A homicide reported Saturday has been followed by the usual lack of information from the Little Rock Police Department, beyond the acknowledgment of a body at an apartment complex.

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Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Steve Landers is spotlighting it.

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My thoughts: Neither the mayor of Little Rock nor the Little Rock Police Department, no matter who’s leading it, can do much to prevent the death toll of easily available guns, drugs and disputes among people who know each other.

The larger question: Is the singular issue of crime enough to elect an identifiable Republican car salesman, Landers, in still-blue Little Rock? At this second, four months away from the election, I’m not seeing it, even though my view is influenced by the many disappointments of the Frank Scott administration. His creation of more disunity, despite his promise to be a unifier, oddly might work in his favor. The election seems likely to be polarized along racial lines. A majority isn’t necessary to win, only 40 percent. Three candidates are evident so far. Scott wouldn’t mind a few more, confident that his base — about 40 percent of Little Rock is Black, as he is — IS unified behind him.

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