Thiel announces reelection bid

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


Thiel Seeks Third Term On City Council

By Christopher Spencer
The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE - Council Member Brenda Thiel wants a third term representing Ward 1 residents in Fayetteville.

Thiel said it's important that some representatives with experience remain in their elected positions with a new mayor being elected and new aldermen coming on board after city elections Nov. 4. No one has announced he or she is running against Thiel.

She has held the Ward 1, Position 2 seat since 2001. Ward 1 covers south central and southeast Fayetteville.

The most pressing issue facing the city right now is declining revenue, and Fayetteville leaders need to focus on economic development and ensuring existing businesses remain in Fayetteville, she said.

Keeping the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville also is a crucial need, she said.

Thiel said she was proud of the work she did developing the city's hillside development ordinance. The ordinance didn't have quite "the teeth" that she said she wanted it to have, but it did go a long way toward offering good construction practices in development, she said.

Thiel is a Fayetteville native and has lived in Ward 1 for more than 20 years. She supported the adoption of the Downtown Master Plan and the city's 2025 Plan.

She said she has been a strong advocate of long-range planning for growth. She promoted the Walker Neighborhood Plan and said she hopes future development comes to south Fayetteville.

She sponsored ordinances that waive building fees for Habitat for Humanity and the Seven Hills Homeless Center.

She also served on the first Attainable Housing Study Committee that looked at ways to make housing more affordable in the city.

She serves as chair on the city's Ordinance Review Committee and Environmental Concerns Committee. She is a member of the Street Committee and Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.

At A Glance

Brenda Thiel

Age: 59

Employment: Owns and manages Thiel Properties.

Education: Fayetteville High School graduate; some college.

Family: Widow

Source: Staff Report