Ward 2 Runoff On The Campaign Issues Only, Please

[Doug Loudenback]

Ward 2 Runoff: Charles Swinton and Ed Shadid

I'll take the liberty of starting a new thread which will hopefully keep as its focus the Ward 2 candidates' runoff positions with regard to the relevant positions of the candidates as to the issues directly involved with the campaign, e.g., completion of and/or variation from the council's concurrent resolution which identifies the projects of MAPS 3, and any other issue which they may want to relate between now and the April 5 general election.

The more general City Council Elections thread took no time at all on and after March 1 to spiral downward into the potty about the long-standing and perhaps endless discussion about public employees, unions, who in them gets paid what and why, why some public employee unions exclude social security factors, etc., ad nauseam.

Of course, I have no control over how this thread will meander, but my request is that this thread will avoid all banter about police and fire discussion, regardless of point of view, about long-standing grievances with the city or even current ones. I'm hoping that this thread will stay focused on the positions which each candidate has taken or will take in the upcoming election.

In the older thread, I've already said, but I'll say again,

Since I've not heard either of Gwin Faulconer-Lippert's KTOK interviews with Shadid or Swinton, I wanted to hear them and capture the audio for everyone's listening. But, my attempts to locate these interviews in KTOK's web area (or otherwise) have completely failed.

If anyone can point me to a web location for either interview, I'll capture it and reproduce it for everyone's listening and scrutiny. At this point, my mind is open in its evaluation of each of these candidates, and I figure the best source of data is from words spoken by candidates in unscripted interviews. But, so far, no luck in finding them.

I've left a message in Gwin Fauconer-Lippert's facebook page to the same effect, but I don't know if those interviews are any longer available or not. Personally, I'm much less interested in hearing subjective second-hand reports about those interviews than I am the utterly objective first-hand playbacks if they are available.

This is particularly true if a particular candidate has taken different positions with regard to an issue during the campaign. As an example, Jeff, in the other thread, you mentioned that you had no reason not to take the most recent statements of candidate Shadid about downtown rail at face value.

Well, I do. We're talking politics here, so if a candidate does a 180 degree shift during the campaign, I'd certainly want to look at such a shift with very close scrutiny. I'm not saying that he did -- I've not heard his KTOK interview but only second-hand reports from a few others who did. That's why I want to hear the actual interview. Probably, I'm not as trusting as you -- heck, I still don't trust my friend Pete White's kinda-sorta backtrack about the downtown streetcar -- and I won't until he makes a very clear and unambiguous statement which he can be held accountable for in the future. His public statements so far don't yet match that standard as far as I'm concerned.

I'll also begin this by saying that you can look at the campaign websites for these candidates and see what they've said about themselves:

1. Charles Swinton and
   
   
2. Ed Shadid.

[Doug Loudenback]

I've begun assembling a database of both Swinton's & Shadid's statements and as much objective other information that I can locate about both, here: http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2011/03...n-returns.html. Gwin Fauconer-Lippert tells me that she will conduct additional interviews with each candidate on KTOK before the April 5 general election.

[Kerry]

One thing is for sure Doug, Shadid is against big business and big banks. He used that phrase in 3 of his 5 points. Maybe during an interview he could identify who he thinks those big business and big banks are. Could he being talking about the Thunder and the Ford Cener Tax? If so, maybe someone can explain to him local small businesses benefit from the Thunder.

[Doug Loudenback]

If you use the phrases "big business" or "big corporations" as substitutes for each other, he coupled it with "big banks" on 4 occasions in his issues statement. Although he seems to be talking, at least part of the time, about bailouts or giveaways to them, none of which are Oklahoma City entities, he never makes it clear what he's talking about -- which businesses, which banks, nor does he bring it down to earth and explain how his opposition would be relevant in some fashion to the Oklahoma City Council. I very much doubt that such a list would include any business in Oklahoma City -- my guess is that his phrasing is just to create straw men which are safe to beat on. Still, I'm early in this research and I've drawn no firm conclusions.

[Kerry]

In that case Doug I am going to run for a seat on my homeowners association and campaign against TARP just like Shadid is doing. I suspect Shadid has an issue with Quality Jobs money going to the Thunder and the Ford Center tax. I hope someone asks him to clarify.

Mr. Shadid, on your campaign website you said you were opposed to give-a-ways to big companies, big business, and big banks. Can you identify any of these big companies, big businesses, or big banks and explain their relevance to the City of Oklahoma City?

As a follow-up question, could you also give us your viewes on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boeing, and the Ford Center tax?

[bornhere]

I don't live in Ward 2, but if I did, my questions would be about code enforcement and staffing, police protection, 23rd Street redevelopment, Chesapeake sprawl and Western corridor development. Also Paseo area development.

I know many of you think Oklahoma City is a basketball team surrounded by a bunch of ignorant rabble, but out here in the boonies, this is the stuff we actually think about.

[Doug Loudenback]

Good questions, Kerry. Now, there, bornhere, what's this stuff about Oklahoma City being a basketball team surrounded by a bunch of ignorant rabble ... the surrounding rabble may not be all that ignorant!

[Doug Loudenback]

I've reviewed each candidate's Facebook pages and have added the following to my blog:

FACEBOOK INFORMATION. This section is totally lopsided since candidate Swinton's Facebook page contains zero position statements by him — that's not a bad thing, it's just that he has not thus far used Facebook as a medium in which to communicate his positions.

With candidate Shadid, though, it is different since he has made a number of substantive policy and other statements in his own Facebook page. As of this writing (March 3), they are as follows.

Posts by Ed Shadid In His Facebook Page

MAPS3 is a bond with the voters. It must be implemented in its entirety with transparency and with the maximum public deliberation. Mr. Swinton risks the legitimacy of future referendums by essentially eliminating the rail component. We do not get to pick and choose which projects we (or our unknown financial sponsors) want to move forward.
...
If elected, I will become the only City Council member who will have taken no money from corporate and special interests nor had any independent expenditure utilized on my behalf. I will be beholden to no special interest. I will insist on open and transparent government.
...
Over the last week, a committee of unknown donors (Com. to Keep Momentum Going), accountable to no one, is spending tens of thousands of dollars in an effort to rescue Charlie Swinton's fledgling campaign. Swinton has indicated that he doesn't know anything about this organization. Dr. Shadid refuses to accept donations from all PACs and special interests. Campaign finance reform is needed.
...
Thought MAPS 3 guaranteed light rail transit? Think again. Delay means losing $60-120 million in federal matching funds and making the project cost prohibitive by not coordinating with Project 180. Study the candidates comments closely.
...
I am very proud to have received the UNANIMOUS endorsement of the dozens of Fraternal Order of Police members last night. With 700 square miles, a growing population, an aging police force, and our neighborhoods feeling the effect of an overstretched police force, we need to add more officers NOW.
...
I am very proud to receive the strong endorsement of the OKC Firefighters. 700 square miles is a tremendous amount of ground to cover and yet our highly committed firefighters provide exceptional service and represent a very good value for the financial investment we make as a city.
...
I am very honored to have received the endorsement of the Sierra Club Cimarron Group and I look forward to working with them as councilman towards sustainable development of our local economy and neighborhoods.

In publishing the above, please understand that I am taking no editorial position with regard to what either candidate says in his respective Facebook page ... I am simply reporting and readers can assess for themselves what they will.

Perhaps either or both candidates will add substantive content in his respective Facebook page about their respective campaigns between now and April 5, and, if so, I'll publish them in this blog article in the Facebook section.

[Spartan]

One thing is for sure Doug, Shadid is against big business and big banks.

Ugh........

[Kerry]

Ugh........

Why do you say that?

Issues

Standing Up for Local Small Businesses
...Shadid believes we should invest in local businesses that create jobs and hire Oklahoma City workers rather than giving taxpayer-funded bailouts to big corporations, big banks and out- of-state special interests...

Standing Up for Our Neighborhoods
Dr. Ed Shadid believes investing in our neighborhoods is a better use of Oklahoma City’s scarce resources than giveaways to big corporations and big banks…

Standing Up for Taxpayers
...Ed will work to ensure that the tough decisions that must be made in these difficult economic times are made with the well being of Oklahoma City’s children, seniors, veterans, and families in mind and without the influence of big business, big banks and special interests.

I love the last one - I guess the police/fire unions and Sierra Club are not special interests.

[Spartan]

I'll agree with you there, and additionally, I might suggest that the Shadid family themselves is a special interest group of their own...lol

But the intent not the letter is what's important. It's obvious the political brand he's trying to sell, and I for one like it.

[Snowman]

I don't live in Ward 2, but if I did, my questions would be about code enforcement and staffing, police protection, 23rd Street redevelopment, Chesapeake sprawl and Western corridor development. Also Paseo area development.

I know many of you think Oklahoma City is a basketball team surrounded by a bunch of ignorant rabble, but out here in the boonies, this is the stuff we actually think about.

Of all the sprawl in OKC, Chesapeake's seems to be the least of our worries.

[Kerry]

Of all the sprawl in OKC, Chesapeake's seems to be the least of our worries.

Agreed - I actually though Chesapeak was in-fill.

[Spartan]

Well a funny thing about Chesapeake is that they've bought everything between 50th and 63rd and we have no idea what they're doing, but we are hoping they're going to do a large mixed-use development across Western. Who knows? Time will tell.

I don't think putting political pressure on CHK to fess up is going to be a winning campaign strategy, not that I think Shadid or Swinton are interested in that either way.

[Snowman]

Wait, what? Tearing down buildings and then creating a wall-in campus is infill?

I am not dogging on them, but I need to go recheck my definition of in-fill. I assumed it meant constructing within a built environment in a way that maintains original function and sometimes design. Maybe you are right. I just never thought of them that way. Are they going to keep the superblock pattern as they go east?

They will be taking out a few of the existing streets and widening shartel

Well a funny thing about Chesapeake is that they've bought everything between 50th and 63rd and we have no idea what they're doing, but we are hoping they're going to do a large mixed-use development across Western. Who knows? Time will tell.

From the zoning change they just got accepted with some conditions, they can do a wide range.

[bornhere]

we have no idea what they're doing, but we are hoping

My point exactly. I don't want to see us backpedal to the day when people with sufficient money and clout could close and plow up city streets and no one knew it was happening until it was done.

[Spartan]

Well, welcome to today..

[Doug Loudenback]

I've updated the March 1 election and Ward 2 runoff blog article to include the campaign financing information disclosed by the runoff candidates and that of the PACs during the primary. I don't know when the next Form C-1 (contributions & expenses) disclosure period is but it should be an interesting one, since the Committee For Oklahoma City Momentum has yet to file such a report, to the best of my knowledge. To go directly to the updated section, click here.

[soonerguru]

I've updated the March 1 election and Ward 2 runoff blog article to include the campaign financing information disclosed by the runoff candidates and that of the PACs during the primary. I don't know when the next Form C-1 (contributions & expenses) disclosure period is but it should be an interesting one, since the Committee For Oklahoma City Momentum has yet to file such a report, to the best of my knowledge. To go directly to the updated section, click here.

Thank you, Doug. You are a real service to this board and community. If anyone has questions about who to vote for, just follow the link.

Swinton is completely bought -- by whom is undisclosed -- and isn't willing to commit himself to anything on the issues.

[krisb]

Because Chesapeake's campus thus far has been a real downer for retail development and property values...

[OKCMallen]

Because Chesapeake's campus thus far has been a real downer for retail development and property values...

No joke. As though we'd be better off had CHK never existed or built their campus. I'm sorry that we lost the original Pearl's building and all, but it was too small and had awful parking anyway.

[Doug Loudenback]

Back to topic, I am attempting to get copies of Gwin Faulconer Lippert's previous KTOK interviews with Swinton & Shadid. They are no longer available on-line but I'm hoping to get permission to go to KTOK studies and copy them onto a jump drive. We'll see. She will be interviewing the candidates again but I don't know the date yet. If and when I learn it, I'll post it here and will of course make copies of the interviews for easy listening.

[soonerguru]

Did anyone see Shadid's ad in today's Gazette? It's awesome. It has a compare and contrast on issues and background with Swinton, and in it, he reminds voters that Swinton wants to push back the train to the end of the line, and that Shadid says, and I quote: "Dr. Shadid believes that MAPS-3 should be completed
as it was promised to voters, with maximum transparency, honesty and public deliberation. Needlessly delaying the rail component of MAPS-3 could cost the city $60-120 million in federal matching funds, reducing the project’s connectivity to neighborhoods."

I think the choice in this race is clear: vote for the good ole boy who's been bought by Chesapeake and wants to delay and screw up the schedule of the streetcar; or vote for the self-financed candidate who wants the MAPS subcommittees and citizen participation to guide the MAPS process. Pretty easy decision.

Go Ed!

[betts]

Perhaps if your focus is on your campus and the area surrounding it, development of downtown seems less crucial. The people who live in Nichols Hills drive to the Nichols Hills Plaza. I doubt they think anyone wants to use mass transit, since even walkability isn't much of a consideration in their neighborhood. That may explain why it's an area of disinterest to him.

[bornhere]

A friend who lives in Ward 2 told me he was push-polled today by Swinton, accusing Shadid of supporting abortion rights, gay marriage, and cuts in military spending. I guess those are the key issues at city hall.