Mayor Heikkila earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. recognition from the Oklahoma State Medical Association, ties to Unite Norman were elected to the council, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The conservative candidatehas been criticized for being in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021, for a rally led by former President Donald Trump, although Kish says she was nowhere near the U.S. Capitol when a pro-Trump mob stormed the building. 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. Potential affordable housing solutions under consideration now include single-room occupancy spaces near the intersection of Robinson Street and Berry Road. Theyve taken the force from 180 to 150, and their salaries are really low. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Before receiving her J.D. By July 2020, the group attempted to trigger a recall election. (Kyle Phillips / The Transcript). She saidRiverwind Casino,owned and operated by the Chickasaw Nation, is the reason homelessness is on the rise in Norman. Hickman views it as a way to balance the budget while Clark acknowledged TIFs as a valid economic tool, but that Norman residents wanted it removed. Im thankful for Maricha and my family, as well as the many friends and volunteers who have supported me.. However, there is no clear answer about her affiliation. 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. 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 OK firm says some groups get special treatment in managed care bids. The individuals who do it, they dont take on debt. Don't knowingly lie about anyone is a wildly inappropriate breach of municipal governments non-partisan nature, Clark said. 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. Before receiving her J.D. Norman voters will cast ballots Tuesday, Feb. 12, to decide which of three candidates will become the next mayor of Norman. KOCO 5 asked the five about COVID-19 mitigation measures, working with a divided City Council, police funding, federal funds for cities and how to address Norman's growing homeless population. If they appreciate that, it is an immediate change in how they think about their suburban homes.. The proposition called for the monthly base fee to all customers to be raised from $6 to $7.80 for metered users. Eventually, her supporters in city government and the community at-large led her to reconsider. The election results listed online are unofficial until they are certified by the Oklahoma State Election Board. One of her top issues is addressinghomelessness. 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. I dont make partisan decisions, because partisan politics dont fill potholes. news. After a decade of service in that office, I . Threats of harming another While the group also endorsed candidates in Wards 2, 4 and 6, none were elected. 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. Clark said the issue remains too important to continue administering band-aid solutions. I look forward to working with whomever becomes the new mayor to create a better future for Norman.. I am not at all in favor of it, Dunn said. Clear skies. In-person absentee voting takes place Thursday and Friday, Feb. 3-4. Keep it Clean. accounts, the history behind an article. Clark said the main separation between her and Hickman was leadership style. He began his quest to become Normans mayor amid a crowded field of five candidates that took part in Februarys general election. ", 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. 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. It's time for the drama and the partisan politics to end, she said. Theres no room for political ideology or political party in local government, because were not tackling issues like abortion or gun rights. Clark also thanked her volunteers, her campaign workers and her family for their support. Her mayoral tenure became defined largely by the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide policing debate. I love Norman, Hickman said. Analysis Efforts in Norman, Oklahoma, to recall Mayor Breea Clark and councilmembers Kate Bierman, Alison Petrone, Sereta Wilson, and Stephen Holmam were initiated in July 2020. 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. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Experience: Before her election. Political Experience keyboard_arrow_down. I interned for (former President) George W. Bush, and at the state capitol of Kansas.. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2008, she started working for the . E.W. 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.. It appears, for now, that voters wanted someone from the establishment on both sides. Norman, OK 73019-4004. 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. 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. 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 received 53.39 percent of the vote, compared to 46.61 for Clark, who was seeking her first reelection after winning in 2019. Norman, OK 73019-4004. Long-term maintenance and staffing of such facilities could pose an obstacle for the city, Clark said. Previously, he served the citizens of Norman with seventeen years of service as an employee of the City of Norman. Asked his priority now that he is elected, Ruggiers said he wants to ensure families trust the district. Midway Bob Thompson swept up 18.90% of the votes, while Nicole Kish gained 12.50%; Alice Stephenson-Leuck obtained 0.14% of votes. But initially, as they are right now, I dont think theyre equitable, I dont think they summon or motivate our residents to change the way that their homescapes are designed so that stormwater isnt the problem.. 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. Share Background Report Overview of Breea Diane Clark Lives in: Norman, Oklahoma Phone: View phone number Age: 39 Breea Clark's Voter Registration Your IP: Dunn spoke on his vision for Norman and set lofty goals for the citys role in national politics. Clark broadcast her concession speech to her official Facebook page. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. "Therivalry that isset up between the mayor and Unite Norman just looked like there was no end to it.". 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.. 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. 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. The fire department is down 8 or 9 percent, and police is down about 7 percent. Ill really start digging into the budget, Ruggiers said. 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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 serves as the Mayor of Norman, the 3rd largest city in the state of Oklahoma. 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. Im really excited about the win tonight, Ruggiers said. Her challengers in the nonpartisan race are Nicole Kish, Larry Heikkila, A.E. 405-876-9216. perm_identityWho exactly is Clark? Its a need for our city, Hickman said. E-mail:breea@ou.edu Phone:(405) 325-2501 So I'm glad that people are watching and participating.. 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. Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasn't always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. The Norman Transcript recently published analysis of Norman campaign finance reports through Jan. 28. There was a problem saving your notification. Thompson, who has owned and operated the Norman eatery Midway Deli for 36 years, is mounting an intraparty challenge against Clark. I will do everything I can in power to support mayor-elect Heikkila, she said to a crowd of supporters. Mayor | City of Norman, OK Information on City Council and Committee Meetings City of Norman, OK Building an Inclusive Community Mayor How Do I? Im invested in both [the City of Norman and OU], and so Im going to make sure our negotiations are fair.. Weve made a lot of progress in the last three years, and were just getting started. Stephenson-Leuck, 67, said she jumpedinto the mayoralrace due to thepolice budget cut in 2020. "These people messed with my livelihood, and that is cancel culture and that should never happen in the city of Norman," Kish said. Clark was elected mayor in a three-way contestin 2019after serving on the city council for three years. He also serves as an ordained Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at a local church. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism I think theres a lack of trust with what they did with our money.. 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. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. I think we could have a ward-specific citizen commission, and experts in stormwater infrastructure and water quality combine again and make a proposal.. Mindy Wood covers City Hall news and notable court cases for The Transcript. Breea Diane Clark (age 39) is listed at 718 E Johnson St Norman, Ok 73071 and is affiliated with the Democratic Party. Don't Threaten. A political outsider endorsed by Gov. 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.. "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.". Sworn In: 07/05/22 Breea Clark, the incumbent, had been mayor since 2019. 32. 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. Personal keyboard_arrow_down. Heikkila and Leuck did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. 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. Its all around our city, Clark said. Performance & security by Cloudflare. She also completed the 2018-19 Oklahoma Municipal Leagues Community Leadership Development class and founded the Norman Eastside Business Association. If reelected, Clark aims to find solutions to Norman's storm water issues, improve infrastructureand focus on making the community more sustainable and inclusive. On Tuesday, the total ballooned to more than 24,000. After nearly deciding she would surrender the mayorship after a single . (The office) came at great personal cost to me, Clark told The Daily. We need someone who can bring us together moving forward.. There was a problem saving your notification. Each petition failed to gather enough signatures, Members of a Facebook group opposing Normans COVID response, Clark said she was continually targeted and harassed. We've got people in Norman right now with Section Eight vouchers and no Section Eight housing available. Reach her atmwood@normantranscript.com or 405-416-4420. 405-876-9216. Who is rating Clark ? While on council, Thompson supported the city's first public safety sales tax that funded additional police officers. 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 . 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. In 2019, propositions for stormwater utility bond projects and a stormwater utility fee. 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. Issue Category All . Clark and Hickman feel the same about many Norman issues and both have city council member experience. She called local business closures at the start of the pandemic"devastating" forher practice. Clark received 4.45% more of the votes than Heikkila in the primary. Norman voters will also vote inNorman City Councilraces on Feb. 12. 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. Clark was elected mayor in a three-way contest in 2019 after serving on the city council for three years. I find it sad that local government has the lowest voter turnout, because the decisions we make on the second and fourth Tuesday at the city council chambers impact Normanites lives way faster and more directly than any decisions you're going to see at the state and federal level. She is also a proud graduate of the 2018-19 OU Leadership Council class. We spoke truthfully about the issues that I know are important to voters including public safety, homelessness and jobs. 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. He moved to Norman in 1978 and was a longtime City of Norman employee who now sits on several Cleveland County citizen boards. person will not be tolerated. Here's how they could affect voters in future elections. At OKC, a record high temperature of 83 degrees occurred mid-day, then plummeted to a record low of 17 degrees at midnight. 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. 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.. I want to thank everyone for putting their name on the ballot, she said. Previously, Blake has served as an intern reporter, senior news reporter, summer news editor and news managing editor. Newcomer Alex Ruggiers defeated longtime incumbent Dan Snell in the race for Norman Public Schools Board of Education Office No. I believe its a citizen-based solution to a city-wide problem.. Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Together they owned a small glass business on Main Street for four years. Stephenson-Leuck said she isnot accepting campaign contributions, and was relying on a series of public mayoral forums to promote her campaign. While some of us had different opinions of what means, I thank all of the candidates for their dedication and their love for the City of Norman," he said. Dunn stressed oils importance and called several times for residents and businesses to use less of it. "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. state. Clark also stated a desire to increase the civic engagement of OU students, describing them as student citizens of Norman. You have permission to edit this article. government. University of Oklahoma College of Law, J.D., 2008. UPDATED: Heikkila edges out Clark in mayoral race. Breea Clark is Of Counsel at WhitbeckBennett. Heikkila opposed mask mandates and other COVID-19 measures, while Clark had supported them. (NonDoc) Support Journalism In the culmination of two years worth of debate over city leadership, Larry. For more information on where, when and how to vote, visit the Cleveland County Election Board website. There has been a little bit of mistrust that has built up over the last couple of years.. If passed, the city would be able to allocate more resources to make infrastructure improvements to stormwater conveyance and collection systems. 210.65.88.143 City of Norman, 201 W Gray St,Norman, OK 73069, Information on City Council and Committee Meetings. They each spoke about what they believe makes them the best choice for Norman. Norman Mayor Breea Clark wasnt always certain she would pursue a second term after a tumultuous three years in office. 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. Were trying to clean water and build roads.. Mayor Heikkila is a pro-business, pro-growth, avid supporter of Normans Police and Fire Departments. I dont make partisan decisions, because partisan politics dont fill potholes. Use the 'Report' link on President Joe Biden, a Democrat, won the electiondespitewidely debunked claims of election fraud spread by Trump and his supporters. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. In April, Norman will vote for a second time on a stormwater utility bond to address flooding and pollution problems. He also retired in 2010, after twenty-six years of service in the United States Navy. faculty, staff and alumni on campus and around the world for more than 100 years? Breea Clark is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where she graduated with her B.A. Mayor Breea Clark will face Larry Heikkila in a runoff after neither candidate captured a majority of the vote Tuesday, preliminary election results indicated. 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. Mayoral and city council elections will take place Tuesday, Feb. 8. Post Office Box 370 Norman, OK 73070. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. What tribal leaders are saying about Stitt inauguration. Be Nice. They dont put debt on future generations to repay those bonds back.. 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. I thanked him for a clean race and spoke to him about how we can work together for a round two, she said. I am not in favor of the school bond, Im not in favor of any of the transportation bonds. Dunn advocated for a Ward-by-Ward, door-by-door approach to inform people of oils value. 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. Former Mayor Breea Clark "I will be the champion Norman needs to make a positive impact for everyone in our community.". This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. At a mayoral forum held by the Norman chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police last month, the candidatesvowed toprioritizepublic safety funding after the Norman City Council, including Clark, in 2020 approved a cut to the proposed police budget an issue that has embroiled the city ever since. Ruggiers picked up 64.17 percent of the vote, compared to Snells 35.83. The more we can collaborate, the more we can stretch our dollars to do the most good.. 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. The second attempt had more support than the first, so Im hopeful we can get it across the finish line. 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.