People's Republic of Norman Mayor & Council filing

Nine residents completed candidacy declarations on the first day of filing Monday for Norman City Council Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8, as well the mayor's office, although none filed on Tuesday.

Races are assured in the March 2 election for Norman City Council Wards 4, 6 and 8, as well as the mayor's office after the filing period ended at the close of business Wednesday.

Councilman Tom Kovach, Ward 2, will run unopposed.

Councilwoman Carol Dillingham, Ward 4, filed a candidacy declaration for the upcoming municipal elections at the Cleveland County Election Board on Wednesday, making her the last incumbent council member to do so.

The battle for the Ward 4 seat on the Norman City Council is now a four-way contest.

John Dawson, 65, filed his candidacy declaration earlier Wednesday at the Cleveland County Election Board.

Two challengers already had filed in Ward 4 earlier in the week.

Austin Dyches, 28, 619 Kansas St., and J. Michael Sherrod, 55, 904 N. Peters Ave., filed candidacy declarations for Ward 4 on Monday.

Dillingham, 57, lives at 1711 S. Pickard Ave.

In Ward 6, the incumbent, Dr. James Griffith, filed for re-election. The 60-year-old dentist lives at 5 Wildwood Court. Challenger Matt Zellner, 23, 105 W. Vida Way, filed for the seat as well.

Filings in Ward 8 include the incumbent, Realtor and former high school principal Dan Quinn, 63, 3221 Greenwood Drive, and X-Norman police officer (retired) now now Cleveland County Sheriff's deputy Steve Lucas, 52, 804 Fairway Drive.

Leonard Youngblood, 50, filed his candidacy declaration for Ward 8 late Wednesday, joining Quinn and Lucas.

Youngblood lives at 3201 Swan Hollow Drive.

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal, 59, 903 Carey Drive, and attorney Hal Ezzell, 39, 4601 Fountain Gate Drive, filed for the mayor's post on Monday.

People's Republic of Norman Mayor & Council filing for Monday

The filing period for potential City of Norman council members representing Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8, as well as the mayor's office, began Monday morning.

Interested parties must file at the Cleveland County Election Board by the close of business on Wednesday.

The fee for filing for a city council seat is $50, the mayor's office fee is $75.

For more information, call the CCEB, 614 E. Robinson St., at 366-0210.

9 residents completed candidacy declarations on the first day of filing Monday for Norman City Council Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8, as well the mayor's office.

Ward 2 Councilman Tom Kovach was the first to file for re-election Monday morning. Kovach, 47, resides at 1426 Beverly Hills.

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal, who teaches political science at the University of Oklahoma, was the first to file a candidacy declaration for the mayor's race. Rosenthal, 59, resides at 903 Carey Drive.

Councilman Hal Ezzell, Ward 3, filed his paperwork for the mayor's race Monday as well. Ezzell, a lawyer, is 39. He lives at 4601 Fountain Gate Drive.

Austin Dyches, 28, filed paperwork Monday to join the race for the Ward 4 council seat. Dyches resides at 619 Kansas St.

J. Michael Sherrod, 55, also filed a candidacy declaration for Ward 4 Monday. Sherrod resides at 904 N. Peters Ave.

Ward 4 Councilwoman Carol Dillingham said last month she'd run for re-election, but didn't file paperwork to do so by mid-afternoon Monday.

Ward 6 Councilman James Griffith also filed his candidacy declaration Monday. Griffith, 60, a dentist, lives at 5 Wildwood Court.

Matt Zellner, 23, filed his candidacy declaration for Ward 6. Zellner lives at 105 W. Vida Way.

X-Norman PD (Ret), now Cleveland County Sheriff's deputy Steve Lucas (52), filed his declaration of candidacy Monday to become the next Ward 8 council member. He lives at 804 Fairway Drive.

Ward 8 Councilman Dan Quinn, a real estate agent, filed his paperwork Monday. Quinn, 63, lives at 3221 Greenwood Drive.

Norman Mayoral, council seats up for grabs

Norman City Council seats for Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8 will be up for grabs in early 2010.

Filing dates for interested candidates will be Jan. 11-13, 2010. The election is scheduled for March 2, 2010.

Council members Tom Kovach (Ward 2), James Griffith (Ward 6) and Dan Quinn (Ward 8) all said they expect to run again. Calls to Carol Dillingham (Ward 4), weren't returned, although Kovach says he believes all the council members, including Dillingham, will run again.

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal announced Monday that she will seek another term. Councilman Hal Ezzell, Ward 3, said last week that he would run against Rosenthal in the mayor's race.

City council seats and the mayor's office are up for re-election every two years. Next year, odd-numbered ward seats will be up for re-election.

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

May 13 Norman Election Coverage

Proposition One
Public Safety Proposition
Would dedicate a half-cent, seven-year sales tax to fund 41 additional police officers and 30 firefighters. It would provide training and equipment for the personnel and build two new fire stations in the vicinity of Alameda and East 36th Avenue and Tecumseh Road and West 36th Avenue. The tax would begin Oct. 1 and end Sept. 30, 2015.
For the proposition - Yes: 8,301 votes
Against the proposition - No: 4,307 votes
Precincts Reporting: 100%

Proposition Two
Bond Proposition for a New Library
A 25-year bond project to fund $49.5 million for a new main public library and parking structure in the vicinity of downtown. The funds would equip the new library and provide for contingencies, site acquisition and inflation.
For the proposition - Yes: 6,132 votes
Against the proposition - No: 6,412 votes
Precincts Reporting: 100%

Proposition Three
Bond Proposition to Renovate Existing Library for Alternative Use
A 25-year bond project would fund $11.25 million to renovate, reconstruct and equip the existing library, Buildings A and B. The current library would be used for the Norman Senior Citizens Center and city offices from Building A. The measure would expand the space in Building B for the Norman Police Department, and relocate and expand the municipal court to Building A.
For the proposition - Yes: 6,460 votes
Against the proposition - No: 6,008 votes
Precincts Reporting: 100%

Ward 2 Run-off
Chebon Marshall Votes: 985 Precincts Reporting: 100%
Tom Kovach Votes: 1,079 Precincts Reporting: 100%

Campaign coffers for May 13 Norman Election

Marshall For Norman

Contributions made since the primary of more than $25: Robin Allen, $100; R.G. Chambers, $50; Donald Pape, $250; Margret Anne Pape, $250; Michael Cole, $50; Joe Dorman, $75; Amber England, $50; Gregory Lebel, $50; Ray Quintero, $100; Peter Rosenstein, $100; Doug Sterk, $100; Joseph Sudbay, $50; Cassidy Waskowicz, $100; Chris Aubrey Purcell, $50; Bradley Purcell, $50; Tom Sherman, $100; Leslie Blair, $100; Neal Joseph Sparks, $50; Rebecca Sparks, $50; James Meiller, $40; George Krumme, $250; Craig Knutson, $100; Loyd Benson, $50; Juanita King, $200; Samonia Meredith, $200; Diane Wiley, $50; Julie Carson, $500; Charles Weddle, $250; Chuck Thompson, $250; Ben Graves, $200; Deberah Cain, $100; Anil Gollahalli, $250; Jim McCauley, $100; Steven Mohr, $200; Mona Nelson, $100; Doug Sterk, $50; Bob Thompson, $100; Jim Wade, $100; Brad Benson, $100; Dorothy Kugler, $50; Cindy Nashert, $50; Vince Orza, $100; Robert Vince, $500; Jennifer Shaw, $100; Michael Bergey, $250; Michael Duncan, $150; Subramanyam Gollahalli, $50; Gary Clinton, $100; Sandra Longcrier, $35; John Ward, $50; Tom Sherman, $200. Total: $13,587

Tom Kovach

Contributions since the primary of more than $25: Francis and Phoebe Schmitz, $110; Fred Bieler, $500; Viola Weir, $75; James Long, $200; Barney Gibbs, $100; Daniel Darvay, $30; Mack and Sandra Rose, $50; Walter and Pat Reif, $100; Kay Holladay, $50; Mary Katherine Long, $50; Larry Edmison, $50; Larry and Carol Dillingham, $100; O. Gail Poole, $50; Steve Presson and Jean Giles, $100; Loretta Bass and John Kmetz, $50; Larry Allin, $200; Karin Schutjer and Ben Alpers, $50; Gerald Baker, $100; Charles Schindler, $150; Larry Edmison, $50; Marion Hutchison, $200; Rick Poland, $50; Sandra Rose, $200; Walter Kelley, $75; Suzette McDowell, $100; Mrs. James Yoch Jr., $50; Dr. Harold Haralson II, $100; Roswitha Allin, $100; T.H and Kathleen Milby, $75; Peter Cahn, $50; Stanley Grossman, $200; Richard and Lois Hilbert, $40; Henry Roberson, $100; Susan Bumgarner and Billie Hensley, $30; Jayne Crumpley, $50; Sidney Brown, $100; Delores Crockett, $50; Alison Gilliland, $30; Akos Kovach, $50; Anne and Randolph Marsh, $500; Steve VanHook, $100; Jim Stanley, $150; Bette Mafucci, $100; June Tyhurst, $50; John Hancock, $100; David Morgan, $100; Colleen Allen, $49; Keith Kerr, $70; Tommy Karns, $50; Norman Professional Firefighters, $300; Rachel Carlson, $50. Total: $8,929.

Committee to Rescue Norman

Contributions of more than $25: IAFF Norman Chapter, $500; Traw Investment Account, $10,000. Total: $10,500.

Campaign Committee for a New Norman Public Library

Unlisted contributions less than $25: $1,770. Total: $1,770

Partnership For Norman's Progress

Contributions of more than $25: 329 Partners II Limited Partnership, $100; James Adair, $1,000; Lawrence Allin, $50; Lawrence Allin, $50; American First Abstract Company, $250; Architects in Partnership P.C., $1,000; Architectual Design Group Inc., $200; Joel Barbour, $500; R. Beavers, $25; Benedum and Benedum, $1,000; Billy E. Fowler Living Trust, $500; Blake Virgin, $1,000; Rachel Butler, $60; Castleberry and Associates P.C., $250; Cleveland County Abstract, $1,000; Colony Homes Inc., $1,000; D--H Utilities, $1,000; Larry Dillingham, $50; Don Cies Real Estate, $1,000; Farzaneh Properties, $1,000; First American Bank, $500; First Fidelity Bank, $500; Michael Fowler, $500; H--H Plumbing, $500; Harold Heipel Attorney at Law, $1,000; S. Anne Harris, $50; Ideal Homes of Norman, $3,000; McClain Bank, $500; Michael A. Tower, $100; Sassan Moghadam, $500; Peak Property LLC, $500; Andrew Peters, $50; Bennie Peterson, $1,000; Rick Poland, $60; Republic Bank and Trust, $1,000; R.L. Reynolds, $1,000; Don Sherman, $250; Mary Sherman, $250; Silver Star Construction Company, $1,000; SMC Consulting Engineers P.C., $1,000; Don R. Symcox, $200; The Mile of Cars Association, $10,000; John Traw, $2,000; James J. Yoch, $50. Total: $36,545.

Campaign coffers support
new Norman library, public safety

The Norman Transcript
Published May 10, 2008

The "Yes" campaign for a new library, public safety sales tax, senior citizens center, municipal court and library millage increase kicked into overdrive just before Tuesday's municipal and countywide special election, fueled by strong contributions to three committees. Yard signs appeared in lawns throughout town and mailers stuffed area mail boxes in the past week.

Contributions and expenditures for the campaigns were due into City Clerk Brenda Hall's office at noon Friday.

Partnership for Norman's Progress led the way raising $36,545 for the campaigns. The largest donors to the campaign are the Mile of Cars Association LLC at $10,000; Ideal Homes of Norman, $3,000; John Traw, $2,000; and 15 $1,000 donors that ranged from attorneys to builders to banks.

Traw owns one of the buildings on a site mentioned frequently for a location for the new library at Main Street and Porter Avenue.

The Committee to Rescue Norman is promoting the seven-year, half-cent sales tax that would fund 41 additional police officers and 30 firefighters, raising an estimated $49.2 million in sales tax. It would provide the equipment and training necessary and build two new fire stations in the northwest and southeast parts of Norman.

CRN raised $10,500 with only two donors: John Traw giving $10,000 and the International Association of Fire Fighters or IAFF, $500.

And the Campaign Committee for a New Norman Library raised $1,770, all with contributions of $200 or less that don't have to be itemized.

No organized opposition was evident from the contributions and expenditures regarding the bond projects or public safety sales tax.

The $31 million new library is proposed as a 118,000-square-foot facility, with a 360-space parking garage that would cost $5.8 million. The balance of the $49.2 million bond package, if fully utilized, would fund a purchase of the site, contingencies and construction inflation.

The $11.2 million bond issue would fund renovation and reconstruction of the current library and Building A in the Municipal Complex. The current library would house the Norman Senior Citizens Center, doubling its size, and city offices. Renovation of Building A would provide about 15,000-square-feet for the municipal court, that currently has about 4,000-square-feet shared within Building B that houses the Norman Police Department.

The Pioneer Library System has asked for a millage increase of 2 mills to double the size of the collection and triple the computer stations, expand hours and establish book stations on the east and west sides of Norman. PLS operates, staffs and provides the collections for libraries in Cleveland, Pottawatomie and McClain counties.

In the Ward 2 runoff for the seat being vacated by vice mayor Richard Stawicki, Chebon Marshall has raised $13,587 to Tom Kovach's $8,929.

Kovach's donors since the campaign began are mostly from the Norman area, with the majority of Marshall's contributors coming from outside of Norman. But since the primary, most of Kovach's and Marshall's contributions have come from local sources.

Marshall's largest contributors since the primary are Norman environmental engineer Robert Craig at $500 and Claremore attorney Julie Carson at $500. Former gubernatorial candidate Vince Orza donated $100 to Marshall.

Marshall was chief of staff for former Congressman Brad Carson before returning to Oklahoma and becoming half of the Carrier and Marshall marketing firm that ran campaigns for many Democratic candidates in Oklahoma and other states.

Marshall garnered support from several former mayors and councilmembers.

Kovach's largest contributors include the owner of Norman-based Astronomics, Fred Bieler, at $500, and Anne and Randolph Marsh of Dallas, $500. Norman Professional Firefighters donated $300 to Kovach's campaign.

Ward 4 councilmember Carol Dillingham donated $100 to Kovach's campaign, with donations coming from the most recent former mayor Harold Haralson and several former councilmembers.

Kovach is employed as the customer service manager for Astronomics.

In-person absentee voting was steady in Friday's voting, with 231 voting in-person absentee.

"It's starting out pretty good," said in-person absentee precinct worker Colleen Allen.

There were 41 who voted in the Ward 2 runoff Friday.

Dillingham, Griffith win Norman council seats, runoff set for Ward 2

The biggest Loser last night was
Mayor Cindy "Hillary lite" Rosenthal.

After getting appointed by "Hillary lite" Rosenthal. Carol Price Dillingham made one vote that "Hillary lite" Rosenthal, did not like so She went out and got Gregory Jungman to run against Dillingham.

Carol Price Dillingham and Jim Griffith won council seats in Wards 4 and 6 respectively, in unofficial tallies and light city voting.

There will be a runoff in Ward 2 between (Democratic Consultant) Chebon Marshall and Tom Kovach, with both candidates polling less than 50 percent.

In Ward 4, incumbent Dillingham received 524 votes for 53.3 percent against Gregory Jungman with 425 votes and 43.2 percent. Chris Jingozian received 34 votes and 3.4 percent of the vote.

In Ward 6, Griffith garnered 446 votes for 64.6 percent of the vote versus Lou Mansfield’s total of 244 votes for 35.3 percent.

Marshall led the three-way race for Ward 2 with 507 votes for 45.19 percent. Kovach received 425 votes for 37.8 percent and Michael McKee garnered 190 votes for 16.9 percent.

Marshall and Kovach will meet in a runoff election May 13.

Norman City Council Wards 2, 4, 6 Contributions list

Ward 2

Thomas Kovach

Glen Brown, $500; Sid Burton, $50; Jan Burton, $50; Jeanette Coker, $100; Lawrence C. and Roswitha Allin, $150; Gerald Eugene Baker, $200; Karin Schufjer and Ben Alpers, $50; Elizabeth Smith, $100; Will Weir, $50; Lyntha and Charles Wesner, $100; Steven and Judy Vasiloff, $50; Jim Stanley, $200; Ellen Frank and Tom Fredgren, $25; Edwin Kessler, $20; Sarah Iselin, $50. In-kind: Ken Davis, $150; Barney Gibbs, $50.

Total: $1,645 with $200 in-kind.

Michael McKee

Michael S. Geigerman, $200; Jeanette Coker, $100.

Total: $300

Chebon Marshall

Mona Nelson, $100; Benjamin Odom, $500; Teresa Craig, $500; Don Eckhoff, $100; Joe Carter, $100; Jennifer Shaw, $100; Matthew Erickson, $100; Sarah Flowers, $500; Christopher Klose, $100; Melissa Hebert, $100; Ravi Rajan, $50; Loyd Benson, $50; David Hunter, $250; Anthony Zahn, $35; James Fullerton, $35; Jack Bonny, $50; Chastity Bedonie, $60; David Walters, $100; Penny Tullis, $100; Juanita King, $100; Don Davis, $100; Pat Hall, $200; Steven Flowers, $200; Jalal Farzaneh, $500; Dick Reynolds, $50; Preston Trimble, $50; Carolyn Krumme, $200; Michael Bergey, $200; Nawaz Mudassir, $50; Marge Liesenfeld, $100; Craig Knutson, $50; Allison Kiesel, $50; Diana Hartley, $50; George Krumme, $250; Brad Carson, $250; Diane Wiley, $50; Tonya Lopez, $100; Peter Leisenfled, $100. In-kind, Michael Duncan, $250.

Total: $5,530 with $250 in-kind

Ward 4

Carol Price Dillingham

Jim Barger, $100; Jeannette Coker, $100; Tommy Karns, $100; Keith Kerr, $100; Tom Kovach, $50; O. Gail Poole, $50; Jim and Robin Ringo, $50; Laurie Williams, $100; Ben Alpers and Karin L. Schutjer, $100; Don and June Holyfield, $500; Joseph H. Carter, $50; Tim and Georjana Mauldin, $50; Rebecca A. Wilson, $50; Keith R. Allen, $100; Bobara E. De Caulp, $100; Kathleen Heiple, $200; Victor and Lisa Long, $50; J. David Rambo, $100; Jayne Crumpley, $50; Hal Ezzell, $500; Mindy Jones, $50; Tim and Pat Regan, $200; Jim Stanley, $200; Judith Wilkens, $50; Jim R. Flood Jr., $50; W.E. Duff, $100; Pam J. Ezzell, $500; Jim Jones, $500; David B. Miller, $200; Charles and Lyntha Wesner, $100; Stanley J. Grossman, $200; Josh Lee, $100; Barbara Jones $500; Fred and Laura Shaeffer, $100; In-kind: Bob Mansfield, $250; Mary Katherine Long, $50; Fenilda Rambo, $58.38; Bob Thompson, $47.23; Carol Dillingham, $10.19; Larry Dillingham, $101.71.

Total: $5,340 with $517.51 in-kind

Chris Jingozian

No contributions

Gregory Jungman

Synthia Haddad, $30; Billie Spector, $50; Russell and Barbara Mathis, $50; Kieran Mullen and Teres Vaughn, $50; Jayne Crumpley, $50; Nancy Yoch, $50; Mary Jane and Jim Thompson, $50; Sue Schrems, $50; Betty Hardiman, $50; Alice and Bob Woodford, $50; Sharon Pyeatt, $75; Lois Lawler Brown, $100; Judi and John Hadley, $100; Max and LaDonna Benningfield, $100; Terry and Mary Cline, $100; Robert and Birthe Flexner, $100; Rick Lambert, $100; Jason Claborn, $100; Charles and Dana Anderson, $125; Theresa and Trent Baggett, $150; Rick and Debbie Poland, $300; Hawkins Adams and Nancy Curry, $500; contributions under $25, $110; in-kind: Lois Lawler Brown, $51.58; Theresa Baggett, $49.80; Judi and John Hadley, $75; Chuck and Dana Anderson, $75; Alice and Robert Woodford, $75; Jason Claborn, $48.

Total: $2,330 with $374.38 in-kind

Ward 6

James C. Griffith

Chuck Thompson, $200; Kathy Heiple, $200; self-contribution, $400.

Total: $800


Lou Mansfield

Rita Baker, $100; Sarah Delay, $100; Kay Holladay, $30; Anita Jones, $50; Roland Lohmann, $100; Dale Piper, $50; Sue Schrems, $50; Ann Jacobs, $100; George Ingels, $100; Bert Humphrey, $50; Catharine Ewing, $40; Patricia Garrett, $200; Ron Henderson, $100; Jody McCall, $50; Dolores Pasierb, $50; George Shaw, $35; Marilyn Burr, $100; Barbara Schindler, $50; Sarah Iselin, $50; Charles and Lyntha Wesner, $100; Les and Donna Brown , $75; Larry and Lisa Reed, $100; Marty and Neil Dirling, $50; Glen Brown, $500. In-kind: Kathy Moad, $500; Deji Dugger, $125. Contributions of less than $25: $165.

Total: $2,395 with $625 in-kind

Ward 8

Dan Quinn (unopposed)

Realtors Political Action Committee, $500.

Source: City of Norman City Clerk’s Office

Campaign war chests modest in comparison to 2007 Norman City Election

Campaign war chests modest
in comparison to 2007 city election
By Carol Cole-Frowe
Transcript Staff Writer

The eight candidates vying for Norman City Council even-numbered seats in Wards 2, 4 and 6 appear to have relatively modest campaign war chests this year, totalling a little more than $20,000 in contributions as of noon Friday in required filings for the 2008 campaigns. The figures will doubtless go up some when final expenditures are turned in after Tuesday’s municipal election.

But they hardly compare to last year’s total of $101,093 in final expenditures for seven council candidates in the 2007 races in Wards 1, 3 and 5. Incumbent Ward 7 councilmember Doug Cubberley did not draw an opponent in 2007.

For the 2008 races, Ward 2 candidate (Democratic Consultant) Chebon Marshall leads the way for the open seat being vacated by Richard Stawicki, with $5,530 and $250 in in-kind contributions. Marshall, who owns a small (Democratic) advertising and marketing firm in Norman, was chief of staff for former Oklahoma Congressman Brad Carson.

Many of Marshall’s contributors read like a Who’s Who on the state political scene. Among his donors are Carson, $250; former Oklahoma governor David Walters, $100, former Oklahoma Speaker of the House Loyd Benson, $50; former Congressional candidate David Hunter, $250; and former Congressional candidate and Democratic Party vice chair Ben Odom, $500.

Ward 2 candidate Tom Kovach, a Norman small businessman, raised $1,645, with $200 in in-kind contributions. His largest donations came from geologist Glen Brown, $500; former Ward 3 councilmember Jim Stanley, $200; and Gerald Eugene Baker at $200.

Michael McKee, Ward 2 candidate and a Norman attorney, trails the field with $400 in donations: $200 from Michael Geigerman and $200 from Jeannette Coker.

Ward 4 incumbent Carol Price Dillingham, a Norman attorney, is not far behind Marshall, with $5,340 in contributions. Included in her backers are two sitting Norman councilmembers, with Ward 3 councilmember Hal Ezzell donating $500 and Ward 1 councilmember Bob Thompson contributing an in-kind donation of $47. Former Norman police chief Don Holyfield and his wife June contributed $500 to Dillingham’s campaign, as did Jim Jones and Barbara Jones, with $500 apiece.

Gregory Jungman, Ward 4 candidate, brought in $2,330 with $374 in-kind.

Jungman, an adjunct political science professor at Rose State College and a senior advisor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, opposed the Norman City Council’s recent vote in favor of an appeal to overturn a Historic District Commission denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness for a large addition at 516 Chautauqua Ave., owned by Glen Brown.

Jungman garnered several donations from Brown’s neighbors, including $500 from physician Hawkins Adams and Nancy Curry; $150 from Theresa and Trent Baggett; $50 from Russell and Barbara Mathis; and $300 from Rick and Debbie Poland.

He also received donations from several current or former Historic District Commission members including Jayne Crumpley, $50; Nancy Yoch, $50; and Judi Hadley with husband John, $100.

Former councilmember Lois Lawler Brown also contributed $100 to Jungman’s campaign.

Ward 4 councilmember Chris Jingozian, a mental health worker, did not list any contributions.

In Ward 6, small businesswoman Lou Mansfield received $2,395 in contributions and $625 in-kind in her quest for the open seat being vacated by David Hopper.

Mansfield’s largest contribution was from Glen Brown at $500.

Also supporting her campaign were former Norman mayor Ron Henderson with $100; and former councilmember Lyntha Wesner and husband Charles at $100.

Ward 6 candidate Jim Griffith, a Norman dentist, listed $400 in contributions and another $400 in a self-contribution. His contributors include Chuck Thompson at $200 and Kathy Heiple at $200.

Incumbent Ward 8 councilmember Dan Quinn did not draw an opponent, but received a $500 contribution from the Realtor Political Action Committee.

Council candidates' voting records vary widely

Council candidates'
voting records vary widely

Transcript Staff Writer

A Norman Transcript analysis of voting records of the eight candidates for Norman City Council showed records ranging from the mediocre at 27 percent to one candidate with a stellar 100 percent voting record for the past four years, according to records obtained at the Cleveland County Election Board.

Ward 4 candidate Chris Jingozian topped the field, the only candidate with a 100 percent voting record. The 25-year-old candidate, who works in the mental health field, is the youngest of the council candidates and registered to vote in 2000. He cast his vote in-person in all 16 elections he was eligible for during the past four years.

"If you don't vote, you can't complain," Jingozian said, joking that he has always enjoyed complaining. "I had to go vote."

He is aware that many of his generation don't vote and encourages them at every opportunity. He said he enjoys politics and the political process.

"Get out there and say what you need to say," Jingozian said.

Jingozian was one of four candidates who braved darkened precinct voting stations to vote in the Dec. 11 school bond election, the day after the disasterous Dec. 10 ice storm in central Oklahoma left more than half of Norman without power and dodging downed tree branches and power lines. He was joined at the polls Dec. 11 by Ward 4 incumbent Carol Price Dillingham and Ward 2 candidates Chebon Marshall and Tom Kovach.

Dillingham voted 14 times out of the 18 votes she was eligible for, using in-person and absentee voting methods for a 77 percent record. She had a perfect record in 2006 and 2007. In 2004, Dillingham missed the Presidential primary election and missed three out of four votes in 2005.

The other Ward 4 candidate, Greg Jungman, cast his vote only five times of the 18 votes in which he was eligible, for a 27 percent voting record. Jungman registered to vote in 1996.

Jungman, a Rose State University professor and federal employee, cast his vote in-person in one out of seven elections in 2004, none in 2005, three of four in 2006 and one out of three in 2007. None of the votes were in school-related elections.

"I honestly could not say why I didn't vote," he said. "Usually it's a matter of do you get there or do you not."

Jungman said he knows it's a low number of votes and he believes it's important to vote.

In Ward 2, political consultant Chebon Marshall voted in 13 of the 18 elections in which he was eligible for a 72 percent record. As the former Chief of Staff for former Congressman Brad Carson, Marshall cast three absentee votes in eight elections in 2004 and 2005. But after returning to Norman in early 2005 when Carson left office, Marshall voted in-person in 100 percent of the elections in which he was eligible.

Ward 2 candidate Tom Kovach, a Norman small businessman, voted in 12 out of 18 elections in the four-year period checked, for a 66 percent voting record. Kovach voted in four of seven 2004 votes, two of four in 2005, three of four in 2006, and all three of 2007 votes.

Michael McKee, also in Ward 2, voted a third of the time. The Norman attorney voted in six of the 18 elections in which he was eligible, voting half absentee and half in-person in two general elections, three primary and runoff elections and one state question on gas tax hikes. Records show he did not vote in any school elections.

In Ward 6, small businesswoman Lou Mansfield voted in 72 percent or 13 of the 18 elections where she was eligible. Mansfield voted in 100 percent of the 2006 elections and two out of three elections in 2007, missing the Dec. 11 election.

Ward 6 candidate James Griffith, a Norman dentist, voted in 10 of 18 elections for a 55 percent voting record. Griffith voted in five of seven 2004 elections, one of four in 2005, three of four in 2006, and one of three in 2007. He did not vote in any of the school-related elections.

Carol Cole-Frowe

366-3538

ccole@normantranscript.com

The Norman Council Races are Set

Three races developed in late Wednesday city council filings for Wards 2, 4 and 6.

Incumbent Ward 8 councilmember Dan Quinn did not draw a challenger in his northwest Norman ward.

Ward 2

In the south central Norman Ward 2, three filed for the open position being vacated by long-time councilmember Richard Stawicki.

Small businessman Tom Kovach, 45, a previous candidate for the seat, is customer service manager for Astronomics. He attended the Norman Citizens Academy and participated in all the Community Dialogues. He has worked with the Citizens for Financial Responsibility.

Michael McKee, worked on rewriting the municipal code as an assistant city attorney in the 1970s, was a prosecutor for the City, was assigned as the Norman Police legal advisor and evaluated and defended workers’ compensation claims against the City.

Democratic Consultant Chebon Marshall, 33, filed for the Ward 2 council race Tuesday afternoon. He is a Democratic General and Direct mail Consultant, who served four years as Chief of Staff to former Congressman Brad Carson.

Ward 4

Ward 4 incumbent councilmember Carol Price Dillingham, filed to defend her central Norman seat. Dillingham was appointed to the seat after Mayor Cindy Rosenthal vacated the post after winning the mayor’s race last spring.

Dillingham is a former assistant district attorney and has done outside work with the City of Edmond on employment, civil rights, contracts, workers’ compensation litigation and a suit regarding inverse condemnation over the sanitary sewer system.

She drew two challengers who both filed Wednesday afternoon.

Facing Dillingham for the seat will be Rose State professor and federal government employee Greg Jungman, 31, of 715 S. Crawford Ave. in the Miller Historic District.

Chris Jingozian, also will challenge for the seat.

Ward 6

In Ward 6 in northeast Norman, small businesswoman Lou Mansfield will face Jim Griffith, a local dentist, for the seat being vacated by Ward 6 councilmember David Hopper.

Griffith, filed Wednesday afternoon. He was a longtime member of the Norman Parks Board and was a member of Leadership Norman about 10 years ago.

He said he wants to make sure the quality of life in Norman remains what it is and wants to be responsive to the citizens of the ward.

Small businesswoman Lou Mansfield, is vice president and a ward representative for the Hall Park Homeowners Association. She and her husband Bob had Mansfield’s and Woman and Mansfield’s hair salons. She is a hairdresser for the Cedar Creek nursing home and an artist, published magazine writer and playwright and sells antiques from her booth at the Company Store.