An example is our animal welfare shelter, Clark said. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. In 2022 he was named one of Cleveland Countys Men of Influence. Votes . 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. Click to reveal Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. During his service, he served four years in the Submarine Force, and twenty two years as a US Navy Seabee. You have permission to edit this article. Thats why I really like what the stormwater citizen committee has come up with. So I'm glad that people are watching and participating.. Previously, Blake has served as an intern reporter, senior news reporter, summer news editor and news managing editor. For accessibility assistance please contact the ADA Technician at 405-366-5424. 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.. The conservative candidatehas been criticized for being in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, for a rally led by former President Donald Trump, although Kish says she was nowhere near the U.S. Capitol when a pro-Trump mob stormed the building. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. Your IP: He moved to Norman in 1978 and was a longtime City of Norman employee who now sits on several Cleveland County citizen boards. Sworn In: 07/05/22 Mayoral and city council elections will take place Tuesday, Feb. 8. The two candidates made their cases to voters in a final push to get out the vote. 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. 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. Norman, OK 73019-4004. government. Affordable housing has always been the missing piece in Norman, and something that Norman has kind of always struggled with.. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single . from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the . 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. I will do everything in my power to support Mayor-elect Heikkila as he faces these challenges, she said. He retired as the Command Master Chief, 9th Naval Construction Regiment. They dont put debt on future generations to repay those bonds back.. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. 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. Experience: Before her election. 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. He and his wife Janet were married in 1976, and moved to Norman from Tulsa in 1978. Ryan Walters to retain secretary role, draw 2 paychecks. I think theres a lack of trust with what they did with our money.. It's time for the drama and the partisan politics to end, she said. I am not at all in favor of it, Dunn said. Low near 40F. Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. 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. She saidRiverwind Casino,owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, is the reason homelessness is on the rise in Norman. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. "We were the first todeclare a state of emergency," she said. 2. tomorrow by helping launch the careers of media professionals. I want you to know that I felt like I was the best person for the job, and Norman residents decided otherwise, and I will handle that, she said before congratulating Heikkila on his victory. If passed, the city would be able to allocate more resources to make infrastructure improvements to stormwater conveyance and collection systems. She also serves as director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Program in the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. It was an election both candidates fought on battleground issues facing Norman, from increasing police funding to boost staff levels to economic development and quality of life projects to retain families and attract tourism to the city. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Numerous polls show most Republicans agree with Trump's falseclaim that the election was stolen. Reach her atmwood@normantranscript.com or 405-416-4420. It looks like Norman was really ready to put a teacher on the school board, Ruggiers said. Issue Category All . 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. 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. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures or was invalidated by duplicate signatures. When our city council made Norman the first city in Oklahoma to commit to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035, the community was all for it. 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. 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. NORMAN, Okla. - Larry Heikkila has won the runoff race for Norman mayor, defeating incumbent Breea Clark.An unofficial vote count shows that Heikkila won 12,999 votes (53 percent) to Clark's . Because weve got a lot of major issues and difficult issues we will be facing. 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. 80 talking about this. Clark was elected mayor in a three-way contestin 2019after serving on the city council for three years. Low near 40F. Were trying to clean water and build roads., endorsement of mayoral candidate Nicole Kish. 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. Be Nice. 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. I believe its a citizen-based solution to a city-wide problem.. Norman Mayor candidate Larry Heikkila watches as election numbers come in Feb. 8 during his watch party for the general election at Red Rock Canyon Grill. In April, Norman will vote for a second time on a stormwater utility bond to address flooding and pollution problems. You have permission to edit this article. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. Kevin Stitts endorsement of mayoral candidate Nicole Kish is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. Both Kish and Heikkila have said they want to increase the number of police officers and boost pay across public safety departments. (They asked), Why would you want the progress youve made to be undone, Clark said. 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 election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. received 42.62 percent and 39.68 percent yes votes, 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. Clear skies. Thompson, who has owned and operated the Norman eatery Midway Deli for 36 years, is mounting an intraparty challenge against Clark. Ill really start digging into the budget, Ruggiers said. She is also a proud graduate of the 2018-19 OU Leadership Council class. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. 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. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Breea Clark is Of Counsel at WhitbeckBennett. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. E-mail: breea@ou.edu. 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.. Norman mayor-elect Larry Heikkila Norman's new mayor will be Larry Heikkila, who is far to the right of the more progressive Clark, as he made clear in a campaign ad earlier this year. Clark said the election was not about her nor was it about her opponent it was about improving Norman. Law School:University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. 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. 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. e-mail: mayor@NormanOK.gov, Vital Information: faculty, staff and alumni on campus and around the world for more than 100 years? 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. The proposition called for the monthly base fee to all customers to be raised from $6 to $7.80 for metered users. I have a servants heart and I want to be a voice for the people. 405-876-9216. perm_identityWho exactly is Clark? Clark said the rise in partisan politics that has saturated notable Norman City Council issues for the past year has no place in local decision making, and that shes glad to see candidates run with a focus on minimizing those influences in municipal government. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. The city also needs to update its master plan for development that reflects how Norman intends to grow, he said. Incremental increases based on water usage were also included in the proposition. Some political observers viewed those results as Heikkila having momentum. Clark and Hickman feel the same about many Norman issues and both have city council member experience. I am not in favor of the school bond, Im not in favor of any of the transportation bonds. Breea Diane Clark (age 39) is listed at 718 E Johnson St Norman, Ok 73071 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. ", What happened in June 2020 was hours of listening to residents saying that the current system is not working for them, and if your policing is not working for everybody in your community, then you have to change, Clark said. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. Breea serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. 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. Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasnt always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Clark also thanked her volunteers, her campaign workers and her family for their support. She . Hickman views it as a way to balance the budget while Clark acknowledged TIFs as a valid economic tool, but that Norman residents wanted it removed. Dunn spoke on his vision for Norman and set lofty goals for the citys role in national politics. 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. I tend to be right about in the middle. 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. Mailing Address: P.O. 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. 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. I think Norman Public Schools could use a lot more transparency. I thanked him for a clean race and spoke to him about how we can work together for a round two, she said. He also touted his experience as a small business owner and attorney, saying he had the tools to negotiate contracts and stand up for his client when the need arises. "I really object to the idea that funding the police department has turned into a Democrat-versus-Republican question," he said. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). 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. She cited Norman's low unemployment rate and record sales tax revenue as signsthe city's economy is strong. He also retired in 2010, after twenty-six years of service in the United States Navy. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Its very clear that everyone wants to keep moving in a positive direction.. Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. Box 370, Norman 73070 Phone: 405-876-9216 Phone: 405-366-5402 e-mail: mayor@NormanOK.gov Vital Information: Sworn In: 07/05/22 Current Term Ends: 07/01/25 Breea serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. 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. The future of our community and the future of our state is not something I'm willing to risk. 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. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. racist or sexually-oriented language. Clark missed the mayoralforum due to a work conflict, but later said in an interviewshe supports fully fundingthe police department. (The office) came at great personal cost to me, Clark told The Daily. Clear skies. But I actually see it as an advantage. Its the same reason why Donald Trump won after leftist Barack Obama left the White House," he said. Whoever is at the helm of the ship doesnt need a learning curve, she said last month. In addition he holds many technical certifications in Disaster Relief Operations, Occupational Safety, and Construction. 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. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. During the Feb. 8 primary, Heikkila and Clark defeated opponents "Midway" Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish and Alice Stephenson-Leuck. We'd love to hear eyewitness Former Mayor Breea Clark She represented her city in the 4th class of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership initiative and is currently a fellow in the VV Engage Global Fellowship with Vital Voices. Weve had issues with deciding is it a flat fee, is it based on water usage, is it based on impervious surface, Clark said. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. While on council, Thompson supported the city's first public safety sales tax that funded additional police officers. government. The City Charter dictates that if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, candidates who receive the most votes will face an April runoff. We make a whopping $100 a month to do this, so its certainly not for the money. recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association, ties to Unite Norman were elected to the council, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Current Legislative Committees keyboard_arrow_down. While the decision still resulted in an overall budget increase for NPD, the meeting encouraged the formation of Unite Norman. She also completed the 2018-19 Oklahoma Municipal Leagues Community Leadership Development class and founded the Norman Eastside Business Association. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. She also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors. With Mayor Lynne Miller not seeking re-election, two city council members and a community activist seek to fill her spot. If elected, Stephenson-Leuck plans to ask the tribe to build a new, state-of-the-art homeless shelter. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. Share with Us. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. She also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class. 32. She swore, if elected,not toimpose a maskmandateorimplement business lockdowns due to the pandemic. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. news. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. There was a problem saving your notification. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Before receiving her J.D. The individuals who do it, they dont take on debt. [1] Recall organizers submitted enough signatures to put the recall election against Councilwoman Petrone on the ballot. You have permission to edit this article. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. As an employee he served as the City of Norman Street Supervisor, then as a Personnel Analyst, and finally as the Safety Manager. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. 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. 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. . The past three months have been a bumpy ride for Clark, 37, a Kansas native who put herself through college at Wichita State and law school at OU. There has been a little bit of mistrust that has built up over the last couple of years.. Clark highlighted Normans perfect score 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. Thats not who we are. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). I love Norman, Hickman said. Funding the project has been a lengthy processfeaturingmultiple failed proposals. But, we are the county seat and it doesnt need to just be Normans problem, because its a countywide problem, its a nationwide problem. 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. E-mail:breea@ou.edu 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.. [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. A Democrat,Thompson, 65, aims to get national politics out of local politics, create harmony among the city council and bring civility and collaboration to municipal governing, whichhe says should remain nonpartisan. In the end, Clark survived the recall effort but could not prevail against Heikkila. Im thankful for Maricha and my family, as well as the many friends and volunteers who have supported me.. E.W. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 122-Gold. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". What tribal leaders are saying about Stitt inauguration. Mayor Heikkila and his wife have two adult children. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures, Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response, Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed. Norman Mayor candidate Larry Heikkila watches as election numbers come in Feb. 8 during his watch party for the general election at Red Rock Canyon Grill. "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.". Gender: Female. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. I told everyone I have one more term left in me and then someone else can have all the fun.. 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. Citing a study the council commissioned to better address homelessness and identify gaps in prevention programs, Thompson said he wants to follow through on those recommendations. 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. "I will be the champion Norman needs to make a positive impact for everyone in our community.". She also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class. . The turnout in Tuesdays election significantly eclipsed the turnout in 2019.
Levett Funeral Home Obituaries Decatur, Ga,
Lil Wayne Okay Sound,
Ark Artifact Of The Brute The Island,
Articles B