Mostly we just need to assure the public that they can trust Norman Public Schools. The future of our community and the future of our state is not something I'm willing to risk. The election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. We've got people in Norman right now with Section Eight vouchers and no Section Eight housing available. I believe its a citizen-based solution to a city-wide problem.. 2023 Whitbeck Bennett | Website By CC&A Strategic Media. 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He and his wife Janet were married in 1976, and moved to Norman from Tulsa in 1978. Funding the project has been a lengthy processfeaturingmultiple failed proposals. No education information on file. An example is our animal welfare shelter, 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. This is hard.. I assume its the DNC agenda, but we dont like that here. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. (NonDoc) Support Journalism In the culmination of two years worth of debate over city leadership, Larry. Previously, he served the citizens of Norman with seventeen years of service as an employee of the City of Norman. 405-876-9216. Who is rating Clark ? Clark received 36.46% of the. 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. 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. 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 . Norman, OK 73019-4004. Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. Reach her atmwood@normantranscript.com or 405-416-4420. He also serves as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at a local church. Clark said she stands by her handling of the pandemic that earned her recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Clear skies. I love Norman, Hickman said. 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. He also recently chaired thecitys Charter Review Committee. Norman voters will cast ballots Tuesday, Feb. 12, to decide which of three candidates will become the next mayor of Norman. 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. But, we are the county seat and it doesnt need to just be Normans problem, because its a countywide problem, its a nationwide problem. Law School:University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. 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. She cited Norman's low unemployment rate and record sales tax revenue as signsthe city's economy is strong. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. Norman Mayor Breea Clark looks up her election numbers during her watch party, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at Blackbird Gastropub. Norman voters will also vote inNorman City Councilraces on Feb. 12. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. Clark broadcast her concession speech to her official Facebook page. 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. Janet was employed as a Special Education Teacher for 38 years, most of that time by Norman Public Schools. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. OK firm says some groups get special treatment in managed care bids. Before receiving her J.D. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. We need someone who can bring us together moving forward.. Use the 'Report' link on 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 have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. 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. Larry Heikkila has defeated Breea Clark and clinched the position of Mayor in the recent election. Heikkila received 53.39% of the votes, beating incumbent Breea Clark. I think we could have a ward-specific citizen commission, and experts in stormwater infrastructure and water quality combine again and make a proposal.. As one of the common refrains among candidates, police funding is likely to be top of mind when Norman residents head to the polls Feb. 8. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. I give this to God.. news. news. As an employee he served as the City of Norman Street Supervisor, then as a Personnel Analyst, and finally as the Safety Manager. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. Were trying to clean water and build roads.. Asked if she still has concerns about election integrity or if she has faith in the 2020 presidential election results, Kish said polling shows people across the country have concerns about election integrity. Evan Dunn, a community activist and former teacher, attempted to set himself apart from his opponents by discussing moral problems in Norman. Breea Clark, the incumbent, had been mayor since 2019. Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. Clark was elected mayor in a three-way contest in 2019 after serving on the city council for three years. The money should instead be used to fund the city's "essential needs," she said. You can make a one-time donation or a recurring pledge. For more information on where, when and how to vote, visit the Cleveland County Election Board website. While the group also endorsed candidates in Wards 2, 4 and 6, none were elected. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the . I want to thank every candidate, she said. 2. NORMAN Larry Heikkila won a first term as mayor of Norman on Tuesday, unseating incumbent Breea Clark. 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 The vote occurred in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in May 2020. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. There was a problem saving your notification. I will do everything I can in power to support mayor-elect Heikkila, she said to a crowd of supporters. Clark said the election was not about her nor was it about her opponent it was about improving Norman. Heikkila and Leuck did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Breea Clark (incumbent) Breea Clark Profession: Current mayor of Norman and director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Center at the University of Oklahoma. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. person will not be tolerated. 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. e-mail: mayor@NormanOK.gov, Vital Information: What tribal leaders are saying about Stitt inauguration. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. Like Clark, Hickman has dealt with his own public backlashafter using his role asmoderator in a Ward 4 Facebook page to delete comments he judged as personal attacks. Bill Hickman, the current Norman Ward 4 council member, works as an attorney and small-business owner. As the current Director of the JCPenney Leadership Center, she advises the JCPenney Leadership Program and teaches leadership courses and Passport to Success workshops. She teaches several undergraduate courses, includingIntroduction to LeadershipandLeadership in International Settings. Current Legislative Committees keyboard_arrow_down. On today's date in 1911, record cold temperatures replaced record warmth on the same day. Kish, 50, a cofounder of Unite Normanandlocal optometrist who has owned and operated her own practice for more thantwo decades, has made boosting police funding a centerpiece of her campaign. Midway Bob, Dr. Kish, Ms. Leuck, and again, mayor-elect Heikkila, I wish you the very best.. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Breea is registered to vote in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. The incumbent also thanked Thompson for running a clean race. "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.". Clark faced notable backlash after the Norman City Council voted to, reduce a proposed Norman Police Department budget increase by $865,000. We believe The Threats of harming another The turnout in Tuesdays election significantly eclipsed the turnout in 2019. Here's how they could affect voters in future elections. First. Some political observers viewed those results as Heikkila having momentum. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single . 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.. "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.". I am not at all in favor of it, Dunn said. [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. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. 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 . 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. Breea Clark, Larry Heikkila make final cases to voters ahead of Norman mayoral runoff election Ari Fife, senior news reporter Apr 3, 2022 Updated Apr 4, 2022 0 Mayoral incumbent Breea. Ruggiers is a former Norman Public Schools teacher, and he said his election shows that the community wanted to give teachers a voice. . 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. She faced criticism for the city's response to the pandemic and for a vote over the city's police force that many deemed as "defunding". Issue Category All . ", 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. 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. Personal keyboard_arrow_down. UPDATED: Heikkila edges out Clark in mayoral race. It appears, for now, that voters wanted someone from the establishment on both sides. Updated Apr 5, 2022 Mayor Breea Clark continues to deliver her concession speech, saying "she hopes Norman holds Larry Heikkila to the same high standards that she was held to" while in. As a first-time candidate and a businesswoman not a politician I am proud of the race that we ran. #okwx #texomawx. 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. 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. 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. E.W. You have permission to edit this article. Low near 40F. 210.65.88.143 I think accountability is always good, and voter education. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. 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. 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. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. Political Experience keyboard_arrow_down. 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%. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. If reelected, Clark aims to find solutions to Norman's storm water issues, improve infrastructureand focus on making the community more sustainable and inclusive. Dunn advocated for a Ward-by-Ward, door-by-door approach to inform people of oils value. 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. 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. Department: JCPenney Leadership Program 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. University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. With Mayor Lynne Miller not seeking re-election, two city council members and a community activist seek to fill her spot. 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. or anything. Norman residentCasey Holcombrecently filed a lawsuit against Hickman on the grounds of free speech violations. She also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors. I dont make partisan decisions, because partisan politics dont fill potholes. Part of that solution should involve more collaboration between rural and urban Normanites, she added. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. For accessibility assistance please contact the ADA Technician at 405-366-5424. Email Us Now; 800-516-3964 . The city also needs to update its master plan for development that reflects how Norman intends to grow, he said. that is degrading to another person. 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. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. It looks like Norman was really ready to put a teacher on the school board, Ruggiers said. We'd love to hear eyewitness In the end, Clark survived the recall effort but could not prevail against Heikkila. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. We make a whopping $100 a month to do this, so its certainly not for the money. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures, Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response, Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed. Low near 40F. They each spoke about what they believe makes them the best choice for Norman. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. Stephenson-Leuck, 67, said she jumpedinto the mayoralrace due to thepolice budget cut in 2020. 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. Kish said she was grateful to supporters, and intends to work with the next mayor. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau and as an interim Pre-Law Club Advisor. 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. 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. Grant won 54.41 percent of the vote, compared to 45.59 for Hobson. At a watch party Tuesday night, Clark told supporters she will weather the loss. I have a servants heart and I want to be a voice for the people. 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. She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. Clark became Normans 60th mayor in 2019 after serving three years on the City Council. There has been a little bit of mistrust that has built up over the last couple of years.. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Heikkila received more than 53% of votes, with . E-mail:breea@ou.edu He retired from the City of Norman in April, 2014. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single term, Clark said support shes received from community leadership inspired her to run again. 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. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism I interned for (former President) George W. Bush, and at the state capitol of Kansas.. 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. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a27ac526b8852e3 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. She also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class. Be Truthful. Mayor, City of Norman, Oklahoma, 2019-present. The two candidates made their cases to voters in a final push to get out the vote. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". 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. 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. 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-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. Around the world, communities are grappling with what Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. Clear skies. The mayoral race came down to incumbent Mayor Breea Clark and challenger Larry Heikkila. You have permission to edit this article. 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. racist or sexually-oriented language. Largest Oklahoma United Methodist church may cut denominational ties. Breea Clark is the 60th Mayor for the City of Norman. Long-term maintenance and staffing of such facilities could pose an obstacle for the city, Clark said. Heikkila is a 26-year Navy veteran. She . 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. "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. Mailing Address: P.O. Larry Heikkila defeated incumbent Norman Mayor Breea Clark on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Previously, Blake has served as an intern reporter, senior news reporter, summer news editor and news managing editor. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Thompson, who has owned and operated the Norman eatery Midway Deli for 36 years, is mounting an intraparty challenge against Clark. Office: Mayor (Norman, OK) Track This Politician . [1] Recall organizers submitted enough signatures to put the recall election against Councilwoman Petrone on the ballot. Full Name: Breea Clark.