Candidate Questionnaires

Stephen Tyler Holman

Candidate for Ward 7

1. What is your position on requiring masks to be worn due to Covid-19 concerns?

“I always consider carefully the power I can wield as an elected decision maker. I generally prefer that people do the right thing instead of having the government mandate things. In the case of Covid-19, we have been dealing with an unprecedented situation unique to most of our lifetimes and we have had to make very difficult decisions to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of our community. I am not a medical or health professional, but I believe in listening to people like Doctor Gary Raskob, Doctor Dale Bratzler, and Doctor Kate Cook who are.

All the decisions the Council has made in regard to Covid response have been based on the advice from these professionals in their field and I will continue to listen to them. For those reasons, I support the mask mandate.”

2. What are your views on policing in Norman, including the budget, FOP contract, and SRO program?

“I believe the function of a police department should be to solve crimes that have been committed against the people of our City, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they look like. The Constitution says “Liberty & Justice for All”, but far too often our system of justice falls short of living up to that standard. I have seen the Norman Police Department do good things in my lifetime growing up here, but I have also seen first hand that there is waste of resources and that priorities in the department are not always aligned with the pulse of the community they are sworn to serve. It took me going to the State Supreme Court to hold NPD accountable three years ago and that experience has made me unafraid to always publicly hold them accountable, even when it may be the politically unpopular thing to do.

The police budget is the single largest departmental budget for the City every single year and any good City Councilmember should be very critical of how those funds are spent.

Re-allocating police department funding to better address mental health and crises response in our City would be beneficial to our citizens and our the members of the police department in my opinion.

I am definitely someone that supports workers rights and unions, but I feel the political activities of the FOP have only served to hurt the image of the police profession in the eyes of most people. Like the military, the police department should always remain publicly neutral as to not alienate large segments of the population that they again, are sworn to serve. When people are afraid to call the police for help, you know there is a serious problem.

The SRO program is voter approved in its current form so I do support fulfilling the will of voters until that otherwise changes. I do feel strongly that school security should not be a City funded program since the school system is an independently governed entity from the City. The PSST does not generate enough revenue to support itself so the City really just cannot afford it. I also have many concerns about police in schools as a national trend and what that means for minority students specifically when it comes to how they are being policed/disciplined.”

3. What are your views on the militarization of police and acquisition and use of military-grade weapons by the police department?

“I have consistently opposed spending requests to make the Norman Police more militarized over the 8 years I have served on the Council. I will continue to do that as I strongly believe a local police department should be distinctly different in appearance, equipment, and attitude on the job than the military.”

4. What should the city of Norman do to address the numerous racial justice issues that have come up in recent years?

“We have done a better job in recent years of acknowledging these issues exist than in the past which I think has been a positive thing for us as a community. We must continue to listen with open and understanding minds to the experiences people in our City are telling us about and take seriously the pain that these issues cause throughout our society. City Hall has an obligation to set the public example that racial injustice and hate has no home here. If we are silent as a City, then we are complicite in these problems.”

5. How should Norman address the needs of the homeless population?

“Compassion and understanding are paramount. There are so many factors that could lead anyone into a situation of being unhoused and our main objective should be to help in any way possible. Housing first is a great strategy that is working, but there are gaps in that which must be filled in the immediate time. I believe housing is a basic human right and that should be our motivating factor above all else.

My dad was not on the streets, but he was living at the Jesus House in OKC when I first got elected to City Council. That experience has helped guide my advocacy and support for measures to address homelessness in Norman. Among other initiatives supported the creation of the new Food & Shelter for Friends and their 32 tiny homes (with room to expand)  in addition to the creation of a permanent warming shelter/non profit service hub that we hope to have ready for next year. I am open to considering innovative concepts like a designated campground to address the issue of several unregulated campgrounds popping up on private property around the City. We have to understand and accept that there may always be people that prefer to live outside. How can we compassionately help instead of being angry at them.”

6. What are your views on infrastructure and environmental justice issues in the city, including stormwater, public transportation, accessibility, and land use?

“The built environment plays a major role in the ability of people to live, work, and enjoy life. Low income, racially diverse, and people with mobility challenges have often been underserved or not served at all when it comes to City planning in this Country. When it comes to planning City projects, I have always pushed for spreading them out in an equitable way that makes sure all parts of Norman are benefiting from them. The approval of all development projects need to take into consideration the impact the project may have on all surrounding residents. Something we would not approve of next to a wealthy neighborhood should have the same standard applied in regard to all neighborhoods in our City. 

I grew up on the East side and rode the City bus pretty often as a kid. That experience gave me firsthand knowledge of how vital that type of service is to people that need it.

Public transportation, parks, water/sanitation services, sidewalk accessibility, housing accessibility, among many more factors,  are things all Cities have an obligation to provide in a just and equal way.

We are about to finish the very first new street with dedicated bike lanes in East Norman soon (24th from Lindsey – Robinson) and I think that is a major step in the right direction for this area of Norman specifically.”

7. What do you think about the numerous Inclusive Community Subcommittee of the Human Rights Commission recommendations surrounding the homeless, a sanctuary city, updating Norman’s history of oppressed communities, etc.? Which of the recommendations from the Inclusive Community Subcommittee would you support?

“I definitely support most of the recommendations of the Inclusive Community Subcommittee and have already voted to move forward with some of them. Homeless and unhoused issues have been a priority for me personally due to my own experiences with it. Everyone in this City that wants a home should have one, but we also need to understand that we need to be prepared to help people suffering from mental health issues that may not be capable of maintaining housing on their own.

The first point in the Sanctuary City policy is problematic due to our lack of control over how the County Jail operates since it is a County Government function. That said, I strongly support the statement from the Norman Police that it is not their job to enforce Federal Immigration law or to assist ICE in doing so. We need to make sure our local PD is following through on that word and is not engaging in activity to break up or harm the families of our City. The Chief of NPD has stated on the record that he does not want anyone in our City to hesitate calling the police to report a crime out of fear their immigration status will be questioned by responding officers. This is another point we must stay vigilant on.

 The other two points, (Develop relationships with other sanctuary providers (i.e., churches, city services, and state non-profits). ○ Adopt a Family First Policy to keep immigrant families intact.) are policies that make sense, are compassionate, and should be supported by everyone.

Norman needs to continue recognizing the history of the land our City now resides on and the people who were displaced to make it happen in the beginning. Recognizing past policies that caused harm like the Sundown Town ordinance has been something I have supported with my vote and will continue to support when educating residents about our history.”

8. More Oklahomans are facing housing and food insecurity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. How would you address this issue as a city council member?

“The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly exacerbated housing and food insecurity problems we were already facing, especially in a State like Oklahoma. I have viewed my role as being a resource for people to turn to for answers and information. My position gives me a platform to advocate to State officials and medical professionals and to efficiently let people know what is going on. The City government needs to use all the resources available to us to help those in need make it through. Grace with municipal utility bills and the municipal court actions are two of the best ways the City Council can act with compassion towards people suffering from hardships related to Covid-19. I also think the City needs to lobby the State for some kind of eviction freeze or incentive to rental property owners to address the dire housing security situations many people have been put in by this. Allowing hundreds or thousands of Norman residents to lose their homes would be devastating.”

9. Do you support Unite Norman? Did you support any of their recall efforts? Why or why not?

I do not support Unite Norman or their attempt to recall me and my colleagues on the Council. We were all elected by a fair and democratic process that takes place every February in Norman.

Anyone that is concerned about the direction of our City has the ability to support candidates and make changes without pursuing something as extremely divisive as a recall. Some of the people involved with Unite Norman may have good intentions, but the organization as a whole and its founders have consistently spread misinformation while being very hateful, and divisive while doing so.

10. What are your thoughts on the economic development of Norman, such as TIF, Norman Forward, and Norman central city and Porter Avenue areas?

“Economic development is important for the sake of jobs and education, but it must be done so in a way that benefits the community as a whole and not just a select few. We are not a community that can afford to offer massive tax incentives to lure business here like others prefer to do. We must rely on investing in infrastructure and services that improve the quality of life for residents in the City. This in turn is what will bring in the jobs we want and Norman has seen success with this strategy.

A TIF can be a valuable tool for local governments to address infrastructure needs in a particular area that otherwise might not get them. These improvements can then lead to the area being more attractive to residents and businesses looking to locate in our City. I generally support the use of property tax based infrastructure TIFS like we put in place for the CENTER CITY area. It is not siphoning off sales tax revenue from the City and is only for fixing things like streets, sidewalks, alleyways, and storm drainage issues. The Campus Corner TIF was successful a few years ago at putting in new ADA sidewalks, lights, landscaping, and parking for the area. Once it did those things, the TIF account was closed out and ended as promised.

In regard to the UNP TIF, a sales tax based TIF should have never been created for that area in the first place in my opinion. I did not create it, but I did support a plan that I strongly believed was the best way to end it as early as possible. Not everyone agreed with that plan, but I do think it was the right thing to do given all the circumstances involved. Hopefully our community has learned from that experience and the same mistakes will be avoided in the future.

Norman Forward has done a lot to improve quality of life in Norman and will continue to do so as more projects get completed. NF is responsible for a new Central Library, the first ever East Side branch library, new Westwood swim complex, four new City parks, new Skatepark, and first accessible playground in the City just to name a few things already done.

Making sure projects are located in places that serve the most people is not always possible due to land availability, but we need to always be taking that factor into strong consideration when making these decisions.

Center City is very important due to the desire to provide an alternative development option to counter suburban sprawl and car centricity. The policy has a lot of work left to do, but the aim is to better connect Campus Corner and Downtown Norman into and area that is more walkable and has multiple different housing types. Housing affordability is the biggest concern I personally have about this and I support continuing to explore ways to formally address that problem.”

11. What should the city do to be more inclusive of all residents in city governance and decision making?

“The City must be proactive about making sure all voices are heard and at the table for decisions we are making. We cannot sit back and just wait for people to come to us, we have to make that effort if we really value inclusivity as a community. I believe we do and I will continue to advocate for our City government to always strive to do better in this regard. Diversity and inclusion in how we form and appoint committees that advise the City Council are probably the most directly impactful things we can do to make sure the most voices are being heard.”

Link to Stephen Tyler Holman’s campaign website

Link to Stephen Tyler Holman’s campaign Facebook page

Michael Nash

Candidate for Ward 5

1. What is your position on requiring masks to be worn due to Covid-19 concerns?

“I voted in favor of extending the mask mandate until March and will continue to support the extension until the spread is under control, and I do not believe it will be under control until everyone who would choose to receive the vaccine has received it.  Before that point, even if we went under another lockdown and got the daily case counts down to where they were in May, I would advocate strongly that we keep the mask mandate in place lest we commit ourselves as Sisyphus to a cycle of illusionary progress destined for defeat.

Furthermore, I believe strongly that masks are indeed a matter of freedom, but not in the same thoughtless rhetoric that has been echoed recently.  For the sake of argument, if we consider the mortality rate of COVID at 0.5% and ignoring other factors, that is a 200-sided dice roll.  When we don’t wear a mask, we are casting casting the dice for everyone around us, and everyone who is subsequently around them, and that is not OK.  Realistically, one could argue that there is no guarantee that we are infected.  Okay, so the rate of infection here, if I remember correctly, is around 44 out of 100,000 people, so 0.044% infection rate.  Pair that with the 0.5% mortality rate, and merely breathing a stranger’s air now comes with it a 0.00022% mortality rate.  If that seems trivial, that’s about 1 in 450,000.  I won’t speak to the irony of those who prefer to roll the dice being anti-mask while avoiding the vaccine for risk of its ill-effect…1 in 450,000 chance of death by breathing a stranger’s air vs 1 in a few million chance of needing an EpiPen.

I will commit to you my promise that I will approach this situation, and every situation, calmly and rationally.

Notes:

0.044% rate of infection (44 out of 100,000)

0.5% mortality (1 out of 200)

Probability of both events occurring:

((44/100000)*(0.5/100))

2.2e-6

1/0.00022%

1 in 454,545″

2. What are your views on policing in Norman, including the budget, FOP contract, and SRO program?

“I believe the FOP contracts in the same manner as all contracts and agreements of budget allocation, once agreed upon, should be considered a resolved aspect of the budget and only readdressed under extenuating circumstances of obvious necessity.  This is not to be biased toward any particular contract or department, but because as soon as that contract is agreed upon, those departments begin planning the use of resources and committing to the following year’s plans.  Such last-minute changes can invalidate large amounts of effort in man-hours that were spent in the creation of those plans.  However, everyone should be understanding of the fact that sometimes such modifications are necessary, and there should not be childish tit for tat exchanges, even if it is perceived as an affront.

I am in support of the SRO program and its goal of providing positive role models to children and encouraging positive relationships between law enforcement and youth which should mature to positive relationships between law enforcement and adults. 

We will have law enforcement officers at our schools to provide security both for the children and the teachers.  This is unavoidable and there are no alternatives (and I will leave this statement here for the sake of time, space, and to encourage dialogue later).  The SRO program is a terrific application of what could otherwise translate into idle time for the officers.

But I am also aware of the controversy about the SRO program.  Whether or not the fears are fact or the stated objectives are realized, the objective I believe to be good, and before abolishing the program I contend that we enhance transparency of the program so that we can determine unequivocally whether the program is succeeding at its objectives, and that the feared consequences are absent.  If the fears are confirmed, then we should also have enough information to make a thorough assessment of whether the consequences can be separated from the program, and we can decide from there if there is potential to fix the program or if it should be concluded.

I am in full support of the Norman Police Department.  It is our law enforcement agency, and no matter what we do the Norman Police Department will serve Norman.  If there are issues within the department, then those issues need to be addressed directly.  If there are suspicions of issues within the department, then those suspicions need to be addressed directly with transparency.  There is no sense or benefit in preventing citizens from seeing data to evidence the good work by our law enforcement.  Such obstruction does great harm to the relationship between law enforcement and the public, thereby doing great harm to the agency’s ability to serve and protect. 

I believe the concerns about the Norman Police Department are inaccurate and unfounded.  However, as a scientist I am fully cognizant that my belief of the accuracy of these concerns is likely founded on far less than the concerns held by citizens; I am less committed to upholding my unfounded belief system than I am to the preservation of tranquility in the people, and as one may find compromise between arguing friends, I am committed to relieving the concerns of one friend while being respectful and sensitive to the other friend as I negotiate the actions necessary to relieve concerns in one without excessively encumbering the other.  The outcome will either be relief and confidence from the citizens or the identification of a problem and overall improvement with its resolution within the department.  There are no consequences transparency, but the lack thereof has great consequences in the guaranteed degradation of public trust and potential for problems that go unresolved.”

3. What are your views on the militarization of police and acquisition and use of military-grade weapons by the police department?

“I am firmly against “militarization” of the police and military-grade weaponry being in their arsenal.  When I see police departments with up-armored vehicles that are more impressive than the armored vehicles we had in Afghanistan, then I see an abuse of funding and a deviation from the fundamental tenets of a police force to serve and protect. 

That said, I am familiar with the danger that humans can present, and there are legitimate situations where our law enforcement need to be well-armed.  The crucial distinction between a well-armed police force and a militarized police force is that a well-armed police force has equipment that is more or less available to citizens, while militarization introduces weapon systems and equipment that are illegal for citizens to possess.  An exception that has been made, for better or for worse, is in non-lethal equipment.  In any case, I will defer to the experts and give them the respect of confidence in their knowledge of the job.  This is not to imply I treat the word of experts as gospel, but I am open to and invite being educated on any matter.

To address the point directly: our local law enforcement officers who are tasked with preserving the peace, and to serve and protect the citizens of Norman, should not be equipped with weapon systems and equipment that is restricted to military use.  They should not be waging war on citizens.  If there is an infiltration of bad actors within our borders in significant quantity and who have armed themselves so greatly that it is a matter of destroying the enemy to reclaim our territory, then we call the Oklahoma National Guard.  That is their purpose.”

4. What should the city of Norman do to address the numerous racial justice issues that have come up in recent years?

“I have always viewed Norman as a diverse and racially inclusive city.  There should be absolutely no tolerance for racism, bigotry, sexism, or any prejudice of any kind.  However, I am not thoroughly knowledgeable of the varieties of city-wide initiatives to address this issue, their measures of merits, or their success rates and I would defer to the expertise of others on the council or a commission formed exclusively for this purpose.  Likewise, the prominence of this issue varies greatly by ward, and of the issues that matter to the people of Ward 5, this is not one I commonly see come up.  I would not oppose an initiative spearheaded by another on the Council, and I am open to education and discussion of possible solutions, but am neither qualified nor is it appropriate for me to guide a city-wide initiative of this type at this time.

It should be understood that it is the responsibility of the Councilmember to institute solutions to problems identified by and on behalf of the constituents of the ward he or she represents. While the Councilmember may act on their own initiative to address matters of their sole and exclusive choosing, such an effort without inclusion of the people in the ward is a failure of representation on an independent agenda.”

5. How should Norman address the needs of the homeless population?

“The western edges of Ward 5 have the most interaction with the homeless.  I am in support of funding if and only if there is a thoughtful proposal that adequately justifies the expense.  The education aspect seems like wishful thinking and a waste of the budget.  The city struggles to communicate matters of emergency to the residents of the city.  I do not know what the content of the ‘education’ would be, but assuming the ‘education’ is significantly valuable, I would perhaps be in favor of the education if cost were minimal and the communication trivial.  However, it will be difficult to convince me that the education effort could be done at a low enough price point.   And again, support from the ward would be needed and as of yet has not been observed.”

6. What are your views on infrastructure and environmental justice issues in the city, including stormwater, public transportation, accessibility, and land use?

Stormwater:

The stormwater propositions rightfully failed.  The way they were structured, residents, and rural residents especially, shouldered the bulk of the burden. 

First, large agricultural fields were going to be charged at a high tier on city utility fees.  The prop did not specify that people who receive sanitation services would not be charged this fee, which means rural residents with fields and bare ground to soak up water would be paying more while responsible for less of the problem compared to dense neighborhoods and commercial properties. 

Second, stormwater runoff recharges Lake Thunderbird which is the source of center city’s water.  This is a matter of municipal water supply, and most people in Ward 5 have private wells. The city needs to put stormwater charges in the water bill; charges should be proportionate to the contribution to the problem.

Anyone on an acreage should be charged proportionate to the paved area, and not at all if on a private well.

Public Transportation:

Roughly 200 residents in Ward 5 are over 84 and I would assume could need help with transportation.  There are about 1,700 in Ward 5 over 70.  That means that 1,500 in the next 15 years will be needing transportation; +100 folks per year could need assistance with transportation. The size of the ward makes an intricate transit system like that in center city an infeasible option. 

Furthermore, the residents of the ward do not presently wish to have such an intricate system as they do not wish to have buses disrupting the serenity of the rural setting.  Routes to Little Axe need to be optimized, and can serve as hub for transport between center city, as well as Shawnee.

However, I do not feel this matter is of higher priority than other issues in the ward, and I do not plan to advocate the allocation of funds to expand the present system without such direction by the community.”

7. What do you think about the numerous Inclusive Community Subcommittee of the Human Rights Commission recommendations surrounding the homeless, a sanctuary city, updating Norman’s history of oppressed communities, etc.? Which of the recommendations from the Inclusive Community Subcommittee would you support?

“Many of the recommendations are of marginal relevance to Ward 5.  Because of this, and my limited experience and knowledge of the subject matter-the issues being addressed and the merit of the recommended actions, my input is of limited value.”

“Recommendations” that are relevant or of interest to Ward 5 or otherwise supported:

• Make City Council meetings and City-sponsored events more inclusive by expanding and providing captioning/translation services in ASL and Spanish and by providing or subsidizing child-care support for City Council Meetings by partnering with local non-profits for services (e.g., Center for Children and Families).

“I can support child-care support during city council meetings, in particular.”

• Build relationships and collaborate with OU international student organizations (e.g., street fairs, music festivals, and food festivals) to increase citywide inclusivity.

“This sounds like a phone call or an email.  I can get behind this.”

• Build relationships between youth and the City by placing School Resource Officers in all middle schools and elementary schools, partnering with Police, Fire, and other City agencies to promote after school programs, and strengthening the Norman Youth Council ensuring criteria for participation includes all students, making it more accessible to students from all backgrounds.

“I am in full support.”

“Recommendations” that have minimal relevance in Ward 5 or otherwise would be opposed:

• Establish an ongoing Inclusivity Advisory Committee to expand Council reach

“I am not sold on this committee yet.  I would need to have a more in-depth discussion about the purpose, benefit, example uses, etc.  The description in the summary and recommendations does not contain any selling points compelling enough to be worth the effort, maintenance, or modification to the charter.”

• Hire a City Equity Officer

“This item is likely the critical link in the chain that could convince me to support other items in the list — a position dedicated to conducting the research that should be the basis of budgetary decisions.”

• Commit funding to improve public relations and information access for all residents, especially those of underrepresented groups, outlining opportunities available within the City of Norman (e.g., available social services, ward information, meetings, events, volunteer opportunities).

“Not without a proposed plan.  We should not continue to throw money at problems with surprise when all we get is a hole in our budget.”

• Promote high-quality, affordable, accessible child care with after-hours availability to support parents throughout the community. Partner with local non-profits, religious organizations, and the like to increase options and keep costs minimal. Provide CDBG grants to nonprofits to assist in subsidizing the cost. Support a community-parent co-op.

“I can see this as being a very beneficial thing to parts of the city, and can understand its support.  Those part of the city will surely be reflected in the support by the respective Councilmembers.  I represent the people of Ward 5.  I have not received any support from my constituents for this idea and, unless that changes, will not support the allocation of funding for it.”

• Become a Sanctuary City.

“I will not endorse our abandonment of the role of law in our citizenship process any sooner than I would condemn the role of law in due process.  We should not pick and choose what aspects of the law we want to uphold.”

• Sundown town and Land Run

“I have reservations about the recommendations regarding our public parks, spaces, and facilities with regards to Sundown Town and the Land Run.  I open for education on these topics.”

From the Recommendations Summary:

Sundown town and Land Run updates to our public spaces:

– Expand current park space in the same spirit as Tulsa’s “Gathering Place” and update existing sites.

Update/rename public spaces connected to the Land Run to include signage outlining the history of the:

  land theft,

  occupation,

  genocide, and

  broken treaties related to Sovereign Nations.

– Erect public markers in parks and public facilities so all may understand the nature of these events:

· African-American residents in Norman were unlawfully and racially cleansed

· Later periods witnessed

 – mob violence,

 – terror,

 – threats,

 – the freezing out of services such as restaurants and motels, and

 – real-estate practices that resulted in the refusal of sale of real-estate and homes to African-Americans.

· In the 1920’s, Norman had more than 100 influential men sponsoring KKK calls for no African Americans: residing, working, entertaining, or simply being in Norman after dark

8. More Oklahomans are facing housing and food insecurity because of the coronavirus pandemic. How would you address this issue as a city council member?

“I would defer to the councilmembers where this issue is most prominent.  I have not received any calls, emails, text messages or letters from constituents concerned about housing or food insecurity directly.  I have had constituents concerned about local businesses (by extension this could be argued to be food insecurity and housing indirectly), and have supported the allocation of funding for a program to assist small business in Norman.”

9. Do you support Unite Norman? Did you support any of their recall efforts? Why or why not?

“No I do not support Unite Norman.  I support its members, their concerns, I admire their compassion for the town and fixing what they see to be broken so that we may all be safer.  But when the leadership of Unite Norman attacked my pregnant wife over an old selfie with Bernie Sanders, that crossed a line.”

10. What are your thoughts on the economic development of Norman, such as TIF, Norman Forward, and Norman central city and Porter Avenue areas?

“It is important that we make Norman a desirable place to establish a business.  I am not in favor of the TIF.  The Norman Forward projects can be useful.  The aquatics center could be a decent project as long as it keeps the elements that make it attractive enough to bring people from other cities to spend money here, but Moore should pay for part of it.”

11. What should the city do to be more inclusive of all residents in city governance and decision making?

“Neither we on the Council nor the city itself prohibits anyone from participation.  The problem of participation is not that we exclude any group or individual from the process, it is that they either don’t know about the process or don’t feel empowered to affect it.  This is a problem of education, not of insufficient funding.  Kids need to be taught how municipal government works, preferably in schools.  If they are familiar with the process, then they will participate in the process if they so desire.”

Link to Michael Nash’s campaign website

Link to Michael Nash’s campaign Facebook page

Alison Petrone

Candidate for Ward 3

  1. What is your position on requiring masks to be worn due to Covid-19 concerns? 

“There is no legitimate controversy regarding the efficacy of masks in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Masks are a vital public health tool in fighting this pandemic.” 

  1. What are your views on policing in Norman, including the budget, FOP contract, and SRO program? 

“As a member of Council, I have to be careful about discussing certain topics that are the subject of current litigation. Generally speaking, NPD has the largest share of General Fund dollars of any city department. The SRO program is a voter-approved initiative funded jointly by Public Safety Sales Tax and NPS. Should Norman residents desire to fully staff the vision of the ballot initiative with respect to SROs, additional voter-approved revenue will be required. Council intends to submit that question to the people in the coming year. Per the FOP contract, Council will continue to seek advisement from the City Attorney’s office and outside legal to better understand the city’s rights at the bargaining table.”

  1. What are your views on the militarization of police and acquisition and use of military-grade weapons by the police department? 

“I am greatly concerned by the over militarization of local police departments nationwide. Police departments, irrespective of their level of training, are not intended to defend the home front. That is the job of our National Guard. Norman is fortunate to have an OK Army National Guard base nearby in Lexington, OK. If their expertise is ever needed, I have full faith that the Governor would deploy their expert services.” 

  1. What should the city of Norman do to address the numerous racial justice issues that have come up in recent years?

“City Council must continue to address the issues of our residents who are crying out for justice. Our ears and hearts must be open to meaningfully hear their pleas, and ensure that residents who are the targets of bigotry are welcomed to the table to help craft solutions and pathways for justice.”

  1. How should Norman address the needs of the homeless population? 

“Our homeless residents deserve a robust overhaul of the safety nets that failed them. Homelessness is a symptom of deep systemic failings. The conditions that ultimately result in a resident becoming unhoused vary greatly. A few commonly known examples of underlying conditions that often lead residents to homelessness are local economic conditions, lack of healthcare, and fleeing domestic violence.”

  1. What are your views on infrastructure and environmental justice issues in the city, including stormwater, public transportation, accessibility, and land use? 

“Infrastructure and Environmental Racism are often first cousins. Our country, state, and city all have long sordid histories of neglecting the infrastructure needs of communities of color, while simultaneously exploiting their resources and leaving their lands and neighborhoods in uninhabitable conditions known as “sacrifice zones.” This is a moral failure on our people. Accessibility: We have a long way to go to become a truly ADA-compliant city. I am proud of the work that we completed at Ruby Grant Park to create an inclusive park for all abilities to enjoy. That said, we still have a long road ahead of us to retrofit existing buildings, sidewalks, parks, and many other areas to be accessible to all of our residents.”

7. What do you think about the numerous Inclusive Community Subcommittee of the Human Rights Commission recommendations surrounding the homeless, a sanctuary city, updating Norman’s history of oppressed communities, etc.? Which of the recommendations from the Inclusive Community Subcommittee would you support?

“The Human Rights Subcommittee has put forward a wide variety of policy proposals for community and council consideration. Their work has been vital to understanding our city’s shortcomings, as well as our successes. I look forward to continuing to seek understanding of each policy proposal and creating coalitions to push our community forward to a place where all residents feel safe, valued, and heard. I am particularly interested in moving forward to update our historical record to accurately reflect our community’s past. I look forward to learning more about their vision for accomplishing this important effort.”

8. More Oklahomans are facing housing and food insecurity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. How would you address this issue as a city council member? 

“Housing and food insecurity resulting from the pandemic are an appropriate use of CARES Act funding. We need to work with our partner jurisdictions, schools, non-profits, and faith-based organizations to get resources to our people in need as swiftly and efficiently as possible.” 

9. Do you support Unite Norman? Did you support any of their recall efforts? Why or why not? 

“Because I am currently in active litigation with Unite Norman, I have no comment.”

10. What are your thoughts on the economic development of Norman, such as TIF, Norman Forward, and Norman central city and Porter Avenue areas?

““Economic Development” seems to be the buzz term of many modern politicians. In the interest of brevity for publication, I will answer this question in more general, philosophical terms. Public tax money should be spent to benefit the public. When public money is used to prop up already advantaged companies or industries, the government is engaging in market manipulation that picks winners and losers. Our city has suffered greatly in the past from many different methods of crony capitalist creations. Let’s steer clear of those divisive and often corrupting schemes, and focus on the betterment of quality of life for our people.”    

11. What should the city do to be more inclusive of all residents in city governance and decision making?

“We need more new faces from communities who have been largely unrepresented in seats of power at City Hall. While on Council, I have had the opportunity to seat two residents in important committee seats. Both of those seats have been filled by strong women of color. I hope that future councils continue that good work into the future. Our halls of power should look like the people they govern.”

Link to Alison Petrone’s Campaign Website

Matt McGarry

Candidate for Ward 2

1. What is your position on requiring masks to be worn due to Covid-19 concerns?

“I fully support masking in public spaces.”

2. What are your views on policing in Norman, including the budget, FOP contract, and SRO program?

“I want to improve policing in Norman. This means thinking differently about training. The US provides police with far less training than other so-called “advanced” countries. In Germany, for example, police cadets must complete three years of coursework, including advanced coursework in sociology, history, and psychology, before they can become police officers. There is no real reason why we should not do the same.

As far as the budget is concerned, the police are like any other municipal agency. No agency merits a blank cheque. Budgets should be deliberated over with great care.”

3. What are your views on the militarization of police and acquisition and use of military-grade weapons by the police department?

“The police should not be a paramilitary organization.”

4. What should the city of Norman do to address the numerous racial justice issues that have come up in recent years?

“The city of Norman should carefully consult the Summary and Recommendations of the Inclusive Committee. There are many thoughtful and readily implementable recommendations in that report, including hiring a city equity officer.”

5. How should Norman address the needs of the homeless population?

“The city should work to make sure that poverty is not moralized and criminalized. That would be a good start. Beyond that, the city should work to expand shelters and create long-term housing that provide residents with a place to live, secure their positions, and have the stability needed to secure their lives. It is nearly impossible to break the cycle with a helping hand.”

6. What are your views on infrastructure and environmental justice issues in the city, including stormwater, public transportation, accessibility, and land use?

7. What do you think about the numerous Inclusive Community Subcommittee of the Human Rights Commission recommendations surrounding the homeless, a sanctuary city, updating Norman’s history of oppressed communities, etc.? Which of the recommendations from the Inclusive Community Subcommittee would you support?

“Broadly speaking, I support all of the initiatives outlined and explained in the Subcommittee report. I am especially supportive of hiring an equity officer, committing funds to improve the dissemination of public information for all citizens because a strong city is one whose population is informed, engaged, and participatory. I also strongly support developing the city’s transportation infrastructure, this includes restoring and developing more bus routes, but also creating new sidewalks, bike lanes, and especially paths for pedestrians and cyclists that connect our communities.”

8. More Oklahomans are facing housing and food insecurity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. How would you address this issue as a city council member?

“During the pandemic, for vulnerable families, there should be a moratorium      on rents. This would enable people to divert resources to other needs. The city should consider all ways to support and maintain food banks during this critical time. City Council should also, as a whole, advocate increased SNAP benefits.”

9. Do you support Unite Norman? Did you support any of their recall efforts? Why or why not?

“No, I do not support Unite Norman. Why? They are simply on the wrong side of history. Their platform turns on policies of exclusivity rather than inclusivity; their worldview is decidedly negative, one scarcity instead of abundance.

No, I did not support any of their recall efforts.”

10. What are your thoughts on the economic development of Norman, such as TIF, Norman Forward, and Norman central city and Porter Avenue areas?

“Norman needs to invest in Core Norman. This means reinvesting in Main Street, Campus Corner, Porter, the Lindsey Corridor, and other commercial areas, such as 12th street. Norman must stop the cannibalization of these areas.

Norman Forward has to be reconnected with the needs of a plurality of Normanites, not just the well healed and privileged few. Norman Forward, in particular, could be an incredible engine for making youth activities – competitive sports, arts, etc – accessible to all children regardless of income.”

11. What should the city do to be more inclusive of all residents in city governance and decision making?

“The city should work with nonprofits to provide child-care during meetings for those that need it. In addition, the city should provide captioning and interpreting services.”

Link to Matt McGarry’s Campaign Website

Link to Campaign Facebook Page

Brandi Studley

Candidate for Ward 1

1. What is your position on requiring masks to be worn due to Covid-19 concerns? 

“I think if masks would have been made mandatory at a national level, then we would not have seen the number of deaths we saw in this nation.  I think it is sad that we have leaders that seem to want to mix science and politics for their own political gain.  Wearing a mask has nothing to do with freedom, and everything to do with health and safety.”

2. What are your views on policing in Norman, including the budget, FOP contract, and SRO program?

“I think that it is time we reimagine policing in our country.  Our city is no exception.  Even police feel their duties have grown beyond the scope of the job.  By creating other departments who deal specifically with mental health or drug use related calls, this will allow for not only safety for those residents, but will allow the police to do their actual job of fighting crime.  I feel that SRO is a school-to-prison pipeline and police have no business in our schools, police are here to fight crime, period.  In Norman we have documented proof that the SRO officers have more contact with Black and Brown children and this is not okay and does nothing to harbor healthy relationships.  In fact it is intimidating and distracting to some students.  The FOP is a dangerous union that doesn’t hold police accountable and in fact, relies on taxpayer money to pay families restitution for crimes by cops.  I think it is in poor taste for the city to negotiate these types of terms for officers and doesn’t allow for true accountability.”

3. What are your views on the militarization of police and acquisition and use of military-grade weapons by the police department? 

“Absolutely not, we are not the enemy, we are citizens.  In fact, when this grant proposal came about, Chief Foster mentioned that they heard after the election there was going to be violent BLM rioting, however,  this never happened and the only people who rioted were Trump supporters,  off duty officers, and Unite Norman supporters and as we all watched, the police didn’t break out their riot gear for that.”

4. What should the city of Norman do to address the numerous racial justice issues that have come up in recent years?

“I feel that the city should be more transparent in discipline actions as well as admitting there is an issue in the first place.  We have to face racism head on and call it out when we see it and deal with it swiftly and justly.”

5. How should Norman address the needs of the homeless population? 

“Stop throwing money at “looking at the problem” and start to fix it.  Other cities use pilot programs to try things before making it official.  Why can’t we try out some of the other programs with tent cities or small houses that cost $1000 each as a temporary housing situation until those people can get into a permanent brick and mortar house that they city currently requires and follows?  As much as I appreciate what Food & Shelter, Thunderbird House, Transitions and other agencies are doing, it is not enough in comparison to the number of unhoused people we have in the community.  We also have issues with the state contributing to our homeless situation and they are not held accountable by sending mentally ill homeless to Griffin from across our state because there is an opening and then instead of taking them back to the cities they came from, they are released to homelessness in our city.”

6. What are your views on infrastructure and environmental justice issues in the city, including stormwater, public transportation, accessibility, and land use?

“I feel that we as a city need to really focus on these items first before we continue to build and expand.  We have so many empty buildings and land areas that could be rebuilt or reused.  For public transportation,  we need added stops and more options for daily use for those with disabilities.”

7. What do you think about the numerous Inclusive Community Subcommittee of the Human Rights Commission recommendations surrounding the homeless, a sanctuary city, updating Norman’s history of oppressed communities, etc.? Which of the recommendations from the Inclusive Community Subcommittee would you support?

“I would support all efforts, except those that increase student contact with SROs by adding them to our elementary schools.  If cops want to make a good impression, then go into neighborhoods after school and get to know the kids and families in communities you serve.”

8. More Oklahomans are facing housing and food insecurity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. How would you address this issue as a city council member? 

“I feel that more of the covid relief funds should have actually gone to families in crisis instead of tourism and art in our city.  I will need to research what other relief options are out there.  This is a scary time for many and if we get additional funding, I will commit to voting it going back to the people.”

9. Do you support Unite Norman? Did you support any of their recall efforts? Why or why not?

“No, I do not support them and in fact, protested their efforts.  Our community voted for these leaders on council. Norman is a very diverse and progressive community.  Our city was the blue dot in the sea of red during national elections.  Untie Norman is a group of good old boys that want to keep Norman under its control and we have spoken and will not stand for their agenda.”

10. What are your thoughts on the economic development of Norman, such as TIF, Norman Forward, and Norman central city and Porter Avenue areas.

“I think we need to take a step back and look at the money or lack thereof, while we are in this pandemic.  We need to set priorities and budget appropriately for those items.  Stop spending money we don’t have.”

11. What should the city do to be more inclusive of all residents in city governance and decision making? 

“I feel the city should be allowed to vote for TIFs, for replacement council members, etc.  I feel we need to continue to have meetings in the evenings when they can be attended by more people.  I also like the ideas of holding town halls across different areas of the city allowing those without transportation or internet access the ability to voice their concerns.”

Link to Brandi Studley’s campaign website

Link to Brandi Studley’s campaign Facebook page