Ward 2 Runoff On The Campaign Issues Only, Please

[Urban Pioneer]

Here are 4 more flyers, 2 for each candidate. Click on any image for a 1024 px wide view.

Ed Shadid 1 - front


Ed Shadid 1 - back (by candidate)


Ed Shadid 2 - front (by candidate)


Ed Shadid 2 - back (by candidate)


Charlie Swinton 1 - front (by candidate)


Charlie Swinton 1 - back (by candidate)


Charlie Swinton 2 - front (by Momentum)


Charlie Swinton 2 - back (by Momentum)


Looking at the last pair, the phrase, "Good cop, bad cop," comes to mind.

Whoops. Now that I know that Shadid is a vegetarian and lives in a solar-powered house, I may need to reconsider my support of him.

It doesn't seem like the Swinton campaign itself is sending out much mail at all. The Momentum people have a real sense of humor though!

[Spartan]

Those Swinton ads are the most idiotic thing I have ever said. Shadid's ads bring up actual concerns about things Swinton has said. Has Shadid ever advocated for the evil "green agenda?"

Is that a proper response for someone who suggests that OKC could put more focus on neighborhoods and sustainability? Talk about a no-sum game. Schiza...

[Doug Loudenback]

Here's the latest installment of the Daily Show ... click any card for a 1024 px wide view ...

Mailer by Shadid, Front


Mailer by Shadid, Back


Mailer by Swinton, Front


Mailer by Swinton, Back


It would seem that Charlie Swinton is learning a few tricks form the Momentum Committee.

[king183]

Those Swinton ads are the most idiotic thing I have ever said. Shadid's ads bring up actual concerns about things Swinton has said. Has Shadid ever advocated for the evil "green agenda?"

Is that a proper response for someone who suggests that OKC could put more focus on neighborhoods and sustainability? Talk about a no-sum game. Schiza...

He did try to get the Green Party's endorsement/"nomination" when he ran for the House last year. He brought in Ralph Nader and did a couple other things with the Green Party. I can't see the mailers right now, but is that what they're talking about? I don't know Ward 2 very well, but depending on the constituency, that could be a big negative. If his campaign and Momentum are sending such things out, I guarantee you they are doing it with specific poll numbers and targeted voters. Doesn't mean it won't backfire, though. Even if people agree with the sentiment, they don't like to be treated like idiots.

[windowphobe]

My little corner of Ward 2, if you believe the neighborhood chatter and the yard-sign count, is pretty solid for Shadid.

[Doug Loudenback]

What neighborhood do you live in, windowphobe?

[soonerguru]

Shadid's mailers are getting better and better. He's running an outstanding campaign. It will be very interesting to see how this turns out. Big money, TV and robocalls against a solid, organized, message-disciplined grassroots effort.

To me, the choice for Shadid is obvious, but it will be interesting to see if the voters of Ward 2 are the idiots Swinton seems to believe they are.

I could see this being very close either way between Swinton and Shadid. I can also envision Shadid winning this in blowout fashion if the youth vote is optimized. Ward 2 is a very liberal district.

[soonerguru]

He did try to get the Green Party's endorsement/"nomination" when he ran for the House last year. He brought in Ralph Nader and did a couple other things with the Green Party. I can't see the mailers right now, but is that what they're talking about? I don't know Ward 2 very well, but depending on the constituency, that could be a big negative. If his campaign and Momentum are sending such things out, I guarantee you they are doing it with specific poll numbers and targeted voters. Doesn't mean it won't backfire, though. Even if people agree with the sentiment, they don't like to be treated like idiots.

They may be using some targeting, but they're sending this to people I know for whom legalized marijane, more transit, and solar-powered houses would be a reason to vote for Shadid. By the way, Shadid does not live in a solar-powered house, and I doubt he uses solar power when he's conducting surgeries.

My instinct is that Swinton's people are using a real ham-handed approach that's not likely to work. If they are targeting, they're doing so very poorly.

[king183]

Shadid's mailers are getting better and better. He's running an outstanding campaign. It will be very interesting to see how this turns out. Big money, TV and robocalls against a solid, organized, message-disciplined grassroots effort.

To me, the choice for Shadid is obvious, but it will be interesting to see if the voters of Ward 2 are the idiots Swinton seems to believe they are.

I could see this being very close either way between Swinton and Shadid. I can also envision Shadid winning this in blowout fashion if the youth vote is optimized. Ward 2 is a very liberal district.

If it's true Ward 2 is very liberal, and the type of mailers going out from Swinton are truly what people here are characterizing them as (again, I can't see them myself right now), then Swinton should go down in flames.

I just find it difficult to believe that Swinton and Momentum are running polls and still sending something like those mailers out. Those polls cost quite a bit and generally are pretty darn accurate. So, either they're just incompetent, they've got bad polling, or people here are underestimating Swinton and his campaign. But, given the near consensus here, it doesn't sound like the latter.

Alternatively, this could all be the doing of a political consulting firm just looking to make quick, big buck. That is, they're just sending a ton of stuff out, polling in large numbers, etc. for the volume billing. Unfortunately, there are a few of those out there just like that.

[windowphobe]

@Doug: I live in Mayfair Heights, one of those consarned urban-conservation districts.

Both Swinton and Shadid have spoken at our neighborhood-association meetings.

[Doug Loudenback]

... and more ... click on images for larger views ...

Ed Shadid's March 23 Oklahoma Gazette ad


Momentum Mailer for Swinton - Birds of a Feather - front


Momentum Mailer for Swinton - Birds of a Feather - back


Momentum Mailer for Swinton - What Does It Mean To Wear Green - front


Momentum Mailer for Swinton - What Does It Mean To Wear Green - back


The above is a large fold-out card.

[soonerguru]

Since when is the Sierra Club an "environmental extremist group?" They're as mainstream as it gets these days.

[MikeOKC]

I'm voting for Shadid. However, there's no such thing in NW Oklahoma City as a "very liberal district." It may have more liberal voters than most districts in Oklahoma City, but "very liberal" is a stretch. Though, it DOES include 39th/Penn area.

In a city council race it comes down to organization. Period. When it comes to a city council runoff election - it comes down to micro-organization. Who's more organized? That's the question. Often, direct mail is a huge waste of money in an election where few people turn out to vote. It comes down on who has put together the troops for a GOTV operation and who can execute. In this case, it's a toss-up. However, the power of the organized police and firefighters probably puts Ed over the top - if they go vote! And I hope they do.

[soonerguru]

I'm hearing from people in the district that Shadid is marshaling an army of volunteers. I'm also hearing somewhat anecdotally from people I know who live in the district that they're getting lots of door-knocks from Shadid volunteers and that Swinton has absolutely no ground game.

[betts]

I must say I hate the idea of Oklahoma City reducing it's military spending.

[ljbab728]

I must say I hate the idea of Oklahoma City reducing it's military spending.

And don't forget we're getting ready to legalize marijuana too. LOL

[Larry OKC]

I must say I hate the idea of Oklahoma City reducing it's military spending.

Interesting point...don't know if it was made in jest or not (given the one right after it) but reducing OKC's military spending could have an impact on Tinker. Don't forget that OKC is giving Boeing an incentive package for bringing those military related jobs here.

[ABryant]

I got a letter from the Swinton Campaign today thanking me for my vote in the first election. I did not vote for either of these guys. I think that one letter has convinced me to vote against him. What a jerk to assume I voted for him.

[Doug Loudenback]

A major story appears in this morning's Oklahoman written by Michael Baker. Here it is.

Oklahoma City Council Ward 2 fundraising documents display candidates' differences
City Council candidate Ed Shadid has decided he will not accept donations from special interest groups. His opponent Charlie Swinton, on the other hand, is proud to accept donations from a wide-ranging number of interests.

BY MICHAEL BAKER
Published: March 26, 2011

The fundraising documents filed Friday for the Oklahoma City Council Ward 2 runoff election next month highlight a big difference between the two remaining candidates.

After the March 1 primary, a field of six was whittled to two. An April 5 runoff between Charlie Swinton, a senior banking officer, and Ed Shadid, a doctor, will determine who will succeed Councilman Sam Bowman.

As of last Sunday, Swinton had collected more than $100,000 and Shadid had raised more than $75,000 in campaign donations.

Shadid has decided to mostly self-finance his campaign. While he has accepted endorsements from the local firefighters and police unions, he has not accepted donations from any political action committee or group. The bulk of his donations are checks he has written his own campaign.

“When a politician receives a large amount of money from a financial benefactor it introduces an element of bias, whether it's conscious or subconscious it makes it difficult for that politician to interpret the data effectively for the taxpayer,” Shadid said. “You don't have to give me money for me to hear your voice.”

Swinton, on the other hand, is proud of the wide-ranging support displayed in fundraising documents. Hundreds of individuals and several businesses, labor and other interest groups have given to his campaign.

“I wish I was a doctor and could write my own checks, but I'm not,” Swinton said. “We're very proud of the fact we have over 300 people that I do I think shows broad-based support throughout the community.”

How much money?

The campaign finance reports, filed with the Oklahoma City clerk's office, cover fundraising through Sunday.

Shadid has raised $78,725 and spent $66,541. Shadid is his own biggest contributor, writing checks to himself for $65,000.

Swinton has raised $104,356 and spent $63,808. At least $13,000 raised can attributed to PACs or other special interest groups.

Swinton's totals do not include money spent by the Committee for Oklahoma City Momentum, which is making independent expenditures in running its own campaign in support of the candidate.

So far, Oklahoma City Momentum has spent more than $400,000 running campaigns supporting Swinton and three other candidates, according to documents filed late Friday. (Emphasis supplied)

Where the money comes from

Swinton and Shadid defended their different fundraising philosophies.

Swinton's top contributors were the Chesapeake Oklahoma PAC and Aubrey McClendon, chief executive of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., each of which gave Swinton $5,000. Larry J. Nichols, executive chairman and chief executive of Devon Energy Corp., also gave $5,000.

Other PAC contributions to Swinton include $3,000 from the Oklahoma City Retired Firefighters, $2,000 from the Oklahoma Municipal Contractors Association PAC, $1,000 from the Southwest Laborers District Council PAC and $500 from the Cox Communications PAC.

“I think as people have heard where we stand on the issues, they're willing to step up,” Swinton said. “I don't have financial resources to fund the campaign myself, so I have to raise the money.”

While Shadid himself had supplied his campaign with nearly 83 percent of its money, four other donors, contributing a total of $2,750, also have the last name Shadid.

“I want to hear everybody's proposals,” he said. “Everybody will know I haven't taken any money from any of their competing interest either.”

I don't yet have copies of the actual reporting forms, but I'll get them and will post them here when I do.

In the earlier Form C-1, Swinton was not shown as contributing any money to his own campaign, while Shadid was substantially funding his own campaign by his own resources. Swinton is far from impoverished and one would think that he would be willing to put up just a little of his own money to finance the campaign for the office that he seeks.

ON EDIT: Supplemental information and Forms C-1 for Swinton and Shadid are reported in an associated on-line (only) article by Michael Baker at this address. He does not yet include reporting forms for the Momentum Committee though he says he'll have that there shortly.

[George]

Doug, thanks for the info and the links. Michael Baker has been doing some great reporting on the City Council elections.

[windowphobe]

Both Shadid and Swinton have knocked on my door, so evidently Swinton has some sort of ground game.

[Doug Loudenback]

Why I'm for Shadid. Pure opinion. Read it if you want: http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2011/03...or-shadid.html

[soonerguru]

Hey Doug, can you post that PROGRESS poster from your blog? Very cool!

[Doug Loudenback]

Is this what you mean?

[Doug Loudenback]

@Doug: I live in Mayfair Heights, one of those consarned urban-conservation districts.

Both Swinton and Shadid have spoken at our neighborhood-association meetings.

Thanks, windowphobe. What is your take on their presentations and how they were received?