Walker picks up endorsement, after endorsement, after endorsement, etc….

 Bill Walker has a lot to be smiling about these days.

  ARKANSAS  AFL-CIO

      Little Rock Chapter of ACORN

   Prominent local women who are Arkansas Democrats like Joyce Elliott, Becky Pryor, Leta Anthony, Kathy Webb, Johnnie Pugh, as well as young men like Drew Pritt, Sylvester Smith, and we have heard names like Jordan Johnson and Jesse Gibson may be joining their ranks.

   Word is that Walker has locked up support from a group of Little Rock Teachers. We have seen a number of them on the street, as well as a number of Little Rock School Board Candidates – specifically Diane Curry & Charles Armstrong.

  All one has to do is drive across Little Rock and see there is an overpopulation of Bill Walker for Mayor signs in yards. They are plentiful in West Little Rock, Southwest Little Rock, downtown businesses, Hillcrest, the Heights, University, Midtown, and even on the outer reaches of the city towards the suburbs near Bryant.

Stodola may be more on television but Walker seems to be on the move. What do you think Billy Bob?

Stodola up/Walker coming up – Graves & Mason silent

Well Mark Stodola the hard-charging former Pulaski County Prosecutor is the first up on television with an ad focusing on you guessed it….crime. Also, I have had a chance to sneak a peek at the first of Bill Walker’s television ads. Its pretty positive but emphasis is on crime as well.

Stodola says he is the only candidate with hands on experience.

Walker says he is fighting crime and fighting for Little Rock.

And what about Vice Mayor Barbara Graves herself? Maybe she should cut down the advertising of Barbara Graves intimate apparel. As of yet no word on television ads.

Jesse “PANDER BEAR” Mason has a campaign headquarters. Its largely vacant all the time and no word on television ads from Mr. Mason either.

On the strength of television ads alone, this could come down to a Stodola – Walker runoff fight.

One caveat that people may not remember. This is a grudge match of sorts. In 1996, Stodola was the favorite to succeed Ray Thornton and go to Washington, D.C. as a U.S. Congressman from the 2nd District. This is the same seat that Wilbur Mills and Jim Guy Tucker had occupied as well as the rascally Tommy Robinson.

Stodola led the initial primary. However, he angered Bill Walker who swung his support and muscle behind Vic Snyder in the runoff. Stodola advanced from a strong 48% to a short but no prize 49% in the runoff against Snyder. Many could say Stodola would be a Congressmen today had he allied with Walker.

The question now is will Stodola be able to settle the score or remain just short of the prize. If television ads are any measure, its an evenly matched bout.

Not to be outdone….another poll….

Less than a day after one poll shows Mark Stodola leading the Mayor’s race another poll has been sent to us. First the poll, then the analysis.

This poll suggests Vice Mayor Barbara Graves leads with former State Senator Bill Walker & former Pulaski County Prosecutor Mark Stodola trailing. The only commonality between both polls is Jesse Mason clearly trails considerably.

With 750 registered voters polled, this poll suggests that Graves will lead the initial round with 26%, followed by Walker at 19%, Stodola at 17%, and Mason at an abyssmal 5%.

GRAVES     26%

WALKER    19%

STODOLA  17%

MASON        5%

UNDECIDED   33%

Poll Numbers….

·                    Stodola & Walker closely matched in Democratic primary for Mayor, with Graves close behind:  After weeks of controversy over his lawsuit against Little Rock School District concerning his daughter, as well as questions about his retaining an appointive position while running for Mayor, Former  State Senator Bill Walker finds that all news is good news if they spell the name right. With an assurance that the pollster or who paid for the poll, our blog has found out the raw numbers. Walker finds himself in a competitive race for the Democratic nomination for Mayor with former Prosecuting Attorney Mark Stodola, with Vice Mayor Barbara Graves not too far behind.  Stodola receives support from 30% of city Democrats for November’s “primary” compared with 27% for Walker.  Vice Mayor Barbara Graves and Board Member Jesse Mason trail with 22% and 7%, respectively.  14% of Democrats are undecided.

 

Question Wording: If November’s election for Mayor in Little Rock were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:

 

                       MARK  STODOLA            30%

            BILL WALKER               27%

                              BARBARA GRAVES     22%

                      JESSE MASON                7%

Campaigns Go Cyber

Well the four candidates for Mayor of Little Rock have joined the world of cyberspace. Anymore websites have become like the billboards that used to litter and dot the highways and biways of this country. I guess our website adds to the clutter. Anyway I have taken to examining the websites and will provide links as well as critiques. Take my grading and critiques for what it really is….an opinion.

http://www.BarbaraGravesforMayor.com/

This website, like the candidate it promotes, is very bland and white bread. Theres no flash imagery. Whoever did the website had some positives and some negatives. The positive is the type is large for more mature viewers. Though I wonder if its the candidate whose eyesight is a little strained. It has all the basics. One negative is the pictures are diminished in size and clicking on them does not make them larger. Also there is no way to contribute online. Finally, if you volunteer, theres suggestions once again. Also the email address is at aristotle.net not mayor@barbaragravesformayor.com

Considering her other website is up to date and much better arranged (http://www.BarbaraGraves.com/) this candidate earns a C-

It leaves me to wonder is Barbara Graves willing to be professional and up to date on that which only financially benefits her. If she’s Mayor, will the Mayor’s website be as behind the times and challenged as her campaign website?

http://www.MasonforMayor.com/

Jesse Mason has an interesting interactive website. Its obviously geared to people who read alot. The picture page is only from one event. Also, interestingly, the Campaign Director Khalid Jones hams it up with a local personage. (We are not voting for Khalid, Jesse!) In addition, the website has some issues, which is a positive on Barbara Graves. However, Jesse Mason continues the Pander Bear image because most his pictures are with the police and firefighters.

While we are there, Jesse, to add to this 600+ police force you claim to bring to Little Rock as Mayor….how will the taxpayers pay for it? We are at 490 right now. So to add the 110 Police, do you realize how many millions has to be spent just to cover salary and benefits? This doesn’t cover police vehicles, bicycles, uniforms, weapons, etc. Do the math, Mr. Mayor wannabe! Your grade is a respectable C.

                                            

http://www.MarkforLittleRock.com/

We have to admit that we were impressed a lot with this website. Its modern, has a skillful use of imagery, and seems to keep the viewer interested. We also give extra points to the web domain name, reminiscent of Howard Dean’s “Dean for America“.

There are some negatives. The lack of pictures is sad for us to see. Also, we think Mike Hathorn’s campaign logo takes the same ovular look that Mike Hathorn took in his Lt. Governor bid. This may or may not be a good thing, Mark.

Overall this was a good effort and we rate this website an A-

http://www.BillWalkerforMayor.com

With a female candidate in the race, it shouldn’t be surprising to us that Bill Walker is heavily courting a female presence not just in his race, but on his website, as the first three pics from Walker’s website above shows. Walker has a good website though it could be improved in some areas.

Walker is updating his press release section (unlike the other candidates.) He also has a variety of pictures which indicates he is working hard. There is no way to donate online. And there could be some better way to volunteer other than a .pdf. Overall its a good website. It’s edged out narrowly by the Stodola website, however with a grade of B+.

Pat Lynch, Joyce Elliott, & Jim Lynch celebrate JAIL TAX Vote.

Little Rock 2006 has gotten exclusive video coverage last night as the final results were announced in the Jail Tax Vote :

FOR — 12,088 42.8 percent

AGAINST — 16,112 57.2 percent

The supporters of the Tax Vote had a slick website, clear messaging, professional signs, and Buddy Villines. They had people on the major street corners doing signage as the votes were nearing an end of tabulating.

JIM LYNCH preached and railed against the tax like a modern day Huey P. Long at Democratic Committee Meetings and whereever two or three were gathered.

JOYCE ELLIOTT while always busy, was phonebanking, and using her impressive connections with labor & the African-American community to flood the polls with voters against the tax.

PAT LYNCH broke with his liberal cohorts at the Arkansas Times and on both his blog (http://lynchlarge.blogspot.com) and on his radio talk show (http://www.wai-radio.com) spoke out about the failings of this vote.

All the Mayor candidates for Little Rock and their sidekicks got in on the act. Praise and support should also go to Little Rock Mayoral candidate Bill Walker who was the only candidate for Mayor to decisively come AGAINST the jail tax. Walker switch the ever elusive local activist and erstwhile political gadfly Drew Pritt to oppose the tax. The two of them campaigned against the tax together. Vice Mayor Barbara Graves teamed up with Joan Adcock in urging voters to vote FOR the tax vote even last night as the votes were trickling in. Mark Stodola has Jim Lynch in his corner but supported the tax. The Pander Bear (Jesse Mason) was somewhere on the issue. When Little Rock 2006 finds out we’ll let our readers know.

Walker’s challenge

My associate, Mr. Dogood, has raised the question about Bill Walker’s call for debates in the race for Mayor of Little Rock. Silas, old bud, you have it so right about Bill Walker’s debating style.

Bill Walker’s verbal shots remind me of Moe Green’s last rub-down.

Debates on Debates…

With the filing deadline closed Bill Walker is throwing the gauntlet down. He has challenged Mark Stodola, Barbara Graves, and Jesse Mason to a series of citywide debates. As yet its unclear if the Pander Bear, the Lingerie Saleswoman, and the former Prosecutor will accept the challenge.

One former colleague of Walkers in the Legislature has said this is not something the other three should take lightly. With the promise his name would not be used I will share the quote.

“Bill and I served in the ‘Ledge (Legislature) before and he’s not your typical debater. He’s tenacious and uses a combination of charm and ferocity with equal brilliance. Watching Bill Walker in a debate was like watching Sugar Ray Leonard fight — a sight of brilliance!”

So Billy Bob do you think the others will take the bait?

The numbers racket

What will it take to be elected mayor?

With four seasoned politicians in the contest, it could get tight. My associates have made the proper inquiries and discovered the following.

To be elected Mayor of Little Rock outright in the November general election, the winner must have received 40% of the total vote. Remember there are FOUR candidates in this race.

In the city director races, the candidate with the most votes wins.

Barbara Graves has all the money on earth available for media. She should be expected to be on top, but getting 40% will be tough. The task for those of us working for change is to get out a large turnout and support somebody who can win in the run-off.

Filing Closes – Four File for Mayor

Well Billy Bob I have been sitting shotgun down by the City Hall, across the street to see who would file. I was struck by how crass it seems for First Lady Jethrine Huckabee to sleep one night under a bridge along the river and think this will help the homeless. I thought of Tamela Mann’s song, Father Can You Hear Me, and thought there was no more appropriate song. The lyrics are below and its a song for Little Rock these days.

I expected to see Drew Pritt wander up. He reminds me Perrin Jones and the 1974 Governor’s race. Billy Bob do you remember Perrin Jones, the editor of the Searcy Daily Citizen talked and even called a press conference to announce a bid for Governor that year against David Pryor and Bob Riley. All of a sudden a few lines into his speech he stepped unexpectedly off the stage and up stepped Orval E. Faubus coming back for a second of three tries at a comeback. Pritt is kind of wily and I think he talked about running to stir up liberal voters and others who will be crucial to the Democrats in the fall. The Barbara Graves & Jesse Mason crowd have too much money to care otherwise. Mark Stodola has a usual base as does Bill Walker. But this Pritt guy brings people around that many people in power do not know. That can be a good thing. Anyway there was no Pritt. I later found out he convinced Josh Noesser scion of a construction family to bow out for Walker.

Speaking of Walker you need to check out his new headquarters downtown at Capitol & Louisiana. I suppose Stodola will be putting a headquarters in soon. Do you suppose Barbara Graves will double dip and entice voters out to her lingerie and fancy underwear store to get some business? Not sure what Jesse “PANDER BEAR” Mason is up to these days.

So here is who filed :

Mayor

Mark Stodola – Filed 08/21/06

Jesse Mason – Filed 08/23/06

Bill Walker – Filed 08/30/06

Barbara Graves – Filed 09/06/06

Ward 1

Herbert Broadway – Filed 08/29/06

Johnnie Pugh (incumbent) – Filed 08/29/06

Erma Fingers Hendrix – Filed 09/08/06
Ward 2

Glen Schwarz – Filed 09/07/06 

George Jean Allen – Filed 09/08/06

Ken Richardson – Filed 09/08/06

Maudella Morehead – Filed 09/08/06
Ward 3

William “Kevin” Britton – Filed 09/08/06

Stacy Hurst (incumbent) – Filed 09/08/06

Ward 6

Doris Wright – Filed 08/22/06

Genevieve Stewart (incumbent) – Filed 08/31/06
Michael Keck in Ward 5 and B.J. Wyrick in Ward 7 filed without any opposition.

************************************************************************************************

Father Can You Hear Me

Father can you hear me
We need your love today
I know that you are listening
you hear men everyday
Father please hear us
and we will be ok
father we need you to heal families today

Father can you hear me
I’m calling on your name
Not budda nor muhammed
but it’s jesus we cry out loud
Father just forgive us
Hear us when we say
We’ll give ya, give ya, give you everything our lifes and souls today

Father you know we need it
I’ve never seen so much pain
We have the faith for now
Your victory we will gain
father you know we mean it
there’s no more heart of stone
were ready for your power
now the sin is gone

Lead:Father
Choir: Can you hear me now
(REPEAT 4X’s)

Choir: He will say

Lead: He will say yes
Choir: yes, yes, yes, yes

Lead: say yes lord
Choir: yes, yes

Lead: yes to your will jesus, yes to your will
Choir: yes, yes

Lead: come on say yes
Choir: yes, yes, yes, yes

Lead: say yes
Choir: yes, yes

Lead: come on raise your hand an say yes
Choir: yes, yes

Ooh Lord can you heal even me lord see I’m comin to you lord just as
I am I’m in need of the blood of the lamb oh my oh my soul say yes

ad lib and the choir continues with “yes,yes”

[Thanks to TieLo3@aol.com, angelgrrtt@yahoo.com for lyrics]