Hey Fort Smith!

Our community just made a massive piece of history at the ballot box. If you’ve been following the buzz around town, you know this election cycle brought some of the biggest structural questions our city has faced in nearly six decades.

A Historic Change at City Hall

Right here in the Fort, voters have officially approved a major ballot initiative that completely transforms how our local government operates. Since 1967, Fort Smith has run under a city administrator form of government. That era is coming to a close.

The newly approved measure overhauls this setup, transitioning us into a mayor-council system.

Here’s what Fort Smith needs to know today about what changes:

  • More Executive Power for the Mayor: The elected mayor will transition into an executive role with expanded administrative authority.
  • Expanded City Council: The current seven-person Board of Directors will eventually be replaced by an expanded eight-person City Council.
  • More Say at the Ballot Box: Key positions—including the City Clerk, City Attorney, and City Treasurer—will transition from appointed roles into elected positions chosen directly by you.

Don't expect things to transform overnight. Fort Smith will continue operating under its current board framework during the multi-year planning phase. The formal elections for the newly structured mayor-council seats are scheduled for November 2028, with officials taking office in January 2029.

Mayoral Race Headed to a Runoff

Because we had seven passionate candidates vying for the mayoral seat to replace outgoing Mayor George McGill, the vote split was wide. Since no single candidate secured more than 50% of the vote, the race is officially heading to a runoff election.

Christina Catsavis and Daniel Williams were the top two vote-getters and will square off in the final runoff scheduled for Tuesday, December 1.

Community Takeaway

This is a defining chapter for the River Valley. By moving away from a system built in the late '60s, our community is choosing a more direct line of accountability between elected officials and local neighborhoods. Make sure your voice stays heard—mark your calendars for the December 1 runoff!

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