Norman City Council race Controversial flier traced back to Marshall volunteer

Controversial flier traced back to
Marshall volunteer
Ward 2 winner Kovach outspent by 2 to 1 margin

The person who ordered and paid for a controversial flier distributed during the recent Ward 2 Norman City Council race has been identified.

In a June 4 e-mail from City Clerk Brenda Hall to Adam Gleason, a worker in the Chebon Marshall campaign, Hall wrote FedEx Kinko's had confirmed that Gleason had ordered and paid for the flier with a credit at the bottom, "Paid for People Tired of Tom's Lies." The e-mail was obtained through an Open Records Act request by The Transcript.

The target of the flier, Marshall's opponent Tom Kovach, was the winner of the Ward 2 race in a runoff vote May 13. Although most allegations on the flier contained a kernel of truth, many the flier's assertions were pulled out of context and manipulated.

Kovach said he feels like the overall effect of the flier was negative.

"There's some people who were outraged by it and felt like that kind of politics don't belong in Norman," Kovach said. "But I think there were others who didn't get all the facts and probably voted against me. ... It probably did work against me in the whole."

Gleason will be required to file a campaign contribution and expenditure report with the City of Norman, although he missed the June 12 deadline for final City reports.

"It is my understanding that for this to be necessary, a committee must spend a certain amount of money as defined by state law at $500 in an issues campaign and for donors' names to be taken down donations must be in (aggregate) of $25 that were accepted from any source," wrote Gleason back to Hall in an e-mail.

But the City of Norman requires that candidates detail all contributions and expenditures and document them in a report.

Hall said she hopes to have the report before the Norman Enforcement Authority meets July 2 to evaluate any discrepancies in campaign reporting. She said if the form is not filed at that time, the Enforcement Authority could choose to ask the City to prosecute Gleason for not filing the form. Hall said it would likely be a misdemeanor.

She said Marshall denied to her any knowledge of who printed the flier.

Efforts to reach Marshall were unsuccessful.

The City reports indicate Marshall raised and spent more than twice as much as Kovach.

The Kovach campaign raised $10,153, with the Marshall for Norman campaign reporting $22,037 in contributions.

Kovach reported expenditures of $9,274.36 during the campaign.

Expenditures following the initial election period included $300 to Step Brothers for an election night party, $75.25 to Hooper Printing for printing, and $268.13 to the Norman Transcript for a thank you ad.

His in-kind contributions tallied $958.95 after the primary election, with most going for copies and mailing supplies.

Contributions of more than $100 included $500 from June Holyfield; $350 from the State Federation of Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats; $200 from attorneys Lydia Barrett or Richard L. Denney; and $100 from Ben Hayden.

Marshall reported $8,450 in additional contributions after the primary. He spent all $22,037 that he raised during the campaign.

Contributions came from Tracey Bates, $500; Trey Bates, $500; Todd Booze, $500; Vernon McKown, $500; Gene McKown, $500; Judy McKown, $500; Rebecca Adair, $500; Josie Armstrong, $500; Hajeh Farzaneh, $500; Azam Farzaneh, $500; Mohammed Farzaneh, $500; and James Adair, $475.

Other contributions over $25 came from Stanton Nelson, $250; Roy Oliver, $250; Gail Armstrong, $250; Gary Armstrong, $250; Stephen Wyse, $200; Jay Dee Chase, $200; Harold Heiple, $200; Marc Young, $200; Peter Liesenfield, $200; Karen Kuhlman, $150; Steve Williams, $100; Nell Pryor, $50; Steven Corley, $50; Edward Adwon, $50; Jan Cunningham, $50; and Jerry Privett, $25.

Marshall's expenditures after the primary of more than $100 included Scott's Printing for $3,402.19; Norman Transcript, $1,907.87; Norman Transcript, $1,134.38; L.L. James Printing, $663.21; Cingular/ AT--T, $386.09; Legend's Restaurant, $300; Scott's Printing, $236.42; Cingular/AT--T, $208.63; U.S. Postal Service, $168; Wal-Mart, $190; and On the Border, $110.09.

He donated his remaining balance of $59.06 to the Center for Children and Families.

Carol Cole-Frowe 366-3538 ccole@normantranscript.com

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Hall named Norman City Clerk

City Manager Steve Lewis announced Monday the appointment of Brenda Hall as city clerk of Norman.

Hall has been employed with the City of Norman for 18 years, serving as deputy city clerk for the last nine years.

"Brenda will make a great addition to our management team," Lewis said. "Her experience, leadership qualities and understanding of Norman are exactly what are needed for this position."

She is certified as a municipal clerk, pursuant to Oklahoma state law, administered through the Oklahoma Municipal League.

Hall will graduate from Southern Nazarene University with a bachelor's degree in May.

She is also an active member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and the Oklahoma Municipal Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officials Association.

Hall will assume the position Jan. 28, following the Jan. 25 retirement of current City Clerk Mary Hatley.

From the City of Norman website:

The City Clerk's office is located in the new Municipal Building at 201 West Gray Street.

The City Clerk is appointed by the City Manager; is the official custodian of City Records; serves as clerk to the Council; attends all Council meetings and keeps a record of all the proceedings; signs and attests all ordinances, resolutions, or other acts of the Council. The Department also issues City licenses and prepares City Council agendas and minutes.

The City Clerk's Department also staffs the recently established Action Center as a way to serve Norman citizens. The goal of the Action Center is to serve as a central point of contact when citizens have a problem, suggestion, or question related to municipal government and to provide immediate access and a quick response. The Action Center may be reached either by telephone at (405) 366-5396 or by e-mail at action.center@NormanOK.gov. Calls are fielded by an answering machine during the hours when City Hall is closed, and are handled at first opportunity the next working day.

The City Clerk's Department has six employees and the City Clerk is also responsible for the Building Maintenance Division that has five employees.

The City Clerk's office also serves as a contact point for citizens wishing information and assistance at City.Clerk@NormanOK.gov or (405) 366-5406.

GOOD LUCK to BRENDA !
and
WE HOPE MARY HAVE
A GREAT RETIREMENT !