City Council Races Starting to Take Shape

[soonerguru]

having pounded a bit of sidewalk, pavment, dirt road and even fields in my younger days, i appreciate it when a candidate has folk who will do the same for the person they support. But to really get my attention, the candidate will show up on my porch. Even better if the candidate is actually engaging and not a here ya go, lots of hands to shake today total d-canoe packaged up by someone else as their personal politico play toy.

lol.

[soonerguru]

After reading the posts above, I hope Greiner loses in historic fashion.

[LordGerald]

After reading the posts above, I hope Greiner loses in historic fashion.

It appears that Greiner may have won the seat.

[Midtowner]

Looks like Pettis and Greiner are going to win.

Fine for Ward 7.

Being a resident of Ward 1, I hope I'm wrong about this guy.

[Pete]

Tweet from Zeke Campfield of the Oklahoman:

Pettis beating Kelly at rate of two-to-one after nearly half of precincts report; Greiner and Marrs neck and neck

[soonerguru]

Tweet from Zeke Campfield of the Oklahoman:

When was that tweet? Looks like Marrs is losing. He ran a very lethargic campaign. Hard to get excited about the guy but it would be better than having a bible-thumping teabagger on the council.

[Pete]

Another Campfield tweet from 27 minutes ago:

Pettis still leads Kelly, 1,346-890, with 29 of 51 precincts in; Griner still ahead of Marrs 769-637 with 13 of 27 precincts in

[LandRunOkie]

Oklahoma City Council Ward 1 - Oklahoma 8:27 PM

[table] [TR] [TD="class: tickerCandidate"] James Greiner
[/TD] [TD="class: tickerNumbers, width: 90, align: center"]1,686[/TD] [TD="class: tickerNumbers, width: 90, align: left"] 56.39%

[/TD] [/TR] [/table] [table] [TR] [TD="class: tickerCandidate"] Gary Marrs
[/TD] [TD="class: tickerNumbers, width: 90, align: center"]1,304[/TD] [TD="class: tickerNumbers, width: 90, align: left"] 43.61%

[/TD] [/TR] [/table]
30 of 37 precincts reporting! Exciting day for Okc! See ya Marrs!

[Pete]

Another from Campfield:

Challengers win in both #okc city council races. Pettis beats Kelly 1,940-1,202, Greiner beats Marrs 1,775-1,333.

[LordGerald]

Another from Campfield:

Congratulations to John Greiner. I think Marrs went into this without respecting his opponent. Quick thought: Mayor Cornett endorsed Gary Marrs, and campaigned for him. Does this say anything about this Ward's perspective on Mayor Cornett?

[soonerguru]

Congratulations to John Greiner. I think Marrs went into this without respecting his opponent. Quick thought: Mayor Cornett endorsed Gary Marrs, and campaigned for him. Does this say anything about this Ward's perspective on Mayor Cornett?

Probably not. Says more about Marrs. Didn't seem to run a strong campaign. Also, Hobby Lobby probably had more boots on the ground for the "Christian candidate." Preacher beats a fireman in Ward 1, apparently.

[krisb]

While I may disagree with James Greiner's fusion of religion and politics, I appreciate his energetic campaign. When Gary Marrs was my city councilman he did not show much enthusiasm for anything. He did not return any of our neighborhood's phone calls or e-mails. I think he got tired and complacent during his last term and it certainly showed in this campaign.

[LandRunOkie]

He was also endorsed by Larry Nichols and the Oklahoman...

[kevinpate]

Goes to show ... always respect the other candidate. Even if a candidate thinks the other candidate is an odd duck, it's generally best to consider him a highly motivated and well motivated odd duck.

[zookeeper]

I always thought Marrs was a lazy and distant member of the Council, but I'm not real happy with his replacement. Greiner worked hard and wanted it more, congratulations to him.

[boscorama]

another from campfield:

Yay, on both counts!

[MustangGT]

I always thought Marrs was a lazy and distant member of the Council

He was. The lazy arse and the soom to be convicted drunkard are both gone. I am not necessarily pleased that Greiner won but I sure am glad that Marrs lost. Now if only the incumbents fall in a few more races...

[Midtowner]

While I may disagree with James Greiner's fusion of religion and politics, I appreciate his energetic campaign.

Greiner seemed to be the better funded of the two--something which surprises me. I received several mailers from Greiner, nada from Marrs.

As to the content of Greiner's mailers and campaign rhetoric, it was the same pablum being used in just about every single Republican race out there. It's a baby step above "faith/family/freedom." My concern is that Greiner won't be able to grasp how a city is supposed to be run. I'm also concerned that he is going to be guided by the Republican dogmatic belief that the government should stick to "core functions," (I'm not sure anyone knows what that actually means other than that we need to occasionally cut services, perhaps pour encourager les autres?)

It'll be an interesting run.

[MustangGT]

My concern is that Greiner won't be able to grasp how a city is supposed to be run.

This same ignorance infested Marrs also IMHO. Just because he was a retired fire chief means really nothing. Moving up in city government is more hiney smooching than ability. If you doubt this ask any fireman who is below the rack of Major and many Majors would tell you legions of horror stories about his so called administration of the OCFD. Most were ecstatic to see him go. Many are laughing again to see him kicked to the curb.

I am open minded to the new guy. He needs to be given the opportunity to show what he is made of. It really is churlish/low brow behavior to frog gig him before he has even set his posterior in the chair on the horseshoe.

[LakeEffect]

Greiner seemed to be the better funded of the two--something which surprises me. I received several mailers from Greiner, nada from Marrs.

As to the content of Greiner's mailers and campaign rhetoric, it was the same pablum being used in just about every single Republican race out there. It's a baby step above "faith/family/freedom." My concern is that Greiner won't be able to grasp how a city is supposed to be run. I'm also concerned that he is going to be guided by the Republican dogmatic belief that the government should stick to "core functions," (I'm not sure anyone knows what that actually means other than that we need to occasionally cut services, perhaps pour encourager les autres?)

It'll be an interesting run.

A la Brian Walters.

Brian won an open seat, but he won in the same fashion. Boots on the ground, speaking to the bland rhetoric. And he ended up being one and done because people realized that he had no idea how to run a City nor help all citizens. I hope that doesn't happen with Greiner. We'll see.

[LuccaBrasi]

[QUOTE=Midtowner;632657]Greiner seemed to be the better funded of the two--something which surprises me. I received several mailers from Greiner, nada from Marrs.



Wow, I wonder why you did not get anything from Marrs. I live in Ward 1 and probably got 6-8 mailers and multiple phone calls in the last few days, mainly from the Marrs camp. I also got the Greiner mailers. On Monday, I had two from each in the mail box. Although I supported Marrs, I have to admit that I think Greiners graphic design was easier to read and conveyed a simple message, not to mention that it did not hurt that most of his mailers conveyed the color coordinated apple pie family imagery you see in politcal campaigns that people like that regardless if they know much about the candidate. It certainlly appears that none of Marrs heavy hitting supporters carried much weight in Ward 1 which I guess makes sense since none of them live there to my knowledge.

[LakeEffect]

Speaking of money and mailers, I live in Ward 7, and I did not receive any mail during the original primary or the run off. I did get a visit from a woman campaigning for the first part... but that was it.

[Larry OKC]

Greiner seemed to be the better funded of the two--something which surprises me. I received several mailers from Greiner, nada from Marrs. …

Unless there was a last minute infusion of donations…

Oklahoma City Council candidates look for votes before Tuesday's election | News OK

(Marrs) has been re-elected twice but is in a battle after running a close second in the March primary, despite a big fundraising advantage.
…
Marrs spent $50,000 in the latest reporting period and still had $40,000 left for the final weeks.
…
Limited funds — about $5,400 on hand in mid-March — were of no concern, said Greiner, a graphic design team leader at Hobby Lobby.

I did find it surprising that there was higher turnout in the runoff than for the primary. This is not the norm, unless there is something highly controversial and getting a lot of press…
Oklahoma City Council candidates look for votes before Tuesday's election | News OK

Turnout is a major concern after only 5 percent of those eligible voted last month, he said.

Challengers win seats on Oklahoma City Council | News OK

Turnout on a chilly day with record rainfall was light, with only 6.5 percent of eligible voters casting ballots in Ward 7 and 9 percent voting in Ward 1.

[OKCTalker]

Congratulations to John Greiner. I think Marrs went into this without respecting his opponent. Quick thought: Mayor Cornett endorsed Gary Marrs, and campaigned for him. Does this say anything about this Ward's perspective on Mayor Cornett?

Cornett also recorded radio spots and robo calls for Skip Kelly.

With Cornett having endorsing two defeated incumbents, does that give any tactical ammunition to Ed Shadid as a potential mayoral challenger?

[Larry OKC]

The turnout was even higher than what I quoted above:

Absentee and early voters raised the totals to 7.6 percent in Ward 7 and 10 percent in Ward 1.

Cornett also recorded radio spots and robo calls for Skip Kelly.

With Cornett having endorsing two defeated incumbents, does that give any tactical ammunition to Ed Shadid as a potential mayoral challenger?

Not sure but here is what he had to say:

Mayor Mick Cornett said voters spoke individually — rather than collectively — in turning out two veteran council members who had the mayor's endorsement, along with the benefit of his voice and image in campaign ads.
“There are certainly people who will view this in many, many different ways, and I think they're all right,” Cornett said.
Tuesday's winners will take their seats next Tuesday. Council members serve four-year terms, earning $12,000 per year.

Next Tuesday? Didn't know it happens that quick. No time to get settled in as it where.