Firefighter pay

A business owner and candidate for city director, he urged immediate pay for firefighters and used the comment to pitch his campaign.

Said firefighters responded to his home emergency quickly the day before and urged the board to pay them what they deserve.

Thanked directors who privately backed the raise and asked them to turn support into a public yes vote.

Asked for a unanimous yes and urged the board to make the raise effective January 1 rather than April, citing firefighters lost to other cities.

Called the raise long overdue and echoed the call to make it effective sooner rather than later.

Said failing to vote for the raise would be 'an absolute travesty' given money available in the budget.

Backed the full firefighter raise, called the alcohol tax a false choice that hurts restaurants, and criticized spending on items like the water slide.

Urged restoring a multi-week Citizens Academy, opposed the alcohol tax, and delivered a letter criticizing Vice Mayor Rego's handling of the homeless task force.

Demanded the full 14% firefighter raise, opposed the alcohol tax, and raised Parrot Island financial accountability and whistleblower concerns.

Called the alcohol tax 'theft' and said the city should fund firefighter raises with existing money, noting firefighters can't afford to live in Fort Smith.

Criticized the budget process and the alcohol tax proposal as tax-and-spend politics, praised the Citizens Academy idea, and criticized the homeless task force handling.