If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. 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. Numerous polls show most Republicans agree with Trump's falseclaim that the election was stolen. They dont put debt on future generations to repay those bonds back.. Click on the video above to hear what . (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasnt always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. Breea Diane Clark (age 39) is listed at 718 E Johnson St Norman, Ok 73071 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Heikkila received 53.39% of the votes, beating incumbent Breea Clark. (They asked), Why would you want the progress youve made to be undone, Clark said. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the . I will do everything I can in power to support mayor-elect Heikkila, she said to a crowd of supporters. He also serves as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at a local church. There was a problem saving your notification. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. Currently, the mayor is presented as superior to the rest of the council when the mayor should really be more of a collaborative peer who works closely with all of the other members, he said. She teaches several undergraduate courses, includingIntroduction to LeadershipandLeadership in International Settings. He retired from the City of Norman in April, 2014. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Ill really start digging into the budget, Ruggiers said. "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. 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 also retired in 2010, after twenty-six years of service in the United States Navy. 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. Its all around our city, Clark said. 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. She addressed her relationship with the university in an interview with NonDoc. Clark and Hickman were united on the removal of the University North Park TIF. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 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. She also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors. At a watch party Tuesday night, Clark told supporters she will weather the loss. She cited Norman's low unemployment rate and record sales tax revenue as signsthe city's economy is strong. Clark also stated a desire to increase the civic engagement of OU students, describing them as student citizens of Norman. If youre able, please Clear skies. He said the city needs the silent majority of non-fundamentalists to come into the fold and to make the arguments and to shame people into becoming more moral.. "Adequately funding itjust seems obvious.". The turnout in Tuesdays election significantly eclipsed the turnout in 2019. While on council, Thompson supported the city's first public safety sales tax that funded additional police officers. He also wants the city to cut red tape and speed up the permitting process for businesses in order to spur more development. 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. I assume its the DNC agenda, but we dont like that here. Runoff: Mayor Breea Clark to face Larry Heikkila in April. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Phone: 405-366-5402 Votes cast totaled 24,345 with 12,999 for Heikkila and 11,346 for Clark. 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. "Everyone who ran entered the mayoral race had one central goal, and that was to improve the City of Norman. 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. Midway Bob Thompson swept up 18.90% of the votes, while Nicole Kish gained 12.50%; Alice Stephenson-Leuck obtained 0.14% of votes. Clark had planned to make this her final term as mayor. KOCO 5 asked the five about COVID-19 mitigation measures, working with a divided City Council, police funding, federal funds for cities and how to address Norman's growing homeless population. 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. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. Larry Heikkila has defeated Breea Clark and clinched the position of Mayor in the recent election. Be Proactive. 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.. . (NonDoc) Support Journalism In the culmination of two years worth of debate over city leadership, Larry. Ultimately, local government issues, such as infrastructure, policing, zoning and economic development should not be partisan, Thompson said. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. We believe The Gender: Female. She . I think we could have a ward-specific citizen commission, and experts in stormwater infrastructure and water quality combine again and make a proposal.. Reach her atmwood@normantranscript.com or 405-416-4420. On Tuesday, the total ballooned to more than 24,000. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. Email Us Now; 800-516-3964 . "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.". There arent just parts of Norman, little pockets, having this issue. If reelected, Clark aims to find solutions to Norman's storm water issues, improve infrastructureand focus on making the community more sustainable and inclusive. 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. 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. Votes . 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. 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. Funding the project has been. Clear skies. 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. First. The fire department is down 8 or 9 percent, and police is down about 7 percent. Issue Category All . Use the 'Report' link on 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. 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 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. Keep it Clean. Member of the Oklahoma Bar Association; Oklahoma Bar Foundation; member of the Family Law Section; member of the OBA Law Schools Committee; member of the OBA Legislative Monitoring Committee, Emergency Authorization of Medical Treatment, Family Law, Criminal Law & Other Cases Involving Mental Health Issues. In addition he holds many technical certifications in Disaster Relief Operations, Occupational Safety, and Construction. Because weve got a lot of major issues and difficult issues we will be facing. Her challengers in the nonpartisan race are Nicole Kish, Larry Heikkila, A.E. Clark said she had not heard from other candidates, but was working to contact them. Gov. As the current Director of the JCPenney Leadership Center, she advises the JCPenney Leadership Program and teaches leadership courses and Passport to Success workshops. Law School:University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. Share Background Report Overview of Breea Diane Clark Lives in: Norman, Oklahoma Phone: View phone number Age: 39 Breea Clark's Voter Registration Stephenson-Leuck said she isnot accepting campaign contributions, and was relying on a series of public mayoral forums to promote her campaign. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. 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. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. Clark faced notable backlash after the Norman City Council voted to reduce a proposed Norman Police Department budget increase by $865,000 in June 2020. Post Office Box 370 Norman, OK 73070. 2023 Whitbeck Bennett | Website By CC&A Strategic Media. Together they owned a small glass business on Main Street for four years. Stephenson-Leuck, 67, said she jumpedinto the mayoralrace due to thepolice budget cut in 2020. Norman resident and lifelong Republican John Trice, 68, said he envisionsthe political winds shifting this election cycle. You have permission to edit this article. While some of us had different opinions of what means, I thank all of the candidates for their dedication and their love for the City of Norman," he said. news. "I think our next mayor needs to be able to steer us from … the waters of calamity into the sea of reason," he said. "I will be the champion Norman needs to make a positive impact for everyone in our community.". 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. 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. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures or was invalidated by duplicate signatures. For accessibility assistance please contact the ADA Technician at 405-366-5424. She teaches several undergraduate courses, including. 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. Norman residentCasey Holcombrecently filed a lawsuit against Hickman on the grounds of free speech violations. Breea serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. 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. Weve had issues with deciding is it a flat fee, is it based on water usage, is it based on impervious surface, Clark said. I think Norman Public Schools could use a lot more transparency. 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. E.W. She serves on Normans ABLE Board, and continues to champion opportunities for the disabled. We moved to Norman in 2005 from Wichita, Kansas, and started our family while I was in law school at the University of Oklahoma. Clark faced notable backlash after the Norman City Council voted to, reduce a proposed Norman Police Department budget increase by $865,000. Previously, Blake has served as an intern reporter, senior news reporter, summer news editor and news managing editor. 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. 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. She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. It was built, but we were not prepared for the staffing and maintenance costs. 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. As mayor, he said he would deliver on projects people had voted for. Im invested in both [the City of Norman and OU], and so Im going to make sure our negotiations are fair.. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. The Norman Transcript recently published analysis of Norman campaign finance reports through Jan. 28. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. Elections Summary Voter Registration & Polling Place Ballot Measures Issues Public Statements Political Parties Election Contacts Political . Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. As a first-time candidate and a businesswoman not a politician I am proud of the race that we ran. 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. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. 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. E.W. Dunn spoke on his vision for Norman and set lofty goals for the citys role in national politics. 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. Clark and Hickman feel the same about many Norman issues and both have city council member experience. I want to thank every candidate, she said. Long-term maintenance and staffing of such facilities could pose an obstacle for the city, Clark said. Both Kish and Heikkila have said they want to increase the number of police officers and boost pay across public safety departments. Office: Mayor (Norman, OK) Track This Politician . Performance & security by Cloudflare. She is also a proud graduate of the 2018-19 OU Leadership Council class. On today's date in 1911, record cold temperatures replaced record warmth on the same day. Former Mayor Breea Clark [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. I look forward to April 5.. Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. Ruggiers is a former Norman Public Schools teacher, and he said his election shows that the community wanted to give teachers a voice. Grant won 54.41 percent of the vote, compared to 45.59 for Hobson. ", 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 vote occurred in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in May 2020. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau and as an interim Pre-Law Club Advisor. OU Daily and Crimson Quarterly magazine provide real value to this community both now by covering OU, and Breea Clark (incumbent) Breea Clark Profession: Current mayor of Norman and director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Center at the University of Oklahoma. Asked his priority now that he is elected, Ruggiers said he wants to ensure families trust the district. 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 Full Name: Breea Clark. Breea Clark's Political Summary . Breea Clark is the 60th Mayor for the City of Norman. He is a member of the Norman Chamber of Commerce. 2. "Alice" Stephenson-Leuck and "Midway" Bob Thompson. I told everyone I have one more term left in me and then someone else can have all the fun.. UPDATED: Heikkila edges out Clark in mayoral race. 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. Share with Us. 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. Previously, he served the citizens of Norman with seventeen years of service as an employee of the City of Norman. Every election cycle, someone will point out I started out in Norman as a registered Republican, Clark said. Don't Threaten. online throughout the pandemic. She was endorsed by Sallys List and the Red Earth Group, Normans Sierra Club affiliate. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. 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. What tribal leaders are saying about Stitt inauguration. Helen Grant won the Norman City Council Ward 4 seat Tuesday, defeating opponent Gale Hobson. There was a problem saving your notification. Upon graduating from law school and passing the bar exam, I helped to create the Office of Academic Integrity Programs at the University of Oklahoma. Her portrayal as a raging liberal by campaign opponents is wildly untrue and inaccurate, Clark said, given her voting record and past political experience. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol, The awkward family affair of Gov. She also completed the 2018-19 Oklahoma Municipal Leagues Community Leadership Development class and founded the Norman Eastside Business Association. Political Experience keyboard_arrow_down. I want to say thank you to my supporters and all the volunteers and communities that rolled out, Clark said Tuesday. 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. Some have argued my being a staff member at the university is a detriment, Clark said. Office:Adams Hall, Suite 106 Midway Bob, Dr. Kish, Ms. Leuck, and again, mayor-elect Heikkila, I wish you the very best.. We need someone who can bring us together moving forward.. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. Threats of harming another Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. Thats not who we are. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. Clark received 36.46% of the vote to Heikkilas 32.01%. 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 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. She also served on various task forces with Norman Public Schools. Clark became Normans 60th mayor in 2019 after serving three years on the City Council. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. 32. or anything. So I'm glad that people are watching and participating.. 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. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, won the electiondespitewidely debunked claims of election fraud spread by Trump and his supporters. If passed, the city would be able to allocate more resources to make infrastructure improvements to stormwater conveyance and collection systems. Newcomer Alex Ruggiers defeated longtime incumbent Dan Snell in the race for Norman Public Schools Board of Education Office No. is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. Breea Clark is Of Counsel at WhitbeckBennett. While the group also endorsed candidates in Wards 2, 4 and 6, none were elected. Dunn advocated for a Ward-by-Ward, door-by-door approach to inform people of oils value. 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. . 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. I believe in collaboration, positive hands-on leadership, and I think those should be priorities for the next leader of our city, Clark said. Breea Clark, the current Norman Ward 6 council member, works as the director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Program at the University of Oklahomas Michael F. Price College of Business. 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 . 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. Low near 40F. As an employee he served as the City of Norman Street Supervisor, then as a Personnel Analyst, and finally as the Safety Manager. "If you have a city that has good public safety, there isn't a homeless issue, the crime isn't going up, your city is going to prosper," she said. NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Former Norman safety manager Larry Heikkila defeated incumbent Breea Clark on Tuesday in the race to be mayor of Oklahoma's third-largest city. 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. 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. Janet was employed as a Special Education Teacher for 38 years, most of that time by Norman Public Schools. Its a need for our city, Hickman said. Address: 307 W. Brooks During her tenure as mayor, the Norman City Council allocated CARES Act funding to local businesses and vaccine distribution. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. Larry Heikkila was elected as the 61st mayor of Norman in 2022. that is degrading to another person. Its hard to focus on my professional career when the City of Norman requires so much attention. 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. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. Breea is registered to vote in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. We make a whopping $100 a month to do this, so its certainly not for the money. 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.

Uss Paul F Foster Crew List, Articles B