During his tenure as Prosecuting Attorney, Mayor Stodola focused his energies on breaking up gangs, stomping out drugs, and preventing youth violence. He drafted and managed the successful passage of countless criminal statutes including the Arkansas Safe Schools Act, the Arkansas Gang Organization and Enterprises Act, Drug Abatement Act (which provides an innovative approach to fighting the drug problem by shutting down drug houses as public nuisances), and legislation requiring school principals to report any criminal activity that occurs in schools.
Mayor Stodola has served as Vice-President of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), as well serving as a lecturer for the NDAA in Argentina and Russia. He is Past President of the Arkansas Prosecuting Attorneys Association and Arkansas City Attorneys Association, as well as Past Chair of the Municipal Operations Section of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Mayor Stodola is a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock, and served as Chair of Class 16 for that program. In addition, he is a member of the Heights Neighborhood Association, and chaired the Kavanaugh Promenade Project.
Mayor Stodola has served on the board of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, is involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has served as president of the Quapaw Quarter Association, as well as the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas.
Mayor Stodola graduated from the University of Iowa with a double major in Political Science and Journalism, and received his law degree from the University of Arkansas, School of Law in Fayetteville. The Mayor is married to Jo Ellen and has three children; a daughter, Allison; and sons, Robert and John Mark.
