Campaign for Urbanist City Councillors?

[king183]

Is there currently a citizen-led group--or has there been discussion of a creating a group-- that actively promotes, recruits, or campaigns for OKC City Council candidates who share the urbanist view that many people espouse on the board?

For instance, there's been much debate over where the convention center should go, its design, creating density, what type of housing needs to be built downtown, how that gets government support, and creating urban transportation options, including making OKC more walkable. But I see very little being done to actually elect people to city council who share these views.

Maybe I'm missing it. If I'm not, why don't some of us form a non-partisan organization dedicated specifically to recruiting and electing city councillors who support urbanism and hold others accountable?

[Kerry]

You are right on King183. I know the City Council seats are non-partisan, but could a person run on partisan ticket if they wanted to? Could someone run on the Urban City ticket?

[dankrutka]

This forum seems like a great place to self-announce. Who is up for it?

[lcd1712]

Is there currently a citizen-led group--or has there been discussion of a creating a group-- that actively promotes, recruits, or campaigns for OKC City Council candidates who share the urbanist view that many people espouse on the board?

For instance, there's been much debate over where the convention center should go, its design, creating density, what type of housing needs to be built downtown, how that gets government support, and creating urban transportation options, including making OKC more walkable. But I see very little being done to actually elect people to city council who share these views.

Maybe I'm missing it. If I'm not, why don't some of us form a non-partisan organization dedicated specifically to recruiting and electing city councillors who support urbanism and hold others accountable?

I was thinking about it last week, but you beat me to it. Actually, I was wondering if there is any citizen led activist group in this desire of urban living.

Other than people in this forum which are few (and some of them don't even live here), I don't know of many interested in urban living in OK. Other than college students, everyone seems to favor living in the suburbs. I am not originally from Oklahoma, so I always thought it was a cultural thing in this state.

[soonerguru]

I was thinking about it last week, but you beat me to it. Actually, I was wondering if there is any citizen led activist group in this desire of urban living.

Other than people in this forum which are few (and some of them don't even live here), I don't know of many interested in urban living in OK. Other than college students, everyone seems to favor living in the suburbs. I am not originally from Oklahoma, so I always thought it was a cultural thing in this state.

Where do you live?

[lcd1712]

In Edmond

[Architect2010]

There are vast numbers of people that prefer the inner-city other than college students, especially considering college students couldn't really afford very much downtown now could they? It is a cultural thing, but it's not suburbs or die here like you made it seem.

[kevinpate]

You are right on King183. I know the City Council seats are non-partisan, but could a person run on partisan ticket if they wanted to? Could someone run on the Urban City ticket?

A council candidate could make promotion of an urbanist perspective his or her main agenda. No different than championing any other issue, be it business development, public safety, gay rights, family values, oust da rascals, etc. Non-partisan simply means he or she is not running the race as a D or an R.

[lcd1712]

I sure hope not. Deep Deuce and Legacy Woods are full of college students.

[lcd1712]

I sure hope not. Deep Deuce and Legacy Woods are full of college students.

This was in reply to Architect's post.

[Spartan]

Well we need to get someone respectable who is part of our "camp" to run for mayor. Look at the publicity that goon who ran against Mick got last election, and he got slightly over 40% of the vote even for being a weirdo who works the Taco Bell lane. Not even joking. I've dreamed about running against Mick but I would be too aggressive in venting my pent-up anger in talking points, plus I'd rather not offend certain people who I'd surely end up offending.

Here's the reality..all of these people wanting change in OKC live outside OKC proper. When I'm in OKC I am constantly meeting and talking with urbanists..they live in Yukon, Norman, Edmond or are OKC ex pats who come back occasionally. I often envision a fantasy world in which I come back to OKC and it is urban and changes are occurring exactly as they should be and all the resources are in line. A month like this has been however, full of bad decisions in which we're a lot more apt to bitch and moan about all the other little things we're harboring anger over, leads me to believe things won't change. So I suppose the reality of the situation is somewhere in between euphoria and frustration.

The urban cause has always had to attach itself to other causes. We have had to find conservative downtown players who will also champion the downtown cause, and we've had to rely on that. That's just the way things are in this town. Oh, and there really is a strong political machine, but I'm not sure how that factors into things anymore. At any rate it's always been ran by the big wealthy downtown players, even when downtown sucked.

[Popsy]

Wow Spartan. It is good to hear that you have finally recognized that you have been living in an urban fantasy world.

[Spartan]

Wow Spartan. It is good to hear that you have finally recognized that you have been living in an urban fantasy world.

You could say that, actually.

[Kerry]

Since my kids are home schooled I have started showing them cities and towns around the world via Google Earth. If they see a building on TV or something we fire up G.E. and go check it out. At 9 and 12 years old they are amazed at dense cities around the world area, and even the small towns are compact. They also comment about how you can walk everywhere or take a train. Even at their young age they intuitively know how much of a better design that is than places like here in Jacksonville where we have to drive everywhere. Just from our house to the entrance to our subdivision is a half mile. We have to drive to the pool.

[metro]

This forum seems like a great place to self-announce. Who is up for it?

I was going to run last time until Meg Salyer announced. I'd like to run again in the future after she steps down.

[Spartan]

Metro, don't you live in Skip Kelly's district (Deep Deuce)? Good luck running there..

[metro]

No, I live in Ward 6, Meg Salyers district, hence my previous post. After having helped and watch her campaign, I think I could have had a good shot actually, especially by running a good viral social media campaign ala James Lankford.

[krisb]

Which wards will be open during the next city election cycle? I guess that depends on who is stepping down and who's going for re-election. Pete White said during the last council meeting that he believes at least 3 councilors will not run again.

[Spartan]

No, I live in Ward 6, Meg Salyers district, hence my previous post. After having helped and watch her campaign, I think I could have had a good shot actually, especially by running a good viral social media campaign ala James Lankford.

Yikes

[metro]

Why you say yikes?

[king183]

No, I live in Ward 6, Meg Salyers district, hence my previous post. After having helped and watch her campaign, I think I could have had a good shot actually, especially by running a good viral social media campaign ala James Lankford.

I hope you do run, though I wouldn't rely on social media for a city council race. Those races are won on the doorstep.

I'm serious about starting some group to start recruiting urbanist candidates. I have extensive campaign experience that I'd like to put to use outside of partisan issues. City Council races are a lot easier to win than most people think...if you have a good candidate willing to put in the time.

[metro]

I hope you do run, though I wouldn't rely on social media for a city council race. Those races are won on the doorstep.

I'm serious about starting some group to start recruiting urbanist candidates. I have extensive campaign experience that I'd like to put to use outside of partisan issues. City Council races are a lot easier to win than most people think...if you have a good candidate willing to put in the time.

king, of course I would not rely solely on social media alone, that'd be foolish. I know it takes door knocking, but not as much as you think. I've ran for City Council before in a suburb. I'm a young professional living downtown, my key demographic is the young/hipsters for the most part, getting out the vote with this crowd coupled with knocking on doors of the affluent in Heritage Hills, Mesta, JPark, Edgemere that have voted in past special elections is what wins local elections. I learned that the hard way last time I ran as I knocked almost every door in my district. I plan on running in the future as my generation is the future of OKC.

[CaseyCornett]

Metro - Sounds like it might be time to switch your username to your real name if you want to start gaining some name recognition for a future election...

[metro]

Most people on here no me in real life or real name anyways (especially when Steve calls me out on occasion on his blog).

[urbanity]

Commentary: Maintaining Ward 2’s legacy http://bit.ly/exweLO