I would like to create a rural commission to educate the city folk, if you will, on issues facing our rural community because I dont know what its like to have livestock and run a farm as my profession, and I dont pretend to know. Ultimately, local government issues, such as infrastructure, policing, zoning and economic development should not be partisan, Thompson said. Dunn is the only candidate who does not support the stormwater utility bond. Personal keyboard_arrow_down. Ultimately, despite what many have characterized as a year of polarizing local politics, Clark said she is grateful more Normanites have been interested in local participation. I want to thank everyone for putting their name on the ballot, she said. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. Some have argued my being a staff member at the university is a detriment, Clark 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. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. Do you appreciate the work we do as the only independent media outlet dedicated to serving OU students, One group, Unite Norman, attempted to recall Clark later that year, falling short of the required number of signatures required to trigger a recall election. But initially, as they are right now, I dont think theyre equitable, I dont think they summon or motivate our residents to change the way that their homescapes are designed so that stormwater isnt the problem.. 80 talking about this. 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. state. UPDATED: Heikkila edges out Clark in mayoral race. Grant won 54.41 percent of the vote, compared to 45.59 for Hobson. 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. "I really object to the idea that funding the police department has turned into a Democrat-versus-Republican question," he said. Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response sent Clark death threats online in May 2020, and Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed online throughout the pandemic. The City of Norman has made this mistake before. Dunn stressed oils importance and called several times for residents and businesses to use less of it. By July 2020, the group attempted to trigger a recall election. Her campaign for a second term, she said, is focused less on restating commitments made in her first three years and more on goals she will pursue, if reelected. There has been a little bit of mistrust that has built up over the last couple of years.. A proposition that would have raised the base fee charged to Norman residents who use city water services failed Tuesday, capturing just 45.75 percent of the vote. Helen Grant won the Norman City Council Ward 4 seat Tuesday, defeating opponent Gale Hobson. There was a problem saving your notification. news. Click on the video above to hear what . The city also needs to update its master plan for development that reflects how Norman intends to grow, he said. Clark graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005 and then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008. I give this to God.. 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. The number of citizens who supported Clark's ouster was 153-percent greater than the number of citizens who voted to elect Clark mayor in 2019. Once she returned from the nation's capital, Kish said she was harassed, stalked and doxxed by "leftists" that called her practice numerous times a day for weeks on end, leading her to hire off-duty Norman police officers as security. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. Email Us Now; 800-516-3964 . Norman remains the largest city in Oklahoma without a dedicated stormwater utility. In 2019, propositions for stormwater utility bond projects and a stormwater utility fee received 42.62 percent and 39.68 percent yes votes, respectively. 32. Experience: Before her election. She earned a Juris Doctorate in 2008, and became director of OUs JCPenney Leadership Program in 2018. Issue Category All . As a first-time candidate and a businesswoman not a politician I am proud of the race that we ran. Heikkila got 32 percent of the primary vote, and Clark received 36.5 percent. Midway Bob Thompson swept up 18.90% of the votes, while Nicole Kish gained 12.50%; Alice Stephenson-Leuck obtained 0.14% of votes. The proposition called for the monthly base fee to all customers to be raised from $6 to $7.80 for metered users. Prior to his election as mayor, he served as the Chairman of the Excise Board and Equalization Board, Vice-Chair of the Tax Roll Correction Board and as a Member of the Industrial Authority for Cleveland County. Fighting for the mayoral position of Norman, Oklahoma, Heikkila got around 53% of the total votes which was around 1600 more than what Clark got. Breea serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. [2], "Breea Clark, Larry Heikkila enter runoff election for Norman mayoral seat", "Pro-mask Oklahoma college-town mayor loses to rival backing 'personal freedoms', "Oklahoma Election Results: February 8, 2022", "FOP reverses course to back Heikkila; other organizations announce endorsements", "Oklahoma Election Results: April 5 Norman mayoral runoff election", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_Norman,_Oklahoma,_mayoral_election&oldid=1131202528, Sallys List, a PAC supporting progressive women candidates, Lions Den, a faith-based Christian business association, Oklahoma Second Amendment Rights Association, Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights, an organization that helps parents opt out of compulsory vaccines for children, Unite Norman, a pro-police political organization, This page was last edited on 3 January 2023, at 01:29. If they appreciate that, it is an immediate change in how they think about their suburban homes.. I find it sad that local government has the lowest voter turnout, because the decisions we make on the second and fourth Tuesday at the city council chambers impact Normanites lives way faster and more directly than any decisions you're going to see at the state and federal level. Department: JCPenney Leadership Program Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. Clark also praised NPDs efforts in interacting and building relationships with Normans unhoused residents, and said she hopes to pass additional funding to help the department staff its community outreach services. Both Kish and Heikkila have said they want to increase the number of police officers and boost pay across public safety departments. While the decision still resulted in an overall budget increase for NPD, the meeting encouraged the formation of Unite Norman. If youre able, please Then consider helping fund our endeavors. Funding the project has been a lengthy processfeaturingmultiple failed proposals. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. I tend to be right about in the middle. After that meeting, the police department has since restructured and created a community service and outreach bureau, more specific to building neighborhoods, building relationships, and better targeting at crimes.. 405-876-9216. Who is rating Clark ? This is hard.. You have permission to edit this article. During his service, he served four years in the Submarine Force, and twenty two years as a US Navy Seabee. The vote occurred in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in May 2020. Clark was elected mayor in a three-way contestin 2019after serving on the city council for three years. The married mother of two boys has been praised and vilified for signing Norman's emergency stay-at-home order earlier than most cities and waiting later than other cities to ease restrictions. "For example, our current Mayor and Council have dedicated City resources for the welfare of the transient population, which has become a detriment to the City, our citizens and local businesses.". She . "I think our next mayor needs to be able to steer us from … the waters of calamity into the sea of reason," he said. At a watch party Tuesday night, Clark told supporters she will weather the loss. I interned for (former President) George W. Bush, and at the state capitol of Kansas.. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Bill Hickman, the current Norman Ward 4 council member, works as an attorney and small-business owner. Mayor Breea Clark pursues second term, prioritizes homelessness, stormwater, encouraging voter participation, The Wichita, Kansas natives Norman ties began in 2005, when she moved to Oklahoma to attend the OU College of Law after receiving a bachelors degree in political science at Wichita State University. 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. Mailing Address: P.O. 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. Mayor Heikkila is a pro-business, pro-growth, avid supporter of Normans Police and Fire Departments. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. In April, Norman will vote for a second time on a stormwater utility bond to address flooding and pollution problems. 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. Low near 40F. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Low near 40F. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. He is a member of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. Its all around our city, Clark said. Municipal actions and municipal policies can change the way Oklahoma brands itself and how Oklahoma can go from being one of the least-desirable states to being a leader in shaping our foreign policy and shaping our domestic policy, Dunn said. 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. So I'm glad that people are watching and participating.. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Saying Heikkila's years of public servicemake him the "stable, experienced leader Norman needs right now," the Norman Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the conservative candidate who has vowed to "rebuild" the city's police and fire departments. It appears, for now, that voters wanted someone from the establishment on both sides. Clark received 4.45% more of the votes than Heikkila in the primary. 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. Heikkila and Leuck did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. At a packed election watch party in Norman on Tuesday night, Heikkila called for a more conservative Norman and encouraged other conservative candidates to run for upcoming City Council seats. I think theres a lack of trust with what they did with our money.. She said her experience in guiding Norman through the COVID pandemic and directing funding from federal sources, like the CARES Act and federal grants, will also be vital as Norman looks to emerge from the pandemic. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Sworn In: 07/05/22 I told everyone I have one more term left in me and then someone else can have all the fun.. racist or sexually-oriented language. 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The election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. accounts, the history behind an article. Heikkila said he wants the city council to focus on bread-and-butter municipal issues,such as police, fire, roads, bridges, sewerand trash pick up. Breea Diane Clark (age 39) is listed at 718 E Johnson St Norman, Ok 73071 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Analysis Efforts in Norman, Oklahoma, to recall Mayor Breea Clark and councilmembers Kate Bierman, Alison Petrone, Sereta Wilson, and Stephen Holmam were initiated in July 2020. In the culmination of two years worth of debate over city leadership, Larry Heikkila defeated incumbent Norman Mayor Breea Clark in todays runoff election, which featured significantly more turnout than the citys 2019 race. Norman, OK 73070. Clark said she had not heard from other candidates, but was working to contact them. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the Universitys Office of the Provost on the main campus and was instrumental in the creation of the Office of Academic Integrity Programs. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Clear skies. 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. If elected, Thompson said he wants to drop the political temperature by changing how the mayor's office is presented. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). Thompson said he jumped into the mayoral race because he figured the only way to stop the political divisiveness inNorman was a change in leadership. Dunn advocated for a Ward-by-Ward, door-by-door approach to inform people of oils value. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. Some political observers viewed those results as Heikkila having momentum. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. I also dont like the university elite hijacking Normans government. "If you aren't questioning the actual elections, and if they are free and fair, then I don't think you're paying attention," Kish said. Breea Clark is Of Counsel at WhitbeckBennett. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". "These people messed with my livelihood, and that is cancel culture and that should never happen in the city of Norman," Kish said. However, there is no clear answer about her affiliation. Larry Heikkila defeated incumbent Norman Mayor Breea Clark on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. First. Ruggiers picked up 64.17 percent of the vote, compared to Snells 35.83. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. 2. online throughout the pandemic. 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.. Her portrayal as a raging liberal by campaign opponents is wildly untrue and inaccurate, Clark said, given her voting record and past political experience. He retired as the Command Master Chief, 9th Naval Construction Regiment. She currently serves as Vice President of the Mayors Council of the Oklahoma Municipal League and on the Board of Directors for both the Oklahoma Municipal League and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments. . Threats of harming another Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol, The awkward family affair of Gov. You can make a one-time donation or a recurring pledge. Phone: 405-366-5402 One of the silver linings of the pandemic is people really did start paying attention to local government more, and regardless of what side you're on, I don't think that's a bad thing, Clark said. Breea Clark's Political Summary . Breea Clark, the current Norman Ward 6 council member, works as the director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Program at the University of Oklahoma's Michael F. Price College of Business. She also touted the city's hiring of a sustainability officer and a chief diversity and equity officer, saying the latter and the city council passingpro-LGBTQ policies and protectionscontributed to Norman getting a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's municipal equity index. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. While the group also endorsed candidates in Wards 2, 4 and 6, none were elected. on the 2021 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index a measure of how supportive municipal governments are of their 2SLGBTQ+ residents as a notable accomplishment of her term. NORMAN Although the four mayoral candidates challenging Norman Mayor Breea Clark span the political spectrum, they all agree public safety fundingwould be theirtop budget priority upon taking office. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. Thompson said he hopes his message of nonpartisan local politics continues to be heard. Asked his priority now that he is elected, Ruggiers said he wants to ensure families trust the district. E-mail: breea@ou.edu. Snell had served on the school board for more than two decades. You have permission to edit this article. 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.
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