Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug 22, 2024 – Tom Elwood has lived in Jonesboro his whole life. He says he loves the city, and he wants to be its next mayor.

The 64-year-old is applying for the job for the third time. “I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear. I’ll tell you what I know,” he said, “And all of the times I’ve run, nobody has ever said ‘Elwood’s wrong.'”

“People can trust me. I’ll tell the truth. I’m not saying nobody will outspend me. Nobody will out-think me. I’m not against anybody. I’m not a threat. All I want is to do the job properly.”

As a Republican, Elwood said he believes in small government and lower taxes. He also believes he knows the biggest problem Jonesboro is facing. He says it’s not crime or quality of life. It’s trust.

“Jonesboro’s number one problem is trust. They don’t trust Harold Copenhaver. They don’t trust LJ Bryant,” he says.

“During the last election, Harold Copenhaver lied to get elected. Because we (2020 mayoral candidates Elwood, Copenhaver, Shatley) were asked about a 2% tax for a new water park. We all three said no. Two years into office… bam… hamburger tax. He lost the trust. He will be defeated as mayor of Jonesboro because nobody trusts him. I’m not saying the hamburger tax is a bad idea. But we should vote on it.”

Elwood continued, “I will not lie to get elected. What good does it do a man to gain the entire world and lose his soul in the process?”

Quality of life. Crime. Two topics that are continually discussed. But Elwood thinks we’re not talking about what he says is the real issue…the lack of trust.

“Quality of life begins at the street department,” he said. “The police and fire departments and the citizens all use the street department. You judge a city by the traffic and the streets. You’ve only got 5 days a week to be the mayor, so at least one day a week, you need to think about the streets.”

“Why would they focus on crime? That’s the police Chief’s job. It’s not the mayor’s job to fight crime. You hire professional people, then you evaluate them. The mayor is in charge of running the city government. He’s not a super hero. That’s why Bruce Wayne is not the mayor of Gotham City,” Elwood said.

A topic that’s been debated recently is what to actually do with the criminals once they’ve been apprehended.

“When you’re a policeman and you pull somebody over, the only option you have is to take that person to the county jail. The building on Caraway Road (is not an option because it) is not big enough. It doesn’t suit their needs. It’s basically a storage facility.”

Elwood has a website (tomelwood.com) where he outlines the 5 duties of a successful mayor. He also lists 5 red flags to notice in a mayor.

Elwood added, “The mayor’s job is to think about the future. Where are we going as a city?”

Tom Elwood says he has the common sense and the wisdom to help.

“I’m applying for a job. Let me work for you.”