Jonesboro has achieved remarkable growth over the past four decades, expanding from a population of about 45,000 in the late 1980s to nearly 82,000 today.

As the fifth largest city in the state, Jonesboro is noted as the education, economic, healthcare, agriculture and cultural center of Northeast Arkansas.

Jonesboro is consistently ranked as one of the most charitable civic-minded communities in the country. Amid our progress, we still benefit from that special family-friendly, small-town charm.

Our schools remain strong (1st-12th grade, college education and graduate studies), crime rates are low, and our economy is steadily growing — nearly three percent annually over the last three years.

 

City at crossroads

We now find ourselves at a crossroads for our city, however, with a mayoral election marked by two very different types of campaigns and candidates.

Incumbent Mayor Harold Copenhaver has run on a positive platform of integrity and accomplishment.

His challenger Councilman LJ Bryant has behaved in the opposite manner, using every media resource including TV, radio, direct mail, texts, billboards and social media to attack the character of Mayor Copenhaver.

It saddens me to witness his willingness to “trash” the city we love for personal gain.

 

Last four years

Since 2020, we have recovered from an unprecedented pandemic and Jonesboro is flourishing as a city and community. Specific highlights include:


 All told, city residents have seen more than $45 million in capital improvements made over the last 36 months, while maintaining a healthy financial cash reserve.

Several initiatives have been implemented to ensure and improve city government transparency, efficiency and integrity. We have seen better pay and benefits for the 600-plus city employees that work tirelessly in the 20-plus departments of our city government.

We have had a balanced budget and clean report from the Arkansas Legislative Audit for three consecutive years.

 

Leadership on display

In the midst of these many accomplishments, our mayor has continued to lead our city in a respectful, professional, competent, experienced manner while working closely with the city council.

Jonesboro’s successes have happened because of the strong leadership of Mayor Harold Copenhaver and his Senior Staff at city hall. They have built on the successes of our past leaders and taken us to bigger, bolder achievements. 

By example, Mayor Copenhaver continues to personally encourage and support small business startups, families and youth of all ages. The extra time he takes to be present, take photos and bring attention to these citizen accomplishments is noted and very appreciated.

 

A false narrative

Challenger LJ Bryant is ambitious but inexperienced and is willing to ignore facts in order to build a false narrative.

He has not presented a plan for our city’s future. He touts a 10-point list that is without substance or originality. Just GOOGLE “city 10-point plan” and you will see no fewer than 30 such lists from all over. Under scrutiny, the items on his list have been addressed at some level by every Mayor in the last 20 years.

It is important to remember that the challenger has been on the city council for seven years, but has tried to distance himself from the city government of which he is a part. He has made a feeble attempt to distance himself from his political heritage as well.

 

Vicious negativity

For this challenger, the only real plan has been to spend over $270,000 (in the general election) to run the most negative campaign in Jonesboro’s history in an attempt to destroy another person’s character. The vast majority of the challenger’s funds have come from only 20 donor families.

In the runoff cycle, the spending continues and the campaign has become even more dishonorable. Our mayor’s family has now been attacked in the challenger’s campaign material. All told, this challenger’s expenditure for both the general and runoff election will approach $500,000 for this mayor’s race! We as a city cannot stand this kind of financial irresponsibility.

A key insight was gleaned in a citizen’s text exchange with the challenger, posted on social media, in which Councilman Bryant cut the conversation short, saying that “Unfortunately, running for office doesn’t pay. It’s a hobby.”

The right choice is clear

Our family has chosen to live here for the last 35 years. We remain proud of our city, but are seriously disappointed by this campaign. We simply cannot let our city or our mayor down. Negativity and divisiveness are not part of local non-partisan politics and are a disgrace to real leadership. This is unbridled personal ambition. This kind of dishonorable behavior has no place in our community.

Our city needs a mayor with experience who has proven he is up to the job of continuing our progress, not someone who views it as a sideline position to flower his resume.

Runoff elections do not have the same number of voters as the general election, so please do not take this for granted. PLEASE go vote either early on Monday or on election day December 3rd. We need a strong honorable mayor with integrity, skill, and experience.

Jonesboro needs Mayor Harold Copenhaver. Again, PLEASE VOTE! If you need help on where and when to vote, please click here.

 

Dr. Robert L. Warner Jr. is a general surgeon based in Jonesboro, with over 41 years of medical experience. He specializes in general, thoracic, and vascular surgery. Dr. Warner graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1983. He has been a member of the Jonesboro Rotary Club since 1992.  He and his wife Mary Ellen were instrumental in forming the West End Neighborhood Association in Jonesboro, a nonprofit organization focused on community improvement and safety within the West End area.