Harold Copenhaver
Harold 'Cope' Copenhaver is an American politician and a former Democratic member of Arkansas [House of Representatives], representing District 58 from 2013 to 2015. After being unseated by Republican challenger Brandt Smith in the 2014 GOP landslide in Arkansas, he worked as a Senior Business Development Officer for Centennial Bank in Jonesboro. In August 2016, Copenhaver announced his candidacy for Mayor of Jonesboro, challenging two-term incumbent Harold Perrin. He finished second to the incumbent but failed to secure enough votes to force a runoff. In November 2020, Copenhaver was elected mayor of Jonesboro with Perrin's endorsement. He was reelected in the 2024 election.
Copenhaver also established the Mayor’s Youth Advancement Council, designed to engage high school students in civic leadership, community service, and city government. The council has grown from 40 members at its inception to nearly 100 participants by 2025.
Awards
In September 2024, Copenhaver was named Mayor of the Year by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police—the first Jonesboro mayor to receive the award. The award recognized his leadership and investments in public safety, including significant pay increases for first responders, expansion of police and fire personnel, and implementation of advanced technology such as the real-time crime center.- 2024 – Mayor of the Year, awarded to Mayor Copenhaver by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
Personal life
Education
Copenhaver attended Arkansas State University.Elections
In 2012, Copenhaver ran unopposed in the May 22 Democratic primary and won the November 6 general election with 5,682 votes against Representative Jon Hubbard.Copenhaver was elected in the 2020 Jonesboro mayoral election and was reelected in the 2024 election.