E-mail:breea@ou.edu 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. 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. We make a whopping $100 a month to do this, so its certainly not for the money. Clark broadcast her concession speech to her official Facebook page. 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.. Clear skies. 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. Numerous polls show most Republicans agree with Trump's falseclaim that the election was stolen. "I will be the champion Norman needs to make a positive impact for everyone in our community.". Breea Clark (incumbent) Breea Clark Profession: Current mayor of Norman and director of the J.C. Penney Leadership Center at the University of Oklahoma. She also previously served as interim Pre-Law Club Advisor and was a member of the 2018-2019 OU Leadership Council class. [1] On April 5, 2022, Larry Heikkila won the runoff election and became mayor of Norman, Oklahoma. I want to thank everyone for putting their name on the ballot, she 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 College of Law in 2008. Clark had planned to make this her final term as mayor. I believe its a citizen-based solution to a city-wide problem.. Previous experiences with similar projects and collaboration at the county level could help alleviate those issues. 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. 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. . On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau and as an interim Pre-Law Club Advisor. 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. She was endorsed by Sallys List and the Red Earth Group, Normans Sierra Club affiliate. Ill really start digging into the budget, Ruggiers said. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. During the Feb. 8 primary, Heikkila and Clark defeated opponents "Midway" Bob Thompson, Dr. Nicole Kish and Alice Stephenson-Leuck. 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. 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. 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. Specifically, Clark said she aims to produce long-term facilities solutions for Normans homeless population, pass a stormwater utility for Norman and bolster local infrastructure. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association, ties to Unite Norman were elected to the council, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Be Proactive. Blake Douglas joined the OU Daily news desk in October 2018, and is currently the editor-in-chief. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". Im thankful for Maricha and my family, as well as the many friends and volunteers who have supported me.. What tribal leaders are saying about Stitt inauguration. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Heikkila received more than 53% of votes, with . I dont think people know a single barrel of oil contains 25,000 hours of human muscle power, Dunn said. Mayor Heikkila is a pro-business, pro-growth, avid supporter of Normans Police and Fire Departments. Keep it Clean. Mayor Heikkila and his wife have two adult children. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. He retired from the City of Norman in April, 2014. Clark said the main separation between her and Hickman was leadership style. They each spoke about what they believe makes them the best choice for Norman. Helen Grant won the Norman City Council Ward 4 seat Tuesday, defeating opponent Gale Hobson. Full Name: Breea Clark. 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. 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. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. tomorrow by helping launch the careers of media professionals. Stephenson-Leuck said she isnot accepting campaign contributions, and was relying on a series of public mayoral forums to promote her campaign. #okwx #texomawx. Norman voters selected him to lead a transformation of our community. Mayoral and city council elections will take place Tuesday, Feb. 8. Clark was elected mayor in a three-way contestin 2019after serving on the city council for three years. 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". He and his wife Janet were married in 1976, and moved to Norman from Tulsa in 1978. Here's how they could affect voters in future elections. Dunn advocated for a Ward-by-Ward, door-by-door approach to inform people of oils value. Incremental increases based on water usage were also included in the proposition. 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. Gov. After that, I am not at all opposed to these bond sales as an alternative or adjunct approach. 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. 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. 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. 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. First off, the defunding of the police department, they managed to truly deflate our wonderful police department that used to be a premier agency in Oklahoma, Heikkila said last month. Funding the project has been. "We were the first todeclare a state of emergency," she said. Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol, The awkward family affair of Gov. It's time for the drama and the partisan politics to end, she said. Together they owned a small glass business on Main Street for four years. news. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Phone: 405-366-5402 "These people messed with my livelihood, and that is cancel culture and that should never happen in the city of Norman," Kish said. On campus, she has served on the Universitys Legal Panel, Speakers Bureau, and the Committee on Discrimination and Harassment. [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 April, Norman will vote for a second time on a stormwater utility bond to address flooding and pollution problems. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. Personal keyboard_arrow_down. I think theres a lack of trust with what they did with our money.. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Its about long-term water quality and supply, its also about our stormwater drainage pipes, which we have never looked at, so therell be lots of replacement, and then lots of maintenance.. The incumbent also thanked Thompson for running a clean race. By July 2020, the group attempted to trigger a recall election. Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. As an employee he served as the City of Norman Street Supervisor, then as a Personnel Analyst, and finally as the Safety Manager. Janet was employed as a Special Education Teacher for 38 years, most of that time by Norman Public Schools. Snell had served on the school board for more than two decades. She . Thats not who we are. Ryan Walters to retain secretary role, draw 2 paychecks. 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. I was new to Norman and didn't know anybody. Affordable housing has always been the missing piece in Norman, and something that Norman has kind of always struggled with.. ", 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. Long-term maintenance and staffing of such facilities could pose an obstacle for the city, Clark said. I will do everything I can in power to support mayor-elect Heikkila, she said to a crowd of 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. I am grateful and humbled for the votes I received in Norman, Kish said in a prepared statement. If youre able, please Office:Adams Hall, Suite 106 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. Mostly we just need to assure the public that they can trust Norman Public Schools. If no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote, the runoff election will take place Tuesday, April 5. No education information on file. On today's date in 1911, record cold temperatures replaced record warmth on the same day. Were trying to clean water and build roads.. 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Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. 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.. Midway Bob Thompson swept up 18.90% of the votes, while Nicole Kish gained 12.50%; Alice Stephenson-Leuck obtained 0.14% of votes. (They asked), Why would you want the progress youve made to be undone, Clark said. Lets work this out so that we can make the town that we want and help me define it, he told supporters. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. Your IP: After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single . Heikkila said he wants the city council to focus on bread-and-butter municipal issues,such as police, fire, roads, bridges, sewerand trash pick up. 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%. 2. While the group also endorsed candidates in Wards 2, 4 and 6, none were elected. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. He also voiced support for no-tax transportation bonds that would allow Norman to build a new traffic management center. 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 think accountability is always good, and voter education. I interned for (former President) George W. Bush, and at the state capitol of Kansas.. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. The city also needs to update its master plan for development that reflects how Norman intends to grow, he said. He also serves as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at a local church. First elected to the Norman City Council to represent Ward 6 in 2016, she was elected in 2019 as Normans 60th mayor and first millennial mayor. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 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. "We had stumbled into this real combative scenario here in town," he said. 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. Current Term Ends: 07/01/25. Share with Us. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. I want to say thank you to my supporters and all the volunteers and communities that rolled out, Clark said Tuesday. 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. Breea Clark is the 60th Mayor for the City of Norman. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. There arent just parts of Norman, little pockets, having this issue. It was built, but we were not prepared for the staffing and maintenance costs. OK firm says some groups get special treatment in managed care bids. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. E.W. in Political Science from Wichita State University in 2005. 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. SUPPORT US TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $1. She serves on Normans ABLE Board, and continues to champion opportunities for the disabled. Phone: (405) 325-2501. Education keyboard_arrow_down. Clark said she stands by her handling of the pandemic that earned her recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association. 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. 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. Post Office Box 370 Norman, OK 73070. Dunn stressed oils importance and called several times for residents and businesses to use less of it. 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. 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. Part of that solution should involve more collaboration between rural and urban Normanites, she added. Experience: Before her election. 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. Clark also thanked her volunteers, her campaign workers and her family for their support. We believe The But, we are the county seat and it doesnt need to just be Normans problem, because its a countywide problem, its a nationwide problem. This is hard.. I thanked him for a clean race and spoke to him about how we can work together for a round two, she said.