Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
UAFS to host mayor for state of the city address
FORT SMITH — Mayor George McGill will deliver his 2020 state of the city address at 6 p.m. Feb. 19 at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, according to a news release from the university.
McGill’s address will include reports on city business, a review of successful initiatives 2019, and his plans and vision for this year. The speech will be in the Reynolds Room of the university’s Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.
“The state of the city address is my opportunity to share with residents the role and work of city government,”
McGill said. “Transparency is critical because what we do impacts all of our futures. There are matters we must prioritize in city planning today to ensure our growth and success in the future.”
The address will be the second of its kind at UAFS, according to the release. It’s being hosted by the university’s chapter of the American Democracy Project and the university’s Department of Political Science.
Williams Yamkam, assistant professor of political science and chairman of the American Democracy Project chapter, said part of the organization’s mission is to provide students, as well as the public, opportunities to interact with public officials in a way boosting civic engagement and political participation.
“Having our mayor stand before our students and the Fort Smith community to give an account of his leadership over the past year and lay out his vision for the city fits perfectly within our mission,” Yamkam said.
“I am delighted that the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith will host the residents of Fort Smith and the River Valley,” McGill said. “UAFS serves as a venue for public discourse, which is becoming a lost art. UAFS provides a safe environment to exchange ideas and develop solutions, and I encourage our youth and emerging leaders to attend and join me in building a stronger city.”
The address is free and open to the public. Residents looking for more information can contact McGill’s office or Yamkam at Williams. Yamkam@uafs.edu or (479) 788-7981.