Fayetteville nominating committee interviews candidates for advisory boards, leaves two Black Heritage seats open

Bob Stafford, chair of the Fayetteville City nominating committee, opened the interview session Wednesday and said the panel would forward its selections to the full City Council at its next meeting. "I will call this nominating committee interview meeting to order," Stafford said as the committee began a night of back‑to‑back candidate interviews.

The committee heard from a dozen applicants for boards that include airport, parks, urban forestry, housing authority and heritage preservation seats. Applicants described a mix of professional backgrounds and volunteer work: Richard McKinney, a long‑time Drake Field tenant and pilot, discussed hangar shortages and airport finances; Trisha, chair of the Housing Authority board, described reestablishing staff training after a HUD audit; and several parks and forestry applicants emphasized youth outreach, maintenance priorities and invasive‑species management.

The session turned to the Black Heritage Preservation Commission after one applicant, Misty, described a professional background in social work and local engagement but said she had not yet reviewed the commission’s records or attended its meetings. Committee member Monique Jones, speaking as an African American council member, said she was concerned that the candidate had not shown familiarity with the commission’s work: "It just it concerns me because this that's not what preservation, that's not what the committee is formed to do," she said, arguing the commission requires members who can speak to local history.

Following that exchange, the committee voted to leave two member‑at‑large seats open until the next quarter to allow for broader outreach to community groups. Council member Sarah Bunch moved the action; the motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote. The committee recorded a separate voice vote confirming Caroline for the University of Arkansas representative seat on the Urban Forestry Advisory Board.

Staff and council members told applicants how to follow the next step: the nominating committee will present its recommendations to the City Council on Tuesday, and the city clerk’s office will contact applicants the next day. Several council members noted high application volumes for advisory slots and encouraged unsuccessful applicants to reapply.

The committee wrapped its interviews and scheduled deliberations to finalize recommendations to the full council.