City Council Ward 2 Seat 1 candidates are incumbent Melissa Greene and James Michael (Mike) Seals.
Seals was a tourist to Eureka Springs for 30 years before moving here eight years ago where he now lives “in the heart of downtown.”
“I love the town and all its people and I’m willing to serve,” he said.
Seals ran for mayor in 2018 and, “Earlier this year,” he said, “Mayor Berry suggested I run for city council to gain additional experience that would be valuable in serving our community in the future.”
Most of Seals’s community service has been volunteer work with the Chamber of Commerce as Chair and interim executive director.
“I believe we need to be very thoughtful and strategic regarding the future of our city,” Seals said. “Continued significant growth is coming as a result of the events of 2020—we must get ahead of the curve and not be caught reacting to everything—we must spend less time on trivial matters and more time on the important aspects of the future needs of our community and its citizens.”
While Seals said he appreciates the efforts and contributions of all the city’s public servants he said the council needs, “to spend much more time and energy focusing on the major issues facing the city and spend less time on less significant ones.”
Focusing on the Entertainment District, Seals said, “As the head of the Chamber of Commerce and a businessperson in the community, and as a resident in the heart of downtown, I understand the issues brought by both proponents and opponents of the entertainment district. I believe it can be beneficial and can be managed effectively, so personally, I am in favor of the district.”
I love it, too
Incumbent Greene still has mixed feelings about the Entertainment District saying, “The young businesspeople were the ones who want to try this—I felt they deserved a chance and with the safeguards of a trial basis I voted “Yes.
“I now have been inundated with mixed opinions on it. If it is voted in it will be a permanent district without a trial. I am still listening to constituents, gathering info and researching other Arkansas cities’ districts in how I will choose to vote.”
Greene has served 14 years on two commissions. “I think in this wonderfully diverse city listening to different ideas has guided me in decisions I make, making me a good candidate to serve the city I love and is my home,” she said. “I try to be thoughtful and research my decisions and do what I think is best for my city.”
In the last two years Greene believes the most beneficial action made by the council, and she approved, was the mayor’s moratorium of no event permits during the Covid pandemic.
She admits she misses the parades, drumming, and music in the park, but said, “It appears it hasn’t hurt our tourism as many businesses are reporting a record-breaking year.”
Greene said that certain entities have found ways to “skirt around the mayor’s moratorium on events,” of which she does not approve. “I believe along with the moratorium and other safety measures we have kept the spread of Covid to a minimum in town, hence allowing our businesses to stay open and safe.”
Keep a lid on drinking while walking.