Norman voters have chosen Larry Heikkila to be the city's next mayor, preliminary election reports indicated Tuesday. "We were the first todeclare a state of emergency," she said. Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. For more information on where, when and how to vote, visit the, Support independent journalism serving OU. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. Ultimately, local government issues, such as infrastructure, policing, zoning and economic development should not be partisan, Thompson said. Clark said she stands by her handling of the pandemic that earned her recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association. Heikkila received 53.39 percent of the vote, compared to 46.61 for Clark, who was seeking her first reelection after winning in 2019. The fire department is down 8 or 9 percent, and police is down about 7 percent. I believe its a citizen-based solution to a city-wide problem.. for Clark and several Norman city council members. 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. Heikkila got 32 percent of the primary vote, and Clark received 36.5 percent. Grant won 54.41 percent of the vote, compared to 45.59 for Hobson. E.W. Don't Threaten. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". In 2019, propositions for stormwater utility bond projects and a stormwater utility fee received 42.62 percent and 39.68 percent yes votes, respectively. Her portrayal as a raging liberal by campaign opponents is wildly untrue and inaccurate, Clark said, given her voting record and past political experience. 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. Be Nice. I would like to be added to the WB's monthly newsletter, "A Family Matter". Breea Diane Clark (age 39) is listed at 718 E Johnson St Norman, Ok 73071 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. 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. Law School:University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. 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. Address: 307 W. Brooks. 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. Thompson, who has owned and operated the Norman eatery Midway Deli for 36 years, is mounting an intraparty challenge against Clark. "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. In that race, 13,068 total votes were cast. 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. The turnout in Tuesdays election significantly eclipsed the turnout in 2019. Part of that solution should involve more collaboration between rural and urban Normanites, she added. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. We need someone who can bring us together moving forward.. Mayor Heikkila is a pro-business, pro-growth, avid supporter of Normans Police and Fire Departments. 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. Current Legislative Committees keyboard_arrow_down. Low near 40F. After a decade of service in that office, I . Norman resident and lifelong Republican John Trice, 68, said he envisionsthe political winds shifting this election cycle. news. 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. On Tuesday, the total ballooned to more than 24,000. But I actually see it as an advantage. 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. Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol, The awkward family affair of Gov. First. [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. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stretch those federal dollars, build partnerships and collaborate to solve long-standing problems in our community.. Heikkila is a 26-year Navy veteran. Clark and Hickman were united on the removal of the University North Park TIF. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. To achieve this transformation, the management of it must be pragmatic, productive and visionary, and must redefine Norman into a city of excellence. Ill really start digging into the budget, Ruggiers said. With Mayor Lynne Miller not seeking re-election, two city council members and a community activist seek to fill her spot. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. e-mail: mayor@NormanOK.gov, Vital Information: This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. The more we can collaborate, the more we can stretch our dollars to do the most good.. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. A political outsider endorsed by Gov. In 2022 he was named one of Cleveland Countys Men of Influence. E-mail:breea@ou.edu I also dont like the university elite hijacking Normans government. 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. City of Norman, 201 W Gray St,Norman, OK 73069, Information on City Council and Committee Meetings. 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. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. An example is our animal welfare shelter, Clark said. She also wants the city to vote on reallocating Norman Forward dollars generated from a 15-year sales tax increase intended to fund quality-of-life improvements across the city. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. Were trying to clean water and build roads., endorsement of mayoral candidate Nicole Kish. Experience: Before her election. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau and as an interim Pre-Law Club Advisor. Don't knowingly lie about anyone They dont put debt on future generations to repay those bonds back.. 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. Long-term maintenance and staffing of such facilities could pose an obstacle for the city, Clark said. Breea is registered to vote in Cleveland County, Oklahoma. 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. She teaches several undergraduate courses, includingIntroduction to LeadershipandLeadership in International Settings. Im thankful for Maricha and my family, as well as the many friends and volunteers who have supported me.. If reelected, Clark aims to find solutions to Norman's storm water issues, improve infrastructureand focus on making the community more sustainable and inclusive. Breea Clark is Of Counsel at WhitbeckBennett. Low near 40F. This is amazing. Personal keyboard_arrow_down. 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. Thats why I really like what the stormwater citizen committee has come up with. 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. The number of citizens who supported Clark's ouster was 153-percent greater than the number of citizens who voted to elect Clark mayor in 2019. By July 2020, the group attempted to trigger a recall election for Clark and several Norman city council members. 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. Because weve got a lot of major issues and difficult issues we will be facing. Clark said she had not heard from other candidates, but was working to contact them. Weve made a lot of progress in the last three years, and were just getting started. 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". Your IP: each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Norman got to this point in the race after neither Clark nor Heikkila secured 50% of the vote against numerous other candidates during the February election. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. I dont think people know a single barrel of oil contains 25,000 hours of human muscle power, Dunn said. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. 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. Both Kish and Heikkila have said they want to increase the number of police officers and boost pay across public safety departments. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. 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. She also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class. news. I love Norman, Hickman said. 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. If they appreciate that, it is an immediate change in how they think about their suburban homes.. Clark had planned to make this her final term as mayor. government. Incremental increases based on water usage were also included in the proposition. 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. Mailing Address: P.O. "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.". One of her top issues is addressinghomelessness. Were trying to clean water and build roads.. As the current Director of the JCPenney Leadership Center, she advises the JCPenney Leadership Program and teaches leadership courses and Passport to Success workshops. The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. 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. 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. During the Feb. 8 primary, Heikkila and Clark defeated opponents "Midway" Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish and Alice Stephenson-Leuck.