By Martin Couch
Voters went to the polls on Tuesday and elected Jill Dabbs to be the next Bryant mayor.
Dabbs will official take over the office in January of 2011 and will replace current mayor Larry Mitchell.
"Election Day 2010 was unique and a powerful turning point for Arkansas and the nation," Dabbs said in a written statement to Bryantdaily.com. "I'm honored to have been given the privilege of serving Bryant as mayor for the next four years.[more]
"We made history in Bryant on Nov. 2 when voters elected me, the city's first elected female mayor, but more importantly, I hope to make more history with new growth, better organization, community building and greater fiscal responsibility," she continued. "As promised, I will work to make Bryant city government more accessible to the people, more responsive to its needs and more transparent in its function."
Dabbs believes Bryant is facing some "daunting problems" as she takes office.
"I will build a team to quickly evaluate the function of City Hall and streamline its effectiveness with whatever changes my research indicates are needed," Dabbs said. "Also as promised, I will make our on-line accessibility of information and services clear and easy for all residents. I want the various departments of local government to improve their individual responsiveness and effectiveness to the community while enhancing Bryant's attractiveness to new business and new jobs."
Dabbs says the roads will be a priority for her.
"I am committed to our road infrastructure being repaired, improved and maintained better than in the past," she said. "Extending studies on flooding from the north to the south side of Bryant and getting the necessary funding to implement needed improvements is a top priority.
"I am also anxious to study and implement tried and true organizational concepts that will give fresh new identities to the neighborhoods, while improving their internal communication and civic awareness and fostering greater awareness of specific problems and their solutions," Dabbs continued. "I will be announcing some special programs soon that I believe our community will find to be exciting and invigorating."
Dabbs concludes her first statement to the public by thanking everyone who made this new administration possible.
"And to those who trusted me to lead it by casting their vote for me," she said. "I consider this to be a sacred honor, one that will never take lightly or for granted. I cannot say it often enough, that my door will always be open to you, to your concerns, suggestions, complaints and ideas on how to make Bryant a better place to live, work and play."
Dabbs encourages citizens to attend City Council meetings as frequently as possible and to be aware of the issues facing the city of Bryant.
"Hearing from you, the public, is essential and will be the first order of business at each of these meetings," she said. "The city's business will be practiced in the full light of day and my goal is for each citizen to feel connected to the way we implement changes in Bryant. Perhaps these are lofty goals for a new administration, but I think and believe Bryant deserves bold and aggressive leadership. I intend to do my level best in these next four years entrusted to me, to make you proud and to assure you that you made a wise decision in selecting me to lead our city.
"Like any human being, I'll make mistakes along the way, but I'm a responsible manager who has helped guide my family's business to be one of the most successful chiropractic practices in the state," Dabbs said. "I intend to apply the same principles of honesty, integrity, openness and putting people first that have guided me and my family to the success we've enjoyed. With the support of my wonderful husband and family, I will do all that I can to make Bryant not only the fastest growing city in Arkansas, but the best place to live, work and raise a family. I cannot thank each and every one of you enough who worked so hard for me and made this dream possible. I will try to never let you down. It's time now for me to roll up my sleeves and put all of this in motion and I ask for your continued support and prayers as I tackle the challenges ahead."
