Members of the Oklahoma City Council have a significant impact on the growth of OKC, making the upcoming municipal election critical to our future. While the Chamber does not endorse candidates for any city office, we have asked all City Council candidates to complete a survey that would ascertain their stances on criminal justice reform, regional transit initiatives, the MAPS program, economic development programs, a new arena and other important issues. Candidate’s responses are summarized in the chart below. For more-detailed responses, visit okcchamber.com/elections. OKC VOTERS TO ELECT NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS; CANDIDATES RESPOND TO CHAMBER SURVEY
WARD 2 CANDIDATES Incumbent James Cooper was the lone Ward 2 candidate to respond to the Chamber’s survey. Both Alexander DeShazo and Weston Storey did not respond. WARD 5 CANDIDATES Ward 5 candidates who responded to the Chamber’s survey include Matthew Hinkle, Thuan Nguyen and Jeff Owen. Audra Beasley did not respond. WARD 6 CANDIDATES Incumbent JoBeth Hamon will face her lone challenger Marek Cornett at the polls on Feb. 14. Both candidates completed the Chamber survey. WARD 8 CANDIDATES Incumbent Mark Stonecipher and Amy Warne were the only two candidates who responded to the Chamber’s survey. Frank Urbanic did not respond.
Ward 2
Topic
Chamber Cooper (i)
DeShazo
Storey
Do you support the continued use of the City’s Economic Development Trust to convince companies to locate or expand in OKC? Do you support the MAPS programs in a public infrastructure initiative used since 1993 to fund quality-of-life projects and other programs with temporary one-cent sales taxes? Do you support the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts to support economic development in OKC? Do you support the use of eminent domain to acquire private property to facilitate the implementation of future MAPS projects? Do you support the state’s Historical Building Tax credit which has been used by the City to renovate buildings such as the Skirvin Hotel and First National Center? Do you support an increase in the City’s Hotel/Motel tax to further promote tourism in OKC? Do you support on-going funding and development of the Oklahoma City Office of Film and Creative Industries? Do you support OKC’s participation in the OK County Criminal Justice Advisory Council and annual appropriations to continue CJAC’s focus on countywide criminal justice reform? Do you support the Regional Transportation Authority’s efforts to provide additional transportation options through building a commuter rail system connecting Oklahoma City to Edmond and Norman? Do you support development of a plan to build a new arena that will protect the viability and presence of the Oklahoma City Thunder?
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
Yes
Yes
No response No response
(i) = incumbent
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