The incumbent also thanked Thompson for running a clean race. Political Experience keyboard_arrow_down. 2. Helen Grant won the Norman City Council Ward 4 seat Tuesday, defeating opponent Gale Hobson. 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. Some have argued my being a staff member at the university is a detriment, Clark said. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism 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. 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. Mayor and city council recall, Norman, Oklahoma (2020-2021) - Ballotpedia In the race are incumbent Breea Clark, Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish, Larry Heikilla and Alice Stephenson-Leuck. Just a Mayor Who Can't Say No to Renewable Energy | Sierra Club Low near 40F. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). Breea Clark - University of Oklahoma Ruggiers picked up 64.17 percent of the vote, compared to Snells 35.83. Heikkila was endorsed by Cleveland County Commissioners Darry Stacy and Harold Haralson, the local fraternal order of police and the firefighters union, among others. Norman, OK 73019-4004. She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. It was built, but we were not prepared for the staffing and maintenance costs. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. Im really excited about the win tonight, Ruggiers said. Clark became Normans 60th mayor in 2019 after serving three years on the City Council. "These people messed with my livelihood, and that is cancel culture and that should never happen in the city of Norman," Kish said. He serves at the Cleveland County Detention Center and at Mission Norman as a Chaplain endorsed by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. E-mail: breea@ou.edu. I dont make partisan decisions, because partisan politics dont fill potholes. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma's law school anddirector of OU'sJ.C. Penney Leadership Center, Clark decided to run for reelection because she believes she's the best person to continue guiding Norman through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Norman resident and lifelong Republican John Trice, 68, said he envisionsthe political winds shifting this election cycle. Experience: Before her election. He also serves as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at a local church. Gov. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. In 2022 he was named one of Cleveland Countys Men of Influence. Larry Heikkila was elected as the 61st mayor of Norman in 2022. He also voiced support for no-tax transportation bonds that would allow Norman to build a new traffic management center. Don't Threaten. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart Ruggiers is a former Norman Public Schools teacher, and he said his election shows that the community wanted to give teachers a voice. But I actually see it as an advantage. "Everyone who ran entered the mayoral race had one central goal, and that was to improve the City of Norman. Im thankful for Maricha and my family, as well as the many friends and volunteers who have supported me.. "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. 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. Her portrayal as a raging liberal by campaign opponents is wildly untrue and inaccurate, Clark said, given her voting record and past political experience. Department: JCPenney Leadership Program OU Daily and Crimson Quarterly magazine provide real value to this community both now by covering OU, and "Adequately funding itjust seems obvious.". Office: Mayor (Norman, OK) Track This Politician . She earned a Juris Doctorate in 2008, and became director of, After beginning her stint in local government as Normans Ward 6 city council member in 2016, Clark, defeated opponents Bill Hickman and Evan Dunn. Im invested in both [the City of Norman and OU], and so Im going to make sure our negotiations are fair.. . Dunn is the only candidate who does not support the stormwater utility bond. "I think our next mayor needs to be able to steer us from … the waters of calamity into the sea of reason," he 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. Phone: 405-366-5402 Breea Clark (incumbent) Breea Clark Profession: Current mayor of Norman and director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Center at the University of Oklahoma. One of her top issues is addressinghomelessness. No education information on file. 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. 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. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. It appears, for now, that voters wanted someone from the establishment on both sides. 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 . I dont think people know a single barrel of oil contains 25,000 hours of human muscle power, Dunn said. Numerous polls show most Republicans agree with Trump's falseclaim that the election was stolen. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. 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. In a recent election she fought against the conservative, so it is certain that she ain't conservative. Together they owned a small glass business on Main Street for four years. You have permission to edit this article. A political outsider endorsed by Gov. There arent just parts of Norman, little pockets, having this issue. Mayoral and city council elections will take place Tuesday, Feb. 8. 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. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. 405-876-9216. perm_identityWho exactly is Clark? The youngest female and first Millennial to hold this seat, she is invested in. Law School:University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. I would like to be added to the WB's monthly newsletter, "A Family Matter". 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. Breea Clark, the incumbent, had been mayor since 2019. City officials have also consulted with Griffin Memorial Hospital which sits on state-owned land under the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services about constructing multifamily affordable housing. She also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class. Thats why I really like what the stormwater citizen committee has come up with. By July 2020, the group attempted to trigger a recall election. Affordable housing doesn't just affect the homeless, it affects people who live paycheck-to-paycheck, Clark said. is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. E-mail:breea@ou.edu Grant won 54.41 percent of the vote, compared to 45.59 for Hobson. I thanked him for a clean race and spoke to him about how we can work together for a round two, she said. Ryan Walters to retain secretary role, draw 2 paychecks. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Your IP: 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. Grant, who works at Oscillator Press in Norman and serves on several municipal committees, ran on a platform of bridging the divide between Normans urban core and its outlying areas. She saidRiverwind Casino,owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, is the reason homelessness is on the rise in Norman. Liberal Oklahoma Mayor Faces Recall Posted August 16th, 2020 by Iron Mike Unite Norman just turned in 20,560 signaturesin their attempt to force a recall election of their new mayor - Breea Clark. When asked to provide evidence of her claim,Stephenson-Leuck, who is retired, cited statistics that homelessness and gambling cango hand-in-hand, but she had no Norman-specific data to show the casino is contributing to homelessness in the city. 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. It is absolutely possible for us to sell war bonds, not necessarily just stormwater bonds or school bonds, but if you sell war bonds to residents, you save on underwriters fees. I give this to God.. Votes . Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. Office:Adams Hall, Suite 106 If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. Elections Summary Voter Registration & Polling Place Ballot Measures Issues Public Statements Political Parties Election Contacts Political . It's time for the drama and the partisan politics to end, she said. She also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors. tomorrow by helping launch the careers of media professionals. 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. 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. Keep it Clean. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. Post Office Box 370 Norman, OK 73070. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the . Threats of harming another Its a need for our city, Hickman said. 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. Clark faced notable backlash after the Norman City Council voted to, reduce a proposed Norman Police Department budget increase by $865,000. 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. 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 2020 presidential election spurred a wave of voting laws that some say could restrict access to the polls. 405-876-9216. Who is rating Clark ? Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Saying she couldnt previously support the status quo of policing in Norman, Clark defended her vote nearly two years ago to cut $865,000, or 3.6%, from thedepartments proposed budget request that sought a funding increase. Norman Mayor Breea Clark looks up her election numbers during her watch party, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at Blackbird Gastropub. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. I want to thank everyone for putting their name on the ballot, she said. Midway Bob, Dr. Kish, Ms. Leuck, and again, mayor-elect Heikkila, I wish you the very best.. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". Norman Mayor Breea Clark looks up her election numbers during her watch party, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at Blackbird Gastropub. The election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. Clark also thanked her volunteers, her campaign workers and her family for their support. 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. 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. Candidates for Norman mayor answer KOCO 5's 5 Questions Around the world, communities are grappling with what First elected to the Norman City Council to represent Ward 6 in 2016, she was elected in 2019 as Normans 60th mayor and first millennial mayor. 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. Janet was employed as a Special Education Teacher for 38 years, most of that time by Norman Public Schools. Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasn't always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, won the electiondespitewidely debunked claims of election fraud spread by Trump and his supporters. If elected, Stephenson-Leuck plans to ask the tribe to build a new, state-of-the-art homeless shelter. I want to thank every candidate, 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. 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. recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association, ties to Unite Norman were elected to the council, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I think accountability is always good, and voter education. 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. 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 also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class.