Lowell Mayors Race Heats Up

More candidates running for mayor there than any other Arkansas city. Five people are vying for the mayor`s seat...including a city council member, a former mayor and the current mayor himself. With so many people running for one office the mix of ideas concerning what`s best for the city is diverse, but there are two things all the candidates can agree on-- a love of Lowell and the need for improved infrastructure. "The road projects that we currently have going on, I think we need to prioritize better. We still have citizens in our town that don`t have basic services like water and sewer," said former city councilman and candidate Michael Solomon. "These issues need to be addressed and I have a plan. A budgeting and planning program that would put these down in priority order for the next 5 years," says candidate Perry Long. "I am fully aware of what people in Lowell want and I believe I can produce that for them," Long said. "That`s part of the reason I`m running. The city of Lowell passed a one cent sales tax to help with some of these infrastructure needs three years ago and it`s my opinion that I`m not seeing that put into action like it should be," said Martha Brown, former mayor and candidate. "Some of our buildings are empty around this town and what we need to do is try to bring some more industry in," said candidate Ralph Late Jr. "There`s not a quick fix, we have a priority plan, we have a capital improvements plan," said current Mayor Phil Biggers. And as the end of the race heats up, the candidates want to tell voters why they`re the best one for the job. "From what I`m seeing and what I`m hearing walking the streets of Lowell, they just want a change in the mayor`s office," Brown said. "I think leadership is the big question on the ballot, leadership to continue with a positive vision," said incumbent Biggers.