Oklahoma City held a general election for anopen city council seat in Ward 4 on April 4, 2017. Ward 4 incumbentPete White opted not to run for re-election. None of the four contenders to replace him won a majority in the primary election on February 14, 2017, so the top two vote-getters—Richard Morrissette andTodd Stone—advanced to the April general election. Stone defeated Morrissette in the general election.[2][3][4]
Three other city council races were decided in the February primary election. IncumbentsJames Greiner,Larry McAtee, andJohn Pettis Jr. each won a majority of the primary vote in their bids for re-election in Wards 1, 3, and 7.[3]
Elections
General election
Note: Although elections in Oklahoma City are officially nonpartisan, Ballotpedia identified known partisan affiliations for informational purposes. Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of additions or updates to these partisan affiliations.
Note: Although elections in Oklahoma City are officially nonpartisan, Ballotpedia identified known partisan affiliations for informational purposes. Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of additions or updates to these partisan affiliations.
The figures in the tables below are from the most recent report submitted by each candidate as of March 17, 2017. They are reproduced as presented by the candidates in their report summaries.[5]
†Stone reported an additional $1,500 in contributions on a continuing report of contributions and $4,704.64 in independent expenditures by Catalyst Oklahoma on an electioneering communications and independent expenditures report.[6][7]
*Pettis reported an additional $7,287.97 in independent expenditures by Catalyst Oklahoma on an electioneering communications and independent expenditures report.[8]
Ayesvote was a votein favor of authorizing a permanent 0.25 percent (one-quarter cent) sales tax estimated to provide $26 million annually for city services.
Anovote was a voteagainst authorizing permanent 0.25 percent (one-quarter cent) sales tax estimated to provide $26 million annually for city services.
Ayesvote was a votein favor of a 27-month extension of theMetropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) 1 percent sales tax to fund capital improvements, including street resurfacing, streetscape, trail, sidewalk, and bicycle infrastructure projects.
Anovote was a voteagainst a 27-month extension of the MAPS 1 percent sales tax to fund capital improvements, including street resurfacing, streetscape, trail, sidewalk, and bicycle infrastructure projects.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $491 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of streets.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $491 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of streets.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $27 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of bridges.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $27 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of bridges.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $28 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of the traffic control system.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $28 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of the traffic control system.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $60 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund economic and community development.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $60 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund economic and community development.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of authorizing the city to issue $138 million in general obligation bonds—a type oflocal government debt—to fund the improvement of parks and recreation facilities.
Ano vote was a voteagainst authorizing the city to issue $138 million in general obligation bonds—a type oflocal government debt—to fund the improvement of parks and recreation facilities.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $24 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of libraries.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $24 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of libraries.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $20 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of the Civic Center complex.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $20 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of the Civic Center complex.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $20 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of public transit systems.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $20 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of public transit systems.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $13 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of city maintenance facilities.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $13 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of city maintenance facilities.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $62 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of drainage control systems.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $62 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of drainage control systems.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $9 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of the downtown city arena.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $9 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of the downtown city arena.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $31 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of police facilities.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $31 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of police facilities.
Ayes vote was a votein favor of increasing the city's debt by $45 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of fire department facilities.
Ano vote was a voteagainst increasing the city's debt by $45 million by issuing general obligation bonds in that amount to fund the improvement of fire department facilities.
Infrastructure and the general obligation bond measure
On September 12, 2017, Oklahoma City voters decided whether to approve a $967 million bond package.[1] TheOklahoma Gazette reported that the program, which would fund critical infrastructure projects, "could be the largest proposal in the city's history and have a resounding impact on its future."[9][10]
The city council was responsible for developing the bond program that went before voters, so the councilmembers elected in 2017 helped determine which projects to include in the program, whether to increase property taxes to help fund it, and how long the program would last.[9][11]
Many of the 2017 city council candidates weighed in on the bond measure the city's infrastructure needs during the campaign. Click "show" on the box below to view their individual positions.
Positions of 2017 city council candidates on city infrastructure
Ward 1
Jonathan Clour
Ward 1 candidateJonathan Clour told theOklahoma Gazette in January 2017 that he would be a "watch dog for tax dollars." He said, "I want to ensure the people their tax dollars are being spent wisely and frugally. In terms of any projects that come up [with the general obligation bond or the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) program], I want to analyze them very closely. I want to see how much they will be. After analyzing, talking with the people in the community and city employees, I will make a decision on if the money needs to be invested into those projects."[12]
"The reasons why I am running involve several things, but No. 1 is to be a strong advocate for what’s going on and what needs to be taken care of in Ward 1," Ward 1 candidateChris Gordon told theOklahoma Gazette in January 2017. "What needs to be most taken care of are our streets." According to theGazette, Gordon "wants to go farther then earmarking funds for street projects. He would work to raise the standards of a quality street and enhance communications with the public about projects. Road signs stating when a street project is expected to start and stop would notify the public. Additionally, Gordon wants to bring accountability to projects, seek answers if a contractor fails to deliver a project on time and develop consequences."[12]
Chris Gordon
James Greiner
In January 2017, theOklahoma Gazette reported that Ward 1 CouncilmanJames Greiner "supports a new fire and police training facility as a project of the 2017 General Obligation Bond issue." Greiner said, "We share a facility with OSU-OKC. That really restricts the number of recruits for our police department, and it hinders [us] from hiring more than just what attrition takes away. If we want to be serious about increasing the police department to the point it needs to be, that is going to be something we really need." Greiner also supported using infrastructure funding for street repaving projects. "Over the last few years, the citizens survey has said citizens are most dissatisfied with their streets. It is hands down the biggest issue," he told theGazette. "When people are talking about streets, for the most part, they are talking about arterial streets that everyone drives on every single day. When you talk about resurfacing one of those streets, it is a lot cheaper than widening."[12]
Ward 3
Ward 3 candidateMatthew Olsen told Ballotpedia that he supported focusing on infrastructure needs in Ward 3. "In our ward, the voters have been very vocal about the need to focus on the part of town in which we live," he said. "This includes many repairs to roads, parks, reliable public transportation, and ensuring safety."[13]
Matthew Olsen
Ward 4
Walter Kula
Ward 4 candidateWalter Kula told Ballotpedia that "Roads and sidewalks are most important for ward 4" and that he would favor increasing the property tax rate to fund more bond projects.[14] According to the Oklahoma independent news siteRed Dirt Report, Kula also "supports an extension of the [city's capital improvement effort, the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS)] program, but would like to develop a long-term strategy that addresses 'citywide infrastructure' plans that would include more projects outside of the downtown and Bricktown areas."[15]
In response to a survey from Ballotpedia, Ward 4 candidateDoris Mangiaracina Benbrook listed the following infrastructure projects as priorities for the general obligation bond program:
Expansion of the Embark Bus System
Infrastructure needs that have public safety or health concerns
The most critical needs of the poorest neighborhoods
She also told Ballotpedia that she would favor increasing the property tax rate to fund more bond projects.[16]
Doris Mangiaracina Benbrook
Richard Morrissette
In the press release announcing his candidacy, Ward 4 candidateRichard Morrissette said, "[Street repairs] are vital to the citizens of Ward 4... The next few years will be critical to the development of Capitol Hill and other areas of south Oklahoma City [because of the city's capital improvement effort, the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) program]. In addition, we need to work together as a community to better the lives of all the citizens in Ward 4."[17]
"We talk a lot about infrastructure needs and investing in infrastructure," Ward 4 candidateTodd Stone told theOklahoma Gazette in February 2017. "When you drive by a school, you see there is a lack of sidewalks."[18] In November 2016,The Oklahoman reported that public safety and infrastructure were among Stone's top campaign priorities in 2017 and that he intends to focus on "maintaining essential services while planning for smart growth."[19]
Todd Stone
Ward 7
Marina Mangiaracina
Ward 7 candidateMarina Mangiaracina told Ballotpedia that she opposed the general obligation bond measure because it would require the city to take out a loan to tax property. She also noted that "property tax tends to hurt the middle class the most" and proposed "two ways to make property tax more equitable.
Make a homestead exemption, exempting everyone below a certain income from property tax.
Make a property tax circuit breaker, so everyone under a certain income level can only pay so much in property tax."
If property tax could be made more equitable, she told Ballotpedia, she would favor increasing the property tax rate to fund more bond projects and would prioritize spending "on core services. Every single department is hurting, and they all deserve to be more well funded and better treated. Establishing a free ambulance service, which should be a core service, would also be an ideal goal."[20]
"We have community centers that are dilapidated where you can only use one third of the building," Ward 7 CouncilmanJohn Pettis Jr. told theOklahoma Gazette in January 2017. "We have streets that need repairs and haven’t seen repairs for decades. We have a lot of work that must be done."[21]
John Pettis Jr.
Declining sales tax revenue
The city councilmembers elected in 2017 also helped shape Oklahoma City's response to a decline in one of its primary sources of funding.
Oklahoma City relied on sales tax revenue for the majority of its day-to-day funding and about a third of its overall $1.2 billion budget in 2016.[22][23] However, the city saw a drop in sales tax revenue in the lead-up to the 2017 election. Collections were down 3.5 percent in January 2017 as compared to January 2016. And that continued a months-long slide;The Oklahoman reported in January 2017 that sales tax numbers in 15 of the preceding 16 months were lower than in the corresponding month of the previous year.[24]
The city responded to the sales tax shortfalls in 2016 with two rounds of midyear budget cuts: one in June and another in December. In the December 2016 meeting at which they approved the second round of cuts, many of the sitting city councilmembers also offered proposals to boost tax revenues. Attributing some of the sales tax downturn to an increase in online shopping, Councilman Ed Shadid called on city residents to shop locally. He said, "I hope that the citizens of Oklahoma City can make that connection between the loss of city services and how much everyone is shopping online."[25] Councilmen David Greenwell and Pete White suggested that the state could make a more concerted effort to ensure that residents pay taxes owed on internet purchases, and Councilman Larry McAtee referenced an ongoing effort to pass federal legislation allowing states to collect tax on all online sales. Shadid closed the discussion by recalling a previously-introduced proposal to impose a city gas tax.[25][26]
Some of the 2017 city council candidates also proposed ways to work with limited revenue or adjust funding in the city. Click "show" on the box below to view their individual proposals.
Ensure that the city receives the revenue from online sales taxes paid by city residents, encourage economic development to increase the number of taxable businesses in the city and encourage suburban residents to shop in the city, increase residential development to encourage home buying in the city rather than the suburbs, diversify the city's revenue stream, and consider targeted budget cuts to nonessential government functions[16]
In the short-term, introduce a local income tax and corporate tax, cut the sales tax, and adjust the property tax by offering a homestead exemption or property tax circuit breaker. In the long-term, diversify the local economy.[20]
Midyear state budget cuts and the rejection of a teacher pay raise plan affected public education throughout Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, in 2016.[27] The Oklahoma City Council adopted a resolution at the end of the year unanimously affirming its support for the city's public school system. "I think we as policymakers have got to find a way to do a better job of supporting public education," Councilman Pete White said. "For us... to let public education in Oklahoma sink to the level it has sunk with regard to salaries and state funding is really a tragedy."[28]
In addition to the city councilmembers who backed the resolution, a number of other 2017 candidates for city council also counted education as a priority issue.[29][13][30][31] The 2017 election winners faced decisions about whether and how to reaffirm support for the city's school system. One option was continuing to pursue projects like the ones cited in the city council's resolution, such as the student bus pass program, the joint Oklahoma City-Oklahoma City public schools task force, and the school renovation, transportation, and construction project MAPS for Kids.[27]
Another option, proposed by Mayor Mick Cornett and city manager James Couch, was to push for more local control over school funding and more state funding for education. In an op-ed forThe Oklahoman, Cornett and Couch suggested that the state could make more room in the education budget by raising taxes on tobacco products, expanding the sales tax base to include previously untaxed services, consolidating school districts, or reducing tax credits for wind energy and applying the money previously earmarked for the credits to education.[32][33]
Party composition
City council positions in Oklahoma City are officially nonpartisan, but most of the incumbents prior to the 2017 election were identified by state independent news siteRed Dirt Report as members of one of the two major parties.[34]
Republicans held six seats on the city council heading into the February election. They were guaranteed to keep control, as just two Republican members were up for election and both of GOP Councilman Greiner's challengers in Ward 1 were Republicans.[35][36]
Both of the Republican incumbents and the Democratic incumbent held their seats in the February primary election. Republican candidateTodd Stone also defeated Democratic candidateRichard Morrissette to pick up retiring Democratic Councilman White's seat in the April general election. That pickup increased the Republican majority on the council to seven.[3][4]
Oklahoma City uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council, which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body, appoints an executive called a city manager to oversee the city's day-to-day operations.[37]
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the censushere.
Recent news
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