A City That Works for Everyone
Fayetteville has incredible potential — and the plans to match it. Now we need leadership that follows through: progressive in our values, conservative with our finances.
Endorsements
About Kyle
I'm a Ward 4 resident who taught high school geometry for 18 years before entering local government. Before I ever ran for office, I helped lead the grassroots campaign to pass Fayetteville's civil rights ordinance — a resident-led initiative that the voters approved in 2015. That experience taught me what civic engagement looks like when it works.
From 2017 to 2020, I represented Ward 4 on the City Council. I focused on street safety, responsible infrastructure investments, and expanding opportunities for residents to participate in city government. I worked with neighborhoods on the 2019 comprehensive plan update and the 71B Corridor plan, and I pushed for the zoning code modernization that should have followed.
Since leaving office, I went to work for a neighborhood developer and homebuilder because I wanted hands-on experience working on the housing challenges our neighbors face every day. I'm active with Fayetteville Strong, the local Strong Towns conversation group that promotes fiscal responsibility, safe transportation, affordable housing, and government transparency.
Ward 4 deserves a council member with the experience to be effective from day one and the vision to move us forward.
My Platform
Guided by principles from the Strong Towns movement — a nonpartisan framework for building fiscally resilient, people-centered communities.
Fiscal Responsibility & Infrastructure
Voters entrusted us with $375 million in bonds, and every dollar of new infrastructure creates a 50-year maintenance obligation. We owe taxpayers lifecycle cost analysis on major projects and a public dashboard so they can track how their investment is being spent.
What I'll do →Managing Growth with Modernized Zoning Rules
We will never meet the opportunities of 2030 with the policies of 1970. Our 2019 comprehensive plan laid the groundwork — now it's time to modernize our development code to match the city we're becoming.
What I'll do →Trust & Civic Engagement
Our biggest decisions involve the school district, the university, and neighboring cities — but these institutions too often operate in silos. We need transparency, early coordination, and genuine public input.
What I'll do → Read the policy paper (1)Local Economic Development
Economic gardening, not big-game hunting. A diversified local economy with dozens of thriving small businesses is more resilient than betting on a single large outside employer.
What I'll do → Read the policy paper (1)Transportation & Connectivity
Our trail system is the gold star on Fayetteville's report card — now let's extend that standard to our streets. Wedington needs safe crossings. Subdivisions need traffic calming. Everyone deserves a network that works, not just drivers.
What I'll do →Housing Choice & Affordability
70% of Fayetteville households are one or two people, but most of our housing is three-bedroom single-family homes. ADUs, duplexes, and townhomes are evolutionary change that builds individual wealth — not revolutionary change that transforms neighborhoods overnight.
What I'll do → Read the policy papers (2)Sustainability & Green Space
Sustainability and fiscal responsibility are the same argument. Compact development preserves more green space than sprawl and costs less to serve.
What I'll do → Read the policy papers (2)
Why This Race Matters
Fayetteville has done the hard work of planning. Voters approved a $375 million infrastructure bond. We adopted a comprehensive plan in 2019 to guide how our city grows. The next step — modernizing our development codes to match that vision — is still waiting. Meanwhile, we have $120 million in deferred water and sewer maintenance that has to be addressed. The foundation is laid; now we need to build on it.
Right now, development proposals come to the Planning Commission under outdated rules, and neighbors are caught in the middle. We can fix that — not by saying "no" louder, but by updating the standards so the rules match what our community actually wants. Better drainage standards. Stronger tree preservation. Zoning that reflects our plans instead of fighting them.
Ward 4 is ready for a council member who has done this work before and is eager to do it again.
In the News
Kyle on the issues — in his own words.
“A City Is a Conversation”
FayetteForward · Episode 042
Kyle joins Nick and Meredith Castin to talk housing, zoning reform, Strong Towns, incremental development, and why Fayetteville’s best days are still ahead.
“If we’re not keeping the local vibe fresh, the corporations know what they’re doing. They’ve got experience bringing in the same thing they’ve done everywhere else — and that’s not what we want to become.”Listen to the episode →
Kyle Smith Announces Campaign for Fayetteville City Council
Campaign Announcement
Former Ward 4 council member and 18-year educator runs on fiscal accountability, economic development, and housing choice. “Progressive in our values, conservative with our finances.”
“The best way to prevent the massive, disruptive developments people fear is to enable small, incremental changes everywhere.”Read the full release →
Get Involved
Municipal races are decided by the smallest margins. In a low-turnout election, every single conversation matters. This campaign runs on neighbors talking to neighbors — and the difference between winning and losing could be a few dozen doors.
- Knock doors with us on weekends
- Make phone calls to Ward 4 voters
- Host a yard sign in your front yard
- Share the campaign with friends and neighbors
- Host a house party or neighborhood meet-and-greet
Sign Up to Volunteer
Contact Kyle
Questions, ideas, or something happening on your street I should know about? Reach me directly.
- Emailkyle.smith@kyle4fay.org
- Call or text479-442-4175
Support the Campaign
Municipal races are won at the doors. Your contribution goes directly to voter contact — door-to-door canvassing, mailers, and digital outreach to reach every voter in Ward 4.
Contribute to Kyle's CampaignPaid for by Vote for Kyle Smith