Arkansas Blog

FYI: you can view the entire plan on his webiste. Click below for the link to it.

Stodola's plan brings up an interesting point. We were led to believe that the designation of certain portions of Pulaski County, especially downtown LR and NLR, as federal empowerment zones was going to be a major economic boon and lure jobs. While development had trumped along nicely since then in the residential and entertainment sectors this did not attract new businesses the way it was expected to. Why has it not happened and how can we take advantage of it to create jobs?

It is becoming clear that our community leaders trust Mark Stodola to be a good mayor. With the prosecutor, sheriff, coroner, and two city directors endorsing him, Stodola is showing some strong momentum going into the election.

It would be nice if the other candidates provided detailed plans. I checked all the others' websites and found no plans. Voters need to know more than "I'm for economic developement." Hopefully this will be a trend in the race and others will follow.

I see Stodola also has a plan on crime which is clearly a serious problem in LR.

Ra-Ra, what a plan.

NOthing new here, just the same old insider business speak for 'tax dollars to the wealthy.'

Oh well. We've survived it this long. It's a long slow decent. They're about to break the piggy bank. It's closer than you think. Wait until you see the next set of tax proposals. It will make the last ten years look like a free ride.

Ya Gotta Be Kiddin Me,

More negative talk, eh? Why don't you try formulating some constructive discussion on the topic rather than ripping your candidates' opponents.

In the meantime, others will continue to make progress while you continue to complain and lament.

Director Hurst has been for Stodola all along. Hurst and Graves have had issues for a long time. Fortson is an inside player and it is interesting that just after being appointed to Graves' seat he touts Stodola for mayor. Fortson was previously on the Airport Commission where Stodola made a great deal of money representing their interests. If Stodola is not elected, these kind of overt political moves now are going to create some interesting backlashes later.

Directors Adcock and Wyrick are firmly supporting Graves. There are numerous business leaders throughout LR that also are supporting Graves. Hurst and Fortson have always been in the STodola camp. Nothing new here.

At least Stodola is offering some plans to go about reaching the goals he's stated, even if there is some vagueness to pieces of it.

Where is Graves' plan? I thought her whole platform was based on economic development, yet I haven't heard anything about her plans at all. At least Mason had some ideas in mind about a plan to fight crime.

Platitudes and cliches are all that Stodola and Mason can throw out. The mayor's position is a toothless tiger with no real power. At least Graves is a proven business leader as a small business person, a leader at the Chamber and at 50. She has already been involved in economic development. The rest come to the party late.

What economic development has Graves been involved in?

What does she have to offer Little Rock in terms of bring in jobs?

If you can give specifics, not more generalizations or as you like to say "cliches".

" At least Graves is a proven business leader as a small business person,"

So what? Frank White was a "bidness" man too and look where that got us. There is no, I repreat no, correlation between being in business and being a good political chief executive. Not unless you see Bush's Harvard MBA as an example of his superior performance. But then you probably do.

Interesting. Is there a correlation between being a two bit political hack and a good political chief executive? If there is, I guess Stodola is your man.

Some of you ("Hank") need to contact your candidates and ask them to submit similar plans. That would be a better use of your time than playing blog games. Let the voters see plans from all the candidates and let them decide.

Bill Walker has had a crime plan out, before Stodola and the other candidates.

Bill Walker's plan can be seen at :

http://www.billwalkerformayor.com/Issues_Crime.htm

Ummm.. I wouldn't start touting BG's business record as a good thing. The reason her business has been so successful is that she threatens the lingerie suppliers who dare sell to her competitors. Ask around. And its not a respectible business tactic. Its pretty shady and that's why I would hesitate putting her in the mayor's office. LR needs to move away from those kind of underhanded dealings.

Sounds like the same practices that made Wal Mart successful all of these years.

B&O,

I would love to give you plenty of positive specifics, many of which I have offered here before.

LR continues on the old 19th century course that's going to lead to it's decline by pumping it's tax dollars into existing business rather than building a modern city. We are in a position to change tracks and become a modern 21st century city ahead of the crowd based on our location and size but we are stuck feeding our business leaders rather than requiring them to join us in creating a climate for growth. Sprawl is wasteful and expensive. Ignoring our aging neighborhoods and infrastructure and schools feeds the drain. But our political climate has always been a banana republic and we all know how that works.

So, the most positive thing for me to do is to keeping pointing out the Mayor's new clothes in hopes that we can change the climate. Until then all of this deception and greed is going to lead to the same old place.

But, thanks for caring.

I just don't see why selling panties in a single store would convince anyone that Graves has the abilities and connections to bring in large employers to the city. Unless, perhaps, a panty factory is in the works I don't know about.

Right now Raytheon and Dassault Falcon seem eager to add as many jobs at the airport as we have room for and apparently affiliated companies would like to as well. High-paying manufacturing jobs are gold in this economy and Stodola was right when he brought it up in his plan. Stodola has seen this at the airport via his job as its legal counsel. Now Walker had a business affiliation with the airport and perhaps he has similar plans as well, I don't know.

Drew, thanks for the link. While I like Mason and Stodola's ideas regarding crime better I think Walker obviously makes the issue a priority and has plans to address it.

It is a shame to hear Stodala involved with Stacey Hurst. She is a moron. Did you hear her come up with a plan to save Ray Winder? You know she lives just up the hill. Is that your supposed to represent your ward? Mark, I suggest you distane yourself from this idiot. She is all show and no game.

Stodola's crime plan has been out too. The economic plan was released today and I could find no economic plans on the others' websites.

Brunolinski -- you're the idiot. Hurst is one of the best of the bunch, as is Fortson. Adcock and Wyrick are awful. Hinton is not a factor.

Ms Graves has stumped on the campaign pledge to fill 50 Police vacancies.

Ms Graves, or her supporters, how come you haven't done something about this issue during your tenure on the board? You have had 6 years according to your ads.

Walker has endorsements too!

* Joyce Elliott
* Kathy Webb
* Johnnie Pugh
* Diane Curry
* Bob Edwards
* Charles Armstrong
* Becky Pryor

* Central Arkansas Labor Council
* Teamsters
* Firefighters Union
* ACORN
* Police Union

Check out also the two Walker t.v. ads at :

http://www.billwalkerformayor.com/Video%20Files/BILLWALKERSEQRAW_REV512K_Stream.mov

http://www.billwalkerformayor.com/Video%20Files/billwalker_joyceelliotraw512K_Stream.mov

Why do you insiders care who has been
endorsed by whom? The only endorsement
that should matter is each individual voters'
endorsement at the poll. They need information
to make their decision for themselves.
Walker and Stodola have a crime plan,
Stodola has an economic plan. They all
need to show voters what they intend to
do on both crime and economic development.

The Walker ads say nothing specific about
what Walker would do as Mayor. Again,
voters need facts to make up thier own minds.
Why should they vote for someone just
because someone else is?

FYI--Kathy Webb is NOT publicly or privately endorsing Bill Walker! You need to get your facts correct!

FYI--Kathy Webb is NOT publicly or privately endorsing Bill Walker! You need to get your facts correct!

FYI--Kathy Webb is NOT publicly or privately endorsing Bill Walker! You need to get your facts correct!