That is patently false. Stodola has been invited to lecture to the Drug Enforcement Administration, he has served as a consultant to the US Department of Justice and he prosecuted more than 12,000 felonies a year as our prosecutor. Face facts: Stodola is strongest candidate on crime and this race is about crime!

If the problem were so easily solved by adding more police officers, then why hasn't City Board done that already?

Graves has been a very effective at-large city director for the past several years dealing with all of the issues confronting the city of Little Rock. Stodola has been a "fee for service" private attorney for almost a decade without any direct involvement with Little Rock issues, other than representing the air port commission for a "fee." I believe Graves has more business running for mayor than Stodola.

Since Barney Stodola was so effective fighting crime on his watch, what does that say about Barney's close friend, Larry Jegley? Does that mean Larry is not doing a good job?

Hank:
Did you post some comments supporting Melanie Fox in the recent school board elections?

Stodola has been in a position to milk his connections to the liberal democratic party for a long time. Just because a bunch of bureacrats want to hear him jawbone, does not make him an effective crime fighter. And for the record, this race is about more than just crime.

No, not a mention of Ms. Fox for anything, ever. Why? Do you have a problem with strong women running for political office?

Hank,
crime is the top issue in this race, by far, and other issues are dependent on the crime problem. the crime problem hinders our ability to promote the city to prospective businesses and tourists, plus it hurts property values and our own city pride.

Whatever you say ole Blue and Orange. You remind me of the frog who sat down in the bottom of the well and assumed for years that the world was only as big as the air space immediately above his dwelling. When he emerged from the well he was amazed that the world was indeed a much bigger place.

If crime is such an all consuming issue for our city, why didn't the electorate agree with the 1/4 cent sales tax to expand the prison? Most of our local crime fighters insisted that this is the major stumbling block behind our ability to control crime? Other than expanding the jail; adding more policemen; and throwing a bone to the minority community by advocating "prevention and treatment" what else is there?

The jail tax failed because people don't want more taxes, not because our citizens aren't concerned about crime.

Ok, so how does Barney figure to reduce crime in our traumatized city without raising taxes?

I kinda like Barbara Graves. She seems pretty sharp and knows how city politics works. I don't hate lawyers like some people do, but it's not a bad thing to have a business person in charge of city government (yes, I know the LR mayor doesn't actually do much).

I'm probably voting for her. Stodola would be my second choice.

How do the mayoral candidates stand on imposing a residency requirement for LRPD officers as a condition of their employment contract?
As in if you are or want to be a LR cop, you must reside within the city limits? (no more out-of-towners or commuter cop corps)

Sounds like you've got a lot of questions, Hank. Why don't you just call the Stodola headquarters with your questions. I'm sure they'd be happy to help you or anyone else with questions about their campaign.

Barney Stodola needs to lose a little weight. His idol, Teddy Kennedy, at least had the good sense to shed those pounds before he held himself out to the electorate. Barney I guess is going to offer "midnight basketball" as a tax free solution to our crime problems or maybe he is going to organize local Little Rock militias to take back our streets from the criminals. His campaign doesn't seem to have answers, only questions.

Hank,
You are rude and immature. If you can't have a serious discussion without resorting to name-calling and using putdowns, then I will not discuss this race with you.
And if you are so concerned about what Stodola's ideas are, I suggest you call his campaign headquarters or email him to find out.

Sorry Blue and Orange. Actually Teddy Kennedy is one of Barney's idols. Ask him. Other than platitudes and cliches he does not have a plan to reduce crime any better than anyone else running for mayor. More jail space; more policemen; more prevention and treatment programs; and, oh yes, tearing down "drug houses." All this adds up to additional money from increased taxes. There are no other ways.

Hank -- You are irritating all of us. GO AWAY.

Isn't that what's great about America, "free speech," and the right to irritate others by speaking the truth.

I appreciate Stodola's understanding of business and quality of life - how we can grow in a smart way, rather than in a sprawl way. He has shown quite a presence in midtown and talked a good talk about bringing older neighborhoods into a more dignified state, less crime... However, Bill Walker has a better understanding of what a crime-infested community needs to rise above it - prevention is good medicine for what ails us. Walker wins on the issue of crime.

How a candidate responds to others is very indicative of how they will perform in office.

Everyone knows I mulled a bid for Little Rock Mayor earlier this year. If the four candidates running, here is how each responded.

1.) JESSE MASON - Outside of an agonizing two minute elevator ride and polite conversation, thats it.

2.) BARBARA GRAVES - An email exchange as well as a phone conversation I initiated.

3.) MARK STODOLA - I spoke with Mark once before he announced and have seen him on occasion. Aside from a scripted campaign speech and ideas that were floated, nothing more. No give and take or asking me, as a citizen what is wrong or as a potential candidate why I was running.

4.) BILL WALKER - He listens to me and is not ashamed to claim my support. He sits and listens to many, black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, insiders and not.

See that tells me something. I believe Little Rock deserves a Mayor who will listen to all the people, to all issues, to examine all the angles. Little Rock needs a Mayor who will fight for the little guy, regardless of whether that little guy can contribute $100, $500, or $1,000 to their campaign.

Little Rock needs a Mayor who will focus on a comprehensive transportation plan that includes Light Rail.

Little Rock needs a Mayor who is going to use empowerment zones and other incentives to redirect jobs to the neglected parts of our city.

Little Rock needs a Mayor who understands its more than just prison beds, but its a focus on prevention programs, neighborhood watch, and youth assistance programs that matter in keeping down crime.

Little Rock needs Bill Walker as Mayor!

http://www.BillWalkerforMayor.com

I was more or less completely ignorant about the candidates, other than recognizing their names, until I read the Arkansas Times cover story on each of them.

Walker has my vote based on his answers, which were head and shoulders above the other candidates.

If crime is the number one problem, and I'm not sure it is, then the answer is not to throw more people in jail. We've been trying that, and it doesn't work. And I'm tired of paying for it.

Roaming Gnome = Drew Pritt,

Your endorsement means I will not vote for Walker. I wonder how much his campaign has paid you?

You can view the ad online at

markforlittlerock.com

Indie - Why do you act like its a big surprise that I am Roaming Gnome? I never have disguised my identity, although you using my name is a misuse and sign you are hiding something.

As for not voting for Walker because I endorsed him - I don't care.

As for payment - A Mayor who invests in a Light Rail System is payment enough for me!

Roland and Julianna...

Mark Stodola is the guy...and I am not the type to be so pushy...but he's the guy...

Put your weight behind Mark Stodola...you won't be disappointed...you'll get more info in the next few weeks...