Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. In the race are incumbent Breea Clark, Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish, Larry Heikilla and Alice Stephenson-Leuck. The two candidates made their cases to voters in a final push to get out the vote. I give this to God.. 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. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. 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. She also serves as director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Program in the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. If they appreciate that, it is an immediate change in how they think about their suburban homes.. Heikkila received 53.39 percent of the vote, compared to 46.61 for Clark, who was seeking her first reelection after winning in 2019. Ruggiers is a former Norman Public Schools teacher, and he said his election shows that the community wanted to give teachers a voice. 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. Reach her atmwood@normantranscript.com or 405-416-4420. 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. He also retired in 2010, after twenty-six years of service in the United States Navy. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. Clark and Hickman were united on the removal of the University North Park TIF. for Clark and several Norman city council members. As the current Director of the JCPenney Leadership Center, she advises the JCPenney Leadership Program and teaches leadership courses and Passport to Success workshops. Clark said the election was not about her nor was it about her opponent it was about improving Norman. Breea serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. "I think our next mayor needs to be able to steer us from … the waters of calamity into the sea of reason," he said. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. ", 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. While the group also endorsed candidates in Wards 2, 4 and 6, none were elected. Sworn In: 07/05/22 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. 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. Current Legislative Committees keyboard_arrow_down. 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. I thanked him for a clean race and spoke to him about how we can work together for a round two, she said. 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 todeclare a state of emergency," she said. Clark said the main separation between her and Hickman was leadership style. She . Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. 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. 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. I am not at all in favor of it, Dunn said. I interned for (former President) George W. Bush, and at the state capitol of Kansas.. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. Breea Clark's Political Summary . 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. I am grateful and humbled for the votes I received in Norman, Kish said in a prepared statement. "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.". Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. 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. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. 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. Its hard to focus on my professional career when the City of Norman requires so much attention. Be Proactive. 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. Norman, OK 73019-4004. 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. Affordable housing doesn't just affect the homeless, it affects people who live paycheck-to-paycheck, Clark said. 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. Its a need for our city, Hickman said. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. There was a problem saving your notification. Low near 40F. Share Background Report Overview of Breea Diane Clark Lives in: Norman, Oklahoma Phone: View phone number Age: 39 Breea Clark's Voter Registration Be Nice. 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. 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. Heikkila is a 26-year Navy veteran. Post Office Box 370 Norman, OK 73070. At a watch party Tuesday night, Clark told supporters she will weather the loss. Reach her atmwood@normantranscript.com or 405-416-4420. Norman remains the largest city in Oklahoma without a dedicated stormwater utility. Ultimately, local government issues, such as infrastructure, policing, zoning and economic development should not be partisan, Thompson said. Every election cycle, someone will point out I started out in Norman as a registered Republican, Clark said. 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. e-mail: mayor@NormanOK.gov, Vital Information: He also serves as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at a local church. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. The second attempt had more support than the first, so Im hopeful we can get it across the finish line. Weve made a lot of progress in the last three years, and were just getting started. Personal keyboard_arrow_down. 210.65.88.143 Elections Summary Voter Registration & Polling Place Ballot Measures Issues Public Statements Political Parties Election Contacts Political . Mayor Heikkila is a pro-business, pro-growth, avid supporter of Normans Police and Fire Departments. City of Norman, 201 W Gray St,Norman, OK 73069, Information on City Council and Committee Meetings. Funding the project has been. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". Mayoral and city council elections will take place Tuesday, Feb. 8. "Alice" Stephenson-Leuck and "Midway" Bob Thompson. E-mail: breea@ou.edu. Kish was endorsed by Unite Norman, a group that formed in the summer of 2020 to restore police funding after the council reallocated $865,000 from the Norman Police Departments proposed budget increase. "Adequately funding itjust seems obvious.". Clark broadcast her concession speech to her official Facebook page. We've got people in Norman right now with Section Eight vouchers and no Section Eight housing available. "Everyone who ran entered the mayoral race had one central goal, and that was to improve the City of Norman. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. Evan Dunn, a community activist and former teacher, attempted to set himself apart from his opponents by discussing moral problems in Norman. I have a servants heart and I want to be a voice for the people. (The office) came at great personal cost to me, Clark told The Daily. 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. I want to say thank you to my supporters and all the volunteers and communities that rolled out, Clark said Tuesday. 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. Use the 'Report' link on Im invested in both [the City of Norman and OU], and so Im going to make sure our negotiations are fair.. 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. You can make a one-time donation or a recurring pledge. If elected, Thompson said he wants to drop the political temperature by changing how the mayor's office is presented. Citizen efforts to force a recall election of Norman Mayor Breea Clark have fallen short, yet the recall effort also showed broad public displeasure with Clark's performance. "I am humbled, and so very honored the citizens of Norman have chosen me to become Normans next mayor," Heikkila said. She serves on Normans ABLE Board, and continues to champion opportunities for the disabled. Your IP: The future of our community and the future of our state is not something I'm willing to risk. Gender: Female. He said its the key to bringing our community back together., Im proud that my message has been both positive and optimistic, he said. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. Address: 307 W. Brooks. 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. Stephenson-Leuck, 67, said she jumpedinto the mayoralrace due to thepolice budget cut in 2020. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. In a recent election she fought against the conservative, so it is certain that she ain't conservative. 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. I look forward to April 5.. We need someone who can bring us together moving forward.. Affordable housing has always been the missing piece in Norman, and something that Norman has kind of always struggled with.. She also completed the 2018-19 Oklahoma Municipal Leagues Community Leadership Development class and founded the Norman Eastside Business Association. I told everyone I have one more term left in me and then someone else can have all the fun.. 405-876-9216. Who is rating Clark ? Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. 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%. The fire department is down 8 or 9 percent, and police is down about 7 percent. As an employee he served as the City of Norman Street Supervisor, then as a Personnel Analyst, and finally as the Safety Manager. Stephenson-Leuck said she isnot accepting campaign contributions, and was relying on a series of public mayoral forums to promote her campaign. Thompson, who has owned and operated the Norman eatery Midway Deli for 36 years, is mounting an intraparty challenge against Clark. Ryan Walters to retain secretary role, draw 2 paychecks. An example is our animal welfare shelter, Clark 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. Norman, OK 73019-4004. 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. He also voiced support for no-tax transportation bonds that would allow Norman to build a new traffic management center. Heikkila received 53.39% of the votes, beating incumbent Breea Clark. The proposition called for the monthly base fee to all customers to be raised from $6 to $7.80 for metered users. Clark encouraged Norman residents to address the citys challenges and to shop local, regardless of whomever has the job. Don't Threaten. 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. (NonDoc) Support Journalism In the culmination of two years worth of debate over city leadership, Larry. Bill Hickman, the current Norman Ward 4 council member, works as an attorney and small-business owner. 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. With Mayor Lynne Miller not seeking re-election, two city council members and a community activist seek to fill her spot. Clark said she had not heard from other candidates, but was working to contact them. Weve never addressed this, ever. He retired as the Command Master Chief, 9th Naval Construction Regiment. Breea Clark, the incumbent, had been mayor since 2019. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism She also supported the city council ordinance requiring masks in public. E.W. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. Mayor Heikkila and his wife have two adult children. "I hold the confidence the citizens have given me to bring a change to Norman very serious," he said. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Experience: Before her election. 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. It was built, but we were not prepared for the staffing and maintenance costs. 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. 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. Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasn't always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Heikkila received more than 53% of votes, with . 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. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Clear skies. journalism is worth and how to fund the civic good that robust news organizations can generate. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Low near 40F. racist or sexually-oriented language. Here's how they could affect voters in future elections. With offices around the country, including in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida, you can choose the right location for you. Previously, he served the citizens of Norman with seventeen years of service as an employee of the City of Norman. As a first-time candidate and a businesswoman not a politician I am proud of the race that we ran. She is also a proud graduate of the 2018-19 OU Leadership Council class. She swore, if elected,not toimpose a maskmandateorimplement business lockdowns due to the pandemic. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures, Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response, Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). The Norman Transcript recently published analysis of Norman campaign finance reports through Jan. 28. Its all around our city, Clark said. The individuals who do it, they dont take on debt. (They asked), Why would you want the progress youve made to be undone, Clark said. "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. Low near 40F. Kevin Stitts endorsement of mayoral candidate Nicole Kish is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. In that race, 13,068 total votes were cast. 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. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single . 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. Breea Diane Clark (age 39) is listed at 718 E Johnson St Norman, Ok 73071 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasnt always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. The city also needs to update its master plan for development that reflects how Norman intends to grow, he said. Address: 307 W. Brooks She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. It looks like Norman was really ready to put a teacher on the school board, Ruggiers said. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Before receiving her J.D. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. [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. 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. Larry Heikkila has defeated Breea Clark and clinched the position of Mayor in the recent election. 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. The vote occurred in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in May 2020. Its very clear that everyone wants to keep moving in a positive direction.. Clark missed the mayoralforum due to a work conflict, but later said in an interviewshe supports fully fundingthe police department. online throughout the pandemic. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. Norman residentCasey Holcombrecently filed a lawsuit against Hickman on the grounds of free speech violations. The turnout in Tuesdays election significantly eclipsed the turnout in 2019. [1] Recall organizers submitted enough signatures to put the recall election against Councilwoman Petrone on the ballot. Norman resident and lifelong Republican John Trice, 68, said he envisionsthe political winds shifting this election cycle. 32. There was a problem saving your notification. I want to thank everyone for putting their name on the ballot, she said. Im voting no on all of them because we have bypassed, I think, the opportunity to turn the funding source for the implementation of those programs to be derived from resident investments. Education keyboard_arrow_down. [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. Runoff: Mayor Breea Clark to face Larry Heikkila in April. What Is Breea Clark's Political Party? "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. I believe in collaboration, positive hands-on leadership, and I think those should be priorities for the next leader of our city, Clark said. Thats not who we are. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. 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. In the end, Clark survived the recall effort but could not prevail against Heikkila. First. . 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. Heikkila was endorsed by Cleveland County Commissioners Darry Stacy and Harold Haralson, the local fraternal order of police and the firefighters union, among others. The youngest female and first Millennial to hold this seat, she is invested in. Mailing Address: P.O. I love Norman, Hickman said. Both Kish and Heikkila have said they want to increase the number of police officers and boost pay across public safety departments. The mayoral race came down to incumbent Mayor Breea Clark and challenger Larry Heikkila. Helen Grant won the Norman City Council Ward 4 seat Tuesday, defeating opponent Gale Hobson. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. person will not be tolerated. In 2019, propositions for stormwater utility bond projects and a stormwater utility fee. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. Funding the project has been a lengthy processfeaturingmultiple failed proposals. Earlier in the pandemic, some Norman residents criticized Clark for requiring some businesses to close and imposing capacity limits on businesses and public gatherings to reduce the spread of COVID-19. So I'm glad that people are watching and participating.. 2. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. I dont make partisan decisions, because partisan politics dont fill potholes. NORMAN Larry Heikkila won a first term as mayor of Norman on Tuesday, unseating incumbent Breea Clark. He moved to Norman in 1978 and was a longtime City of Norman employee who now sits on several Cleveland County citizen boards. 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. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Voting rights and elections: How new state laws could affect you. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. In April, Norman will vote for a second time on a stormwater utility bond to address flooding and pollution problems. 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. Breea is registered to vote in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. 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. 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. They each spoke about what they believe makes them the best choice for Norman. "I will be the champion Norman needs to make a positive impact for everyone in our community.". Janet was employed as a Special Education Teacher for 38 years, most of that time by Norman Public Schools. government. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. 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. Department: JCPenney Leadership Program Former Mayor Breea Clark 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. Clark also thanked her volunteers, her campaign workers and her family for their support. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27ac526b8852e3 Midway Bob, Dr. Kish, Ms. Leuck, and again, mayor-elect Heikkila, I wish you the very best.. After that, I am not at all opposed to these bond sales as an alternative or adjunct approach. Votes cast totaled 24,345 with 12,999 for Heikkila and 11,346 for Clark. One of her top issues is addressinghomelessness. Were trying to clean water and build roads.. SUPPORT US TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $1. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Kish said she was grateful to supporters, and intends to work with the next mayor. He credited "a grassroots campaign" who wanted a change. 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.