The election is over and in January Greg Clifton will be sworn in as Fayetteville’s new mayor. His defeat of long-time Mayor Ken Steele will give Clifton the opportunity to make good on election promises such as relaxing restrictions on business and providing an atmosphere that is more business-friendly.
Clifton in a letter to the editor said he had reflected on the outcome of the election and wanted to express gratitude for the residents who took the time to go to the polls and vote, including those voting for his opponent. He also thanked Steele and the council for keeping the city in good financial shape
Responding to questions over the weekend, Clifton said his short-term plans include learning what the mayor’s job entails. Anticipating the reality that usually accompanies candidates once they are sworn in, Clifton said he would likely have a learning curve once in the mayor’s seat and will “probably find that there is a lot I’ll have to do rather than what I’d like to do.”
Two of the main issues during the campaign, ones that featured prominently at the candidate forum, dealt with the sign ordinance and the need to maintain current businesses and recruit new ones.
Clifton at the forum asserted that Fayetteville is not being as business-friendly as it might be, adding that he would take some “fairly radical approaches to relax some signage and zoning restrictions.”
Asked about his intentions, Clifton said, “In relaxing the restrictions, and in particular temporary signage, I want to try to stimulate business. That may mean relaxing some aspects of the sign ordinance. I don‘t intend to try to make wholesale changes, but I do want to stimulate business by whatever legal and moral means are available.”
“So I don’t want to relax signage to the point of looking like Riverdale,” Clifton said, adding that he had not read the sign ordinance but that a review of the document would be forthcoming. “Maybe a temporary relaxation for a short period, like six months, to see if it will stimulate business.”
Asked about other issues he would want to address after taking office, Clifton said he would talk with Police Chief Steve Heaton to see if he is aware of the “predictive policing” model and what he might think of the approach.
Predictive policing, said Clifton, is an algorithm-based methodology that enables police to anticipate where crime will occur so that officers can more effectively deter criminal activity.
Clifton described himself politically as being “sort of libertarian.”
“Let people do as they please until they cause a problem for other people,” Clifton said.
Under the city charter, the mayor has no vote on issues before the council unless there is a tie vote. The mayor may veto measures but can be overridden with a four-fifths majority of the five-member council.
