A Facebook group has emerged in support of recall targeted Fort Smith
city director Mike Lorenz, who is the first of three sitting Fort
Smith directors expected to be subjected to petition drives in order
to get enough signatures to put the attempted recalls before the
voting public.
Members of the Fort Smith Fraternal Order of Police and the local
Firefighters Union collected signatures on Saturday in Ward 3 on the
city’s southern border in what organizers called a “trial run” in
their effort to collect the 2,294 certified signatures they will need
to get the issue on the ballot.
The Facebook page in support of Lorenz was started on October 4, the
same day that city auditor Tracey Shockley provided information to the
city’s audit committee in a meeting that no one on the “list to be
notified” of city meetings was notified.
In addition, the website “Talk Business and Politics” published a
report last week identifying eight individuals as being members of
the committee that is supposed to be comprised of five civilians, one
a CPA, and two city directors. The report identified four current
members of the board a being “members” of the committee.
Lorenz is one of the three city directors listed on the city of Fort
Smith website as being a member of the committee. Directors Tracy
Pennartz and Keith Lau are the other two BOD members listed as
committee members on the site. Director Andre’ Good was also
identified as a member of the committee in the “Talk Business and
Politics” article.
Inside Fort Smith filed seven Freedom of Information Act request with
the city of Fort Smith concerning that meeting and other matters on
Monday morning.
As of 2 pm on Monday, the “Friends of Lorenz” page had attracted 163
followers. Using a picture of an “I Like Mike” campaign-style button
as it’s profile picture and the group picture of the
ceremony surrounding the recent lieutenant promotions by the city of
Fort Smith as a cover photo.
The page had three posts as of Monday.