you love politics don't you?

I do enjoy politics. Quite a bit actually. But on this particular forum I prefer they be in the politics section.

I haven't been reading this thread as I don't live in Ward 2. As such I don't have a dog in this fight. That said, just last night I found out my daughter's history teacher, John Riley, is running for council, in Ward 2.

I only met this guy a few weeks ago at parent teacher conferences but I was very impressed (he never once tried to politic me, thus why I didn't even know he was running). He's a veteran and in the guard still. Solid head on his shoulders and an obvious leader when you meet him. But most importantly, my daughter who HATES history says "he's the only history teacher I've ever liked". I personally love history NOW, but hated it most of the way through school as well. I don't know many kids that do or ever have liked history, but if this guy can do that with a bunch of history-hating teenagers, what can he do on the council?

Daughter says his platform is focused on OKCPS improvement (obvs since he's a teacher). He didn't politic his class either incidentally, he was asked a question about something and made the statement to the effect "sorry I'll be busy Tuesday due to the election", which then sparked questions and answers.

Anyway, I know it's a long shot for him probably (haven't seen ANY signs for him), and that most of you have your minds made up and such, but if you're on the fence or just don't know any of the candidates, I thought I'd put this out there in case it helps even just one person decide something today...

I think you know very well that I can keep up in a debate. First of all, your assertions about the MAPS 3 streetcar are incorrect. We launched a very thorough public campaign to explain what our ambitions were and that the streetcar was the start to a greater and more comprehensive system. If the group of us that led that cause could have secured the billion dollars required to install comprehensive transit metro-wide, we would have done it.

And my comments about the Oral Roberts styled sorts of events are not entirely unfounded. Multiple news reporters have referred to Ed's events in the past as old fashioned revivals and described Ed as a preacher.

I don't consider events in which one doesn't have have the opportunity to communicate back as a participant as what Ed calls "A Town Hall Forum."

David, lets remind people that you virtually ran the campaign opposing the arena improvements which helped us obtain our NBA team. I got to see you verbally attack Roy Williams during a presentation in an Urban Neighbors meeting and be physically removed. You and Ed are virtually hooked at the hip. I think you have brought out the absolute worst in the man.

Its not that many of your arguments aren't grounded in some sort of reason, it is the way you go about attempting to implement change.

I support James Cooper because I want to see this city continue to move forward in a intellectual, progressive, but grounded way.

Same could be said for Ed.

Ed wins easily. I hope this doesn't discourage James Cooper. It think he still has a lot to offer OKC.

Election Results - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/category/193017/election-results)

Ed wins easily. I hope this doesn't discourage James Cooper. It think he still has a lot to offer OKC.

Agree 100%.

Sharp young dude.

Jeff, once again you have lost track of reality, I asked questions at that meeting and didn't move, nor was removed. I understand the chamber does not want any discussion or debate. A few people decide the projects, then the voters think they voted for something they didn't. Who came up with the idea that improved public transportation would actually be to spend everything on a rails in the ground 5 mile downtown track? Those people don't care about real public transportation.

Jeff, once again you have lost track of reality, I asked questions at that meeting and didn't move, nor was removed. I understand the chamber does not want any discussion or debate. A few people decide the projects, then the voters think they voted for something they didn't. Who came up with the idea that improved public transportation would actually be to spend everything on a rails in the ground 5 mile downtown track? Those people don't care about real public transportation.

What are you even talking about? You completely fail to realize that you can't build a transit system from scratch all at once.

It would require billions and billions of dollars to build a fully functional integrated transit system in a single stroke of a pen.

You also can't work from the outside and work in. You have to work from the center and work your way out. In a few years, downtown public transit (not CBD, but a large swath of downtown encompassing several urban districts) will have a great transit system. It's a starter system. On the next round of dollars, it can be extended and other modes can be tied in. Of course you also fail to mention that the RTA is coming closer and closer to happening. There is growing political support to get the Tulsa-OKC rail line connected to the downtown hub. The city recently extended bus service to midnight on many routes, as well as dedicated more funding.

There is growing political support from surrounding communities to bring the RTA around, and have commuter rail up and running.

I completely agree that our public transit system in OKC is a complete joke. But it is getting better, and it is a complete fabrication to state that they do not care about improving it in real, meaningful ways. I have personally met every MAPS Streetcar Subcommittee member and I have never had any indication that they do not care. Your hyperbole gets old, and extremely tiring.

Catch, don't let him get to you. There are lots of people who think it better to spew stuff than to actually work with others to make real improvements. It is HARD to do what is necessary to make changes and people don't always appreciate what it takes behind the scenes. As they say, "no job is too hard for those that don't have to do it". There are lots of people working hard right now to make our transit system better on all levels. And it is IN SPITE OF those that make great overreaching pontifications.

Jeff, once again you have lost track of reality, I asked questions at that meeting and didn't move, nor was removed. I understand the chamber does not want any discussion or debate. A few people decide the projects, then the voters think they voted for something they didn't. Who came up with the idea that improved public transportation would actually be to spend everything on a rails in the ground 5 mile downtown track? Those people don't care about real public transportation.
True-it's an amusement ride for mostly white people no doubt, no more public transport than the river boats the city blew all that money on. shameful

Jeff, once again you have lost track of reality, I asked questions at that meeting and didn't move, nor was removed. I understand the chamber does not want any discussion or debate. A few people decide the projects, then the voters think they voted for something they didn't. Who came up with the idea that improved public transportation would actually be to spend everything on a rails in the ground 5 mile downtown track? Those people don't care about real public transportation.

I was a voter and I knew what I was voting on because I, you know, read about MAPS 3 before voting... They were very clear about what the streetcar would be.

Not really sure why you keep b*tching about not having more public input on deciding the projects. If you remember correctly, people that didn't like the selected projects had the opportunity to vote no and send it back to the drawing board. However, as often happens in the democratic process, more people voted in favor of the ballot than against it so MAPS 3 passed. If more people thought like you do, it wouldn't have been approved, but fortunately that's not the case. If the voters blindly voted yes without educating themselves about what they were voting on, or just didn't vote like Ed Shadid, that is their problem.

I was a voter and I knew what I was voting on because I, you know, read about MAPS 3 before voting... They were very clear about what the streetcar would be.

Not really sure why you keep b*tching about not having more public input on deciding the projects. If you remember correctly, people that didn't like the selected projects had the opportunity to vote no and send it back to the drawing board. However, as often happens in the democratic process, more people voted in favor of the ballot than against it so MAPS 3 passed. If more people thought like you do, it wouldn't have been approved, but fortunately that's not the case. If the voters blindly voted yes without educating themselves about what they were voting on, or just didn't vote like Ed Shadid, that is their problem.

Partly true. What did you know about a convention center when you went to the polls? If you buy the line it was mentioned, did you know the concept, cost, location? I understand your general point, but I do think that the convention center process has not been transparent, on the contrary - it's been secretive and look where that has got us. The so-called "Citizen's Advisory Board" is stacked with insiders - which defeats the purpose.

Partly true. What did you know about a convention center when you went to the polls? If you buy the line it was mentioned, did you know the concept, cost, location? I understand your general point, but I do think that the convention center process has not been transparent, on the contrary - it's been secretive and look where that has got us. The so-called "Citizen's Advisory Board" is stacked with insiders - which defeats the purpose.

I went in knowing that we definitely needed a new one after seeing convention centers in other cities and that was enough for me to vote yes. Though I agree with you that the convention center process has been much less than transparent.

I'm glad you at least understood what I meant. I just realized I left a whole paragraph out about the CC hotel and the costs, subsidies, etc. and what we did and did not know, etc. You got the gist of what I meant though.