Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27ac526b8852e3 Im thankful for Maricha and my family, as well as the many friends and volunteers who have supported me.. Norman voters will cast ballots Tuesday, Feb. 12, to decide which of three candidates will become the next mayor of Norman. OK firm says some groups get special treatment in managed care bids. person will not be tolerated. Heikkila told NonDoc he decided to run in the wake of the Norman City Councils decision to shift more than $850,000 of a planned increase in the police budget to other municipal programs. Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. I think we could have a ward-specific citizen commission, and experts in stormwater infrastructure and water quality combine again and make a proposal.. Address: 307 W. Brooks [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. Kishhas litigation pending against several people she says made false statements about her that led her to endure death threats andlose clients and business income. Clark had planned to make this her final term as mayor. Breea Clark, the incumbent, had been mayor since 2019. Norman, OK 73070. Like Clark, Hickman has dealt with his own public backlashafter using his role asmoderator in a Ward 4 Facebook page to delete comments he judged as personal attacks. We make a whopping $100 a month to do this, so its certainly not for the money. She addressed her relationship with the university in an interview with NonDoc. Funding the project has been a lengthy processfeaturingmultiple failed proposals. While the decision still resulted in an overall budget increase for NPD, the meeting encouraged the formation of Unite Norman. He also retired in 2010, after twenty-six years of service in the United States Navy. . journalism is worth and how to fund the civic good that robust news organizations can generate. state. Stephenson-Leuck said she isnot accepting campaign contributions, and was relying on a series of public mayoral forums to promote her campaign. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau and as an interim Pre-Law Club Advisor. The individuals who do it, they dont take on debt. Ultimately, local government issues, such as infrastructure, policing, zoning and economic development should not be partisan, Thompson said. I felt like it would be a disservice to my community and my legacy of service and all that weve accomplished over the last three years to walk away. The future of our community and the future of our state is not something I'm willing to risk. (They asked), Why would you want the progress youve made to be undone, Clark said. "We're still in the middle of this crisis,and there's no one better equipped to keep us going forward in our recovery,with an optimistic view to the future," Clark said. He retired as the Command Master Chief, 9th Naval Construction Regiment. Were not your typical city that just has an urban feel to it if you look at our map, it goes way past Lake Thunderbird, Clark said. In the end, Clark survived the recall effort but could not prevail against Heikkila. I assume its the DNC agenda, but we dont like that here. Funding the project has been. Long-term maintenance and staffing of such facilities could pose an obstacle for the city, Clark said. You have permission to edit this article. Weve never addressed this, ever. Asked if she still has concerns about election integrity or if she has faith in the 2020 presidential election results, Kish said polling shows people across the country have concerns about election integrity. Box 370, Norman 73070 Phone: 405-876-9216 Phone: 405-366-5402 e-mail:
[email protected] Vital Information: Sworn In: 07/05/22 Current Term Ends: 07/01/25 Were trying to clean water and build roads., endorsement of mayoral candidate Nicole Kish. Part of that solution should involve more collaboration between rural and urban Normanites, she added. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the . 2023 Whitbeck Bennett | Website By CC&A Strategic Media. "I really object to the idea that funding the police department has turned into a Democrat-versus-Republican question," he said. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote inTuesday's election, the top two vote getters will square off in an April 5 runoff election. Be Proactive. We'd love to hear eyewitness Asked his priority now that he is elected, Ruggiers said he wants to ensure families trust the district. Your IP: Click to reveal Because weve got a lot of major issues and difficult issues we will be facing. I thanked him for a clean race and spoke to him about how we can work together for a round two, she said. Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. Don't Threaten. He said he wants to rebuild public confidencein the city council and bring backcivilizeddialogue and respectful disagreementto local politics by working with all sides of an issue to find compromises. She earned a Juris Doctorate in 2008, and became director of OUs JCPenney Leadership Program in 2018. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. Dunn is the only candidate who does not support the stormwater utility bond. Gender: Female. Heikkila,70, is retired after serving 26 years in the U.S. Navy and working for the city for 17 years, ending his career as a safety manager who ensuredmunicipal departments hadsafe workplaces. I told everyone I have one more term left in me and then someone else can have all the fun.. The citys unique position as the only Oklahoma municipality required to vote on the creation of a public utility poses a challenge for city officials to create an easily understandable, equitable funding solution, Clark said. Low near 40F. At a mayoral forum held by the Norman chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police last month, the candidatesvowed toprioritizepublic safety funding after the Norman City Council, including Clark, in 2020 approved a cut to the proposed police budget an issue that has embroiled the city ever since. She also wants the city to vote on reallocating Norman Forward dollars generated from a 15-year sales tax increase intended to fund quality-of-life improvements across the city. Previously, Blake has served as an intern reporter, senior news reporter, summer news editor and news managing editor. Clear skies. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Stephenson-Leuck, 67, said she jumpedinto the mayoralrace due to thepolice budget cut in 2020. Voting rights and elections: How new state laws could affect you. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. "I hold the confidence the citizens have given me to bring a change to Norman very serious," he said. Issue Category All . Breea Clark, Larry Heikkila make final cases to voters ahead of Norman mayoral runoff election Ari Fife, senior news reporter Apr 3, 2022 Updated Apr 4, 2022 0 Mayoral incumbent Breea. Thompson, who has owned and operated the Norman eatery Midway Deli for 36 years, is mounting an intraparty challenge against Clark. Floyds death led to efforts across the country to reduce police funding, but calls to defund the policy also gave birth to a movement among people who opposed the idea. . She also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. I dont make partisan decisions, because partisan politics dont fill potholes. In addition to her role with the City of Norman, she serves as the Director of the JCPenney Leadership Center in the Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. As a first-time candidate and a businesswoman not a politician I am proud of the race that we ran. I know theres a candidate (Bob Thompson) trying to say that we shouldnt be red or we shouldnt be blue, and I absolutely agree, Clark said. No education information on file. Be Truthful. In the Norman community, she served on the Norman City Council from 2016-2019 representing Ward 6 in NE Norman and currently serves as its first Millennial Mayor. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stretch those federal dollars, build partnerships and collaborate to solve long-standing problems in our community.. As the only non-incumbent candidate who has served on the city council before, Thompson said his two terms representing Ward 1from 2005 to 2009will help him lead the council without the learning curveother candidates might face. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism During his service, he served four years in the Submarine Force, and twenty two years as a US Navy Seabee. This is a really important election for Norman, Hickman said, adding that the new mayor will appoint a new city manager and a new city attorney and that he has the necessary experience to do so. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Ill really start digging into the budget, Ruggiers said. E.W. is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. I want to thank every candidate, she said. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Marland, In the face of mass migration, we can learn from Oklahomas young people, Valentine voting: For the love of democracy, Out of Character: Jenna Miller explores body positivity, queer identity, Norman elections: Bree Montoya ousts Kelly Lynn, school bond proposals pass, Seeking reelection, Norman Ward 3 Councilman Kelly Lynn faces claim he vacated seat with judicial job, Midwest City mayor proposes residency requirement for comments at council meetings, Longtime newsman talks newspaper troubles, HD 45: Annie Menz, Teresa Sterling flex experience, oppose new turnpikes, Please be brave: Community pleads with Norman Board of Education, Seeking $30 million for food deserts, innovative grocery store proposal faces oversight questions, Despite cocaine report, U.S. attorney silent on Dan Kirby fatal wreck inquiry, Woke language removed from academic standards, Marla Hill still absent at State Board of Ed meeting. During her tenure as mayor, the Norman City Council allocated CARES Act funding, Norman remains the largest city in Oklahoma without a dedicated stormwater utility. During her tenure as mayor, the Norman City Council allocated CARES Act funding to local businesses and vaccine distribution. In April, Norman will vote for a second time on a stormwater utility bond to address flooding and pollution problems. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. On Tuesday, the total ballooned to more than 24,000. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. Its hard to focus on my professional career when the City of Norman requires so much attention. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single term, Clark said support shes received from community leadership inspired her to run again. or anything. Office:Adams Hall, Suite 106 Thevote theOklahoma Supreme Court later said violated the state's Open Meeting Actlargely led to the formation of grassroots group Unite Norman and misleading allegations that the council voted to "defund the police. Blake Douglas joined the OU Daily news desk in October 2018, and is currently the editor-in-chief. Potential affordable housing solutions under consideration now include single-room occupancy spaces near the intersection of Robinson Street and Berry Road. The City of Norman has made this mistake before. Use the 'Report' link on Every election cycle, someone will point out I started out in Norman as a registered Republican, Clark said. Clear skies. He said that the failure of city government to deliver on the Norman FORWARD project, including the construction of a new senior center, had eroded public trust. After beginning her stint in local government as Normans Ward 6 city council member in 2016, Clark defeated opponents Bill Hickman and Evan Dunn in the 2019 mayoral election with 51.43 percent of the vote. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. City of Norman, 201 W Gray St,Norman, OK 73069, Information on City Council and Committee Meetings. She teaches several undergraduate courses, includingIntroduction to LeadershipandLeadership in International Settings. The money should instead be used to fund the city's "essential needs," she said. Dunn acknowledged that selling war bonds might not generate the revenue of stormwater utility bonds, but called it a first step in finding some financing. After a single term as Norman's mayor, Breea Clark was defeated in Tuesday's runoff election, by a vote of 53.4% to 46.6%. OU women's gymnastics: Trautman's 10 helps Soon, Paramedic reunites with tornado victim family, Train ride home turns unusual for county commis, By Mindy Ragan Wood | Transcript Staff Writer, Digging out: Tornado damages home, downs power lines; minor injuries reported, Maverick's brings dive bar feel to Campus Corner, Norman man charged with murder in Lake Thunderbird case, Cleveland County Sheriff's Office identifies inmate who hanged himself, Judge sides with homebuilder in lawsuit against city, Southern Baptists oust Saddleback Church over woman pastor, Cleveland County Detention Center inmate hangs himself, Tornado Coverage: Highway 9 reopening among second day developments. "I think our next mayor needs to be able to steer us from … the waters of calamity into the sea of reason," he said. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. Before receiving her J.D. In 2019, propositions for stormwater utility bond projects and a stormwater utility fee received 42.62 percent and 39.68 percent yes votes, respectively. If reelected, Clark aims to find solutions to Norman's storm water issues, improve infrastructureand focus on making the community more sustainable and inclusive. She cited Norman's low unemployment rate and record sales tax revenue as signsthe city's economy is strong. Earlier in the pandemic, some Norman residents criticized Clark for requiring some businesses to closeand imposing capacity limits onbusinesses andpublic gatherings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. There arent just parts of Norman, little pockets, having this issue. The youngest female and first Millennial to hold this seat, she is invested in. #okwx #texomawx. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). After withstanding a recall attempt in 2020 and coming under fire from some residents for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Clark, a Democrat,is vying for a second three-year term on the nine-member city council. "We were the first to put a maskmandate in place, the last to remove it, and so I'm very, very proud of how we managed to protect our residentswhile keeping our economy going.". Norman, OK 73019-4004. [We need] to combat the ease with which alcoholism, casino addictions can all cause the moral corrosion and collective decay of our society and the common culture, he said. When it comes to my experience as the incumbent, this is the most unique situation our city has been in in a century, Clark said. Hickmans campaign has received$48,670 in contributions, Clark has received$18,781, and Dunn did not raise enough to meet the minimum reporting requirement. . I want to say thank you to my supporters and all the volunteers and communities that rolled out, Clark said Tuesday. Do you appreciate the work we do as the only independent media outlet dedicated to serving OU students, 13h. Mailing Address: P.O. racist or sexually-oriented language. 405-876-9216. perm_identityWho exactly is Clark? Numerous polls show most Republicans agree with Trump's falseclaim that the election was stolen. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. I think accountability is always good, and voter education. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. e-mail:
[email protected], Vital Information: Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. If passed, the city would be able to allocate more resources to make infrastructure improvements to stormwater conveyance and collection systems. SUPPORT US TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $1. The fire department is down 8 or 9 percent, and police is down about 7 percent. The City has deviated tremendously from the mission of a municipal government, and has begun focusing its efforts on small segments of the population," he said in a news release. If youre able, please Im really excited about the win tonight, Ruggiers said. UPDATED: Heikkila edges out Clark in mayoral race. "Alice" Stephenson-Leuck and "Midway" Bob Thompson. tomorrow by helping launch the careers of media professionals. Ruggiers is a former Norman Public Schools teacher, and he said his election shows that the community wanted to give teachers a voice. Some Norman conservatives are hopeful this election could lead to a sea change in city leadership, especially after two Republicans with ties to Unite Norman were elected to the council over the summer. She also said she wants to help the city prioritize how to spendmillions in federal aid comingfrom the American Plan Act and the $1 trillion infrastructure package. Its about long-term water quality and supply, its also about our stormwater drainage pipes, which we have never looked at, so therell be lots of replacement, and then lots of maintenance.. The two candidates made their cases to voters in a final push to get out the vote. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Three years ago, the police union endorsed Clark, but the group rescinded its endorsement after the 2020 vote on the police budget that led the Norman Police Department to eliminate nine unfilled officer positions. Phone: (405) 325-2501. At OKC, a record high temperature of 83 degrees occurred mid-day, then plummeted to a record low of 17 degrees at midnight. We moved to Norman in 2005 from Wichita, Kansas, and started our family while I was in law school at the University of Oklahoma. In that race, 13,068 total votes were cast. I would like to be added to the WB's monthly newsletter, "A Family Matter". We believe The Clark said the main separation between her and Hickman was leadership style. Specifically, Clark said she aims to produce long-term facilities solutions for Normans homeless population, pass a stormwater utility for Norman and bolster local infrastructure. At one point during the pandemic, I called our city manager (Darrel Pyle) and said, Darrel, I am like 99 percent sure Im not running again.. Heikkila got 32 percent of the primary vote, and Clark received 36.5 percent. AlthoughHeikkila saidthe council shouldn't be sofocused on issues related to homelessness, he said the city should work with the state to get mental health treatment for those who need it and try to entice moreproperty owners to offer government-subsidizedaffordable housing. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. Clark said she stands by her handling of the pandemic that earned her recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association. He retired from the City of Norman in April, 2014. Incremental increases based on water usage were also included in the proposition. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Her challengers in the nonpartisan race are Nicole Kish, Larry Heikkila, A.E. 210.65.88.143 Heikkila received 53.39% of the votes, beating incumbent Breea Clark. Before receiving her J.D. Share Background Report Overview of Breea Diane Clark Lives in: Norman, Oklahoma Phone: View phone number Age: 39 Breea Clark's Voter Registration As mayor, he said he would deliver on projects people had voted for. Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. Kevin Stitt, Kishsaid she wants tobring a new perspective to the Norman City Council and draw on her experience managing her own practice to create a more inviting business environment in Norman. In addition he holds many technical certifications in Disaster Relief Operations, Occupational Safety, and Construction. It appears, for now, that voters wanted someone from the establishment on both sides. Heikkila and Leuck did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. "I know I can't force the nearby casino (to pay), but I would march up there and say, 'you're contributing tohomelessness in Norman by your presence here,'" she said. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single . A total of 22,712 voters cast ballots, with 8,281 for Clark, 7,269 for Heikkila, 4,292 for Thompson, 2,838 for Kish and 32 for Leuck, preliminary results from the Oklahoma State Election Board showed. in June 2020. The second attempt had more support than the first, so Im hopeful we can get it across the finish line.