Norman Mayor Breea Clark looks up her election numbers during her watch party, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at Blackbird Gastropub. She earned a Juris Doctorate in 2008, and became director of OUs JCPenney Leadership Program in 2018. They dont put debt on future generations to repay those bonds back.. Asked his priority now that he is elected, Ruggiers said he wants to ensure families trust the district. NORMAN Larry Heikkila won a first term as mayor of Norman on Tuesday, unseating incumbent Breea Clark. "I am humbled, and so very honored the citizens of Norman have chosen me to become Normans next mayor," Heikkila said. Clark broadcast her concession speech to her official Facebook page. e-mail: mayor@NormanOK.gov, Vital Information: "These people messed with my livelihood, and that is cancel culture and that should never happen in the city of Norman," Kish said. Numerous polls show most Republicans agree with Trump's falseclaim that the election was stolen. In the race are incumbent Breea Clark, Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish, Larry Heikilla and Alice Stephenson-Leuck. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. 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. Dunn advocated for a Ward-by-Ward, door-by-door approach to inform people of oils value. Heikkila received 53.39% of the votes, beating incumbent Breea Clark. 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. 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. E.W. Full Name: Breea Clark. If passed, the city would be able to allocate more resources to make infrastructure improvements to stormwater conveyance and collection systems. 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. For more information on where, when and how to vote, visit the, Support independent journalism serving OU. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. 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. He won over incumbent Mayor Breea Clark. Do you appreciate the work we do as the only independent media outlet dedicated to serving OU students, Affordable housing and homelessness solutions would be prioritized with further federal aid dollars if she is elected to a second term, Clark said. 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. I tend to be right about in the middle. Department: JCPenney Leadership Program One of her top issues is addressinghomelessness. She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. Heikkila got 32 percent of the primary vote, and Clark received 36.5 percent. [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. Some political observers viewed those results as Heikkila having momentum. 2023 Whitbeck Bennett | Website By CC&A Strategic Media. 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. NORMAN Although the four mayoral candidates challenging Norman Mayor Breea Clark span the political spectrum, they all agree public safety fundingwould be theirtop budget priority upon taking office. 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. The election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. You have permission to edit this article. At OKC, a record high temperature of 83 degrees occurred mid-day, then plummeted to a record low of 17 degrees at midnight. 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. Breea Clark is Of Counsel at WhitbeckBennett. Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response sent Clark death threats online in May 2020, and Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed online throughout the pandemic. Largest Oklahoma United Methodist church may cut denominational ties. Kevin Stitts endorsement of mayoral candidate Nicole Kish is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. Low near 40F. E.W. news. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The proposition called for the monthly base fee to all customers to be raised from $6 to $7.80 for metered users. 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. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Heikkila received more than 53% of votes, with . The 2022 Norman, Oklahoma, mayoral election was held on February 8, 2022, with Larry Heikkila and Breea Clark going in the runoff. 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. Breea serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. "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.". Bill Hickman, the current Norman Ward 4 council member, works as an attorney and small-business owner. As mayor, he said he would deliver on projects people had voted for. . . She also completed the 2018-19 Oklahoma Municipal Leagues Community Leadership Development class and founded the Norman Eastside Business Association. Norman resident and lifelong Republican John Trice, 68, said he envisionsthe political winds shifting this election cycle. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. Its all around our city, Clark said. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, won the electiondespitewidely debunked claims of election fraud spread by Trump and his supporters. 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. Email Us Now; 800-516-3964 . Performance & security by Cloudflare. Previously, he served the citizens of Norman with seventeen years of service as an employee of the City of Norman. Office:Adams Hall, Suite 106 Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Clark and Hickman were united on the removal of the University North Park TIF. 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. Post Office Box 370 Norman, OK 73070. There was a problem saving your notification. Clark said she had not heard from other candidates, but was working to contact them. (The office) came at great personal cost to me, Clark told The Daily. Mayor Heikkila and his wife have two adult children. [2] General Results [ edit] E-mail: breea@ou.edu. During her tenure as mayor, the Norman City Council allocated CARES Act funding, Norman remains the largest city in Oklahoma without a dedicated stormwater utility. At one point during the pandemic, I called our city manager (Darrel Pyle) and said, Darrel, I am like 99 percent sure Im not running again.. The second attempt had more support than the first, so Im hopeful we can get it across the finish line. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. She currently serves as Vice President of the Mayors Council of the Oklahoma Municipal League and on the Board of Directors for both the Oklahoma Municipal League and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments. Incremental increases based on water usage were also included in the proposition. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. While the decision still resulted in an overall budget increase for NPD, the meeting encouraged the formation of Unite Norman. Share with Us. Im really excited about the win tonight, Ruggiers said. Heikkila received 53.39% of the votes, beating incumbent Breea Clark. There arent just parts of Norman, little pockets, having this issue. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. Be Truthful. ", 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 money should instead be used to fund the city's "essential needs," she said. 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. 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. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. It is vividly clear that she inclines toward the democratic party. It's time for the drama and the partisan politics to end, she said. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, He said its the key to bringing our community back together., Im proud that my message has been both positive and optimistic, he said. She serves on Normans ABLE Board, and continues to champion opportunities for the disabled. news. accounts, the history behind an article. 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. Around the world, communities are grappling with what Low near 40F. 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. They each spoke about what they believe makes them the best choice for Norman. Mayor Heikkila earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. "We're still in the middle of this crisis,and there's no one better equipped to keep us going forward in our recovery,with an optimistic view to the future," Clark said. In the end, Clark survived the recall effort but could not prevail against Heikkila. In the Norman community, she served on the Norman City Council from 2016-2019 representing Ward 6 in NE Norman and currently serves as its first Millennial Mayor. Law School:University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. 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. After beginning her stint in local government as Normans Ward 6 city council member in 2016, Clark defeated opponents Bill Hickman and Evan Dunn in the 2019 mayoral election with 51.43 percent of the vote. Norman, OK 73019-4004. You have permission to edit this article. Clark encouraged Norman residents to address the citys challenges and to shop local, regardless of whomever has the job. With offices around the country, including in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Texas, Oklahoma and Florida, you can choose the right location for you. 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. During the Feb. 8 primary, Heikkila and Clark defeated opponents "Midway" Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish and Alice Stephenson-Leuck. As a first-time candidate and a businesswoman not a politician I am proud of the race that we ran. Votes . Stephenson-Leuck said she isnot accepting campaign contributions, and was relying on a series of public mayoral forums to promote her campaign. If they appreciate that, it is an immediate change in how they think about their suburban homes.. 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. 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. We moved to Norman in 2005 from Wichita, Kansas, and started our family while I was in law school at the University of Oklahoma. City of Norman, 201 W Gray St,Norman, OK 73069, Information on City Council and Committee Meetings. 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. 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. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures, Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response, Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed. Heikkila and Leuck did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. She also serves as a member of the Oklahoma Municipal League Board of Directors and the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments Board of Directors. "Because of Mayor Clark, I bet youre going to see the pendulum swinging conservative.". UPDATED: Heikkila edges out Clark in mayoral race. I think Norman Public Schools could use a lot more transparency. She cited Norman's low unemployment rate and record sales tax revenue as signsthe city's economy is strong. 405-876-9216. Who is rating Clark ? As the current Director of the JCPenney Leadership Center, she advises the JCPenney Leadership Program and teaches leadership courses and Passport to Success workshops. He also retired in 2010, after twenty-six years of service in the United States Navy. At a watch party Tuesday night, Clark told supporters she will weather the loss. Runoff: Mayor Breea Clark to face Larry Heikkila in April. The incumbent also thanked Thompson for running a clean race. Weve made a lot of progress in the last three years, and were just getting started. In that race, 13,068 total votes were cast. Norman Mayor Breea Clark looks up her election numbers during her watch party, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, at Blackbird Gastropub. I am grateful and humbled for the votes I received in Norman, Kish said in a prepared statement. 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. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. 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Thevote theOklahoma Supreme Court later said violated the state's Open Meeting Actlargely led to the formation of grassroots group Unite Norman and misleading allegations that the council voted to "defund the police.