For our fourth live blog, and what may be our last one for the cycle, Blue Arkansas is happy to welcome Democratic candidate for Land Commissioner L.J. Bryant. If you think this would be a boring discussion considering the office, then you weren’t paying attention in the primary. L.J. made it clear that this office has an impact on all of us, and that’s all the more reason to make sure the next Land Commissioner hears your questions and knows your concerns. So, feel free to ask L.J. about his plans for the office and his campaign. Just remember, all we ask is that you respect our guest…that and have fun!
Blue Arkansas Welcomes L.J. Bryant
Oct 29, 2010 20 Comments ›› ARDem
Thanks, David. We’re looking forward to it.
Always glad to have you here LJ.
I guess I’ll get things started while we wait for folks to trickle in. We’ve heard a lot from people on the right and on the left that think the Land Commissioner (and other offices) should be appointed positions. Can you make the case for keeping this office as an elected office?
I want to ask for everyone’s vote because this is going to be a close election for everyone. It’s an important office because we need to keep property taxes low and get money for our local schools and governments. It’s time we bring accountability and transparency to our government.
Alright, but what do you say to those like John Brummett and the folks at “Progressive” Arkansas who think this office should be taken off the ballot entirely?
Many states elect a lot more offices than we do. Education commissioners, Insurance commissioners, etc… As Democrats, we believe in Democracy and the democratic process of electing folks. People on the right believe in a limited government and a separation of powers. If you have an appointment to this office and others like it, many would view it as too much power in one person’s hands. Elections lead to people discussing ideas.
Thanks to this being an elected office, we have run a campaign on ideas for better government.
My office uses old CD’s with old Plat maps on them. The CD’s are from the Land Commissioner’s office. The CD’s are difficult to use and make it difficult to do research on the information. Would you look into getting these important resources available online in a usable format?
LJ, great to talk to you. Thanks to you for being willing to come and answer questions, and thanks to David for doing this series of live blogs. Fantastic opportunity to actually interact with candidates.
If it’s OK, I’d like to give you a quote from your opponent, John Thurston, about you, and then give you a chance to respond to what he’s saying.
Thus saith Thurston:
“[L.J. Bryant] is focused more on the selling of unredeemable properties than in finding ways to help the tax payers pay their delinquent taxes and keep their property. Also, I question why he is willing to spend $1.3 million of the taxpayer’s money on aerial photos of these properties when there is no historical data to prove this practice actually helps to sell the properties and bring in significant revenue for the state.”
Jsamuel: Absolutely. The Land Commissioner’s has the people with the knowledge to perform these tasks with very little to no cost on the taxpayers. Our campaign has been about using free and existing technology to keep property taxes low and collect money for our public schools and local governments. With our leadership, we will get this accomplished.
Skywalker: We’ve advocated for the acceptance of credit cards in the Land Commissioner’s office so his statement is false because this will make it easier for people to keep their property. We will ensure that the best notification process is in place so citizens will be aware if they have tax delinquent property.
There is and will be existing technology with the county assessors and the Arkansas Geographical Information Systems office that can be integrated at little to the no cost to the Land Commissioner’s office. If people are able to view a photo of the parcel of land then it will be much easier for them to understand and then potential buy rather than reading a complicated legal description. Why not try new ideas if they cost little to no money? These new ideas will be able to generate more money for our public schools and local governments.
The Land Commissioner also has some say over the state’s mineral deposits correct? Can you give us an idea of how you’ll be a good steward of our resources?
ARDem: The Land Commissioner does not exclusively deal with the state’s mineral deposits because Game and Fish property is autonomous. Therefore the Land Commissioner has authority over state owned property that is not Game and Fish.
I am a property owner and enjoy the outdoors so I want to protect the long term interests of the state while considering the short term economic opportunity. We will ensure that the thorough leasing process is 100% transparent and available to the public.
What makes you the best person to have this office?
Kennedy: We have the ideas and plan in the place to best utilize the Land Commissioner’s office to help the public schools and local government in Arkansas.
In addition to our ideas, I have the best qualifications for this office. I am only candidate with a real estate license. We’ve been endorsed by several groups, including the Arkansas Realtors Association and the Arkansas Education Association.
I’ve publicly committed to the taxpayers of Arkansas that I will never drive a state vehicle. I will make sure the daily schedule is made public. And neither I nor any employee of the Land Commissioner’s office will accept any gifts from lobbyists. Ever!
Right now I’m looking at the Land Commissioner’s website:
http://www.cosl.org/default.htm
There’s a lot of information about Mark Wilcox…but there’s not a whole lot of useful and easily accessable information and tools, speaking from the point of view of someone who’s fairly computer illiterate. (There’s a reason I have a tech guy here!) Assuming you win this election, are there any plans to revamp the website and if so, how soon can we expect that?
ARDem; Our campaign has shown through our own website (www.ljbryant.com) and Facebook that we are committed to utilizing this free and existing technology to better inform Arkansans of exactly what the Land Commissioner’s office is doing. There is currently an IT staffer in the Land Commissioner’s office and they would be directed to do this work at no additional cost to the taxpayers.
Unfortunately we have the leave in a few minutes. Are there any other questions?
Just one from me-feeling good about this race?
ARDem: It’s going to be a close election year for everyone. We need voters to be well informed and so we need your help to spread the word.
Thanks for the great discussion. We believe it’s important that Arkansans are well informed voters. We ask that you help spread the word about our campaign of utilizing technology and accountably in government.
I ask for your vote and please join our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LJBryantforLandCommissioner) to stay to up to date with our campaign.
Thanks for joining us L.J.!