Little Rock Look Back: Ark Municipal League 2002/2003 President Jim Dailey

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cityoflr_img_board_dailyToday is the final day of the Arkansas Municipal League’s 80th convention. It is taking place at the Statehouse Convention Center (which is on the site of the Hotel Marion – location of the first AML meeting). Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola will be installed as president today. He is the sixth Little Rock official to hold this position.

Today’s feature is on the fifth Little Rock official – Jim Dailey, who was Little Rock’s 71st Mayor.  He served as the 2002/2003 AML President. Not only was he Little Rock’s 71st Mayor, he was the AML’s 71st President.

Jim Dailey was first elected to the City Board of Directors in 1974 and served one term. From January 1977 to December 1978, he was Vice Mayor.  After taking a decade off to focus on the family business (and continue to be involved in civic affairs including serving as founding chair of Leadership Greater Little Rock), he returned to the City Board in January 1989.  In 1991 and 1992, he again served as Vice Mayor. He was re-elected to the Board in 1992 and was named Mayor in January 1993.  In November 1994, he was elected as the first popularly-elected Mayor of Little Rock under the City Manager form of government.

He was re-elected in 1998 and 2002.  His fourteen years as Mayor of Little Rock set a longevity record.  Upon his retirement the City’s fitness center was renamed the Jim Dailey Fitness and Aquatic Center.  This was in recognition of his lifelong interest in wellness activities.

As Mayor, he served as Chair of the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee of the Federal Communications Commission. He was also a member of the United States Conference of Mayor’s Communications Task Force.  He was appointed to the National League of Cities Board of Directors and the Municipalities in Transition on Public Finance.He also served as president of the Arkansas Municipal League in 2002 and 2003.

Since leaving office, he has continued his civic involvement by serving as a member of the Little Rock Airport Commission which oversees the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.  He is also involved in commercial real estate.