OKC Mayor Race 2014

[Hutch]

Improving the bus system and expanding the police force don't require ongoing maintenance and/or costs?

It's simply a political charade to in one breath challenge the streetcar project by questioning operations and maintainence funding, and in the same breath argue that we should be substantially expanding the bus system, which would require even greater operations and maintenance funding. The truth of the matter is that while rail transit investments have higher initial capital costs, they have much lower annual operating and maintenance costs than buses. In the long run, its the bus system O&M that consumes most transit system budgets. In fact, the estimated annual operating and maintenance costs for the enhanced bus system recommended for Oklahoma City by Carter-Burgess in 2005 was approximately $60 million. In today's dollars, it would be even higher. The estimated annual operating and maintenance costs for the initial streetcar system is about $3 million, which is less than 1% of the City's annual operating budget. We can afford the latter. The former would break the bank.

[soonerguru]

It's simply a political charade to in one breath challenge the streetcar project by questioning operations and maintainence funding, and in the same breath argue that we should be substantially expanding the bus system, which would require even greater operations and maintenance funding. The truth of the matter is that while rail transit investments have higher initial capital costs, they have much lower annual operating and maintenance costs than buses. In the long run, its the bus system O&M that consumes most transit system budgets. In fact, the estimated annual operating and maintenance costs for the enhanced bus system recommended for Oklahoma City by Carter-Burgess in 2005 was approximately $60 million. In today's dollars, it would be even higher. The estimated annual operating and maintenance costs for the initial streetcar system is about $3 million, which is less than 1% of the City's annual operating budget. We can afford the latter. The former would break the bank.

You might want to share this with Councilor Stephen Holman in Norman. I noticed him bringing up the streetcar O&M issue in another venue. Ed has a lot of people twisted up about this.

[LuccaBrasi]

I missed this from back in April. Can you imagine Shadid in this public fishbowl position representing our city?

TEDMED - Talk Details

[Midtowner]

Improving the bus system and expanding the police force don't require ongoing maintenance and/or costs? Every single thing we create or expand is likely to have operational costs and potentially maintenance. Every policeman we hire has to have health insurance and a pension, as well as ongoing salary, raises, etc. Unless he intends to improve the bus system without buying any new buses, there will be ongoing operation and maintenance costs over what we have currently budgeted as well. Every prior MAPS project requires O&M funding as well. Luckily, they have given the city a fabulous return on its investment. I fully expect the new projects to do the same. Sometimes the money for operational costs is there, in hindsight.

Someone who thinks the mayor alone can do either of those things doesn't really understand how municipal government works. To accomplish either of those things, he has to get the votes of at least four councilmen/woman. By my count, five of those wards are represented by solid Chamber of Commerce types who won't work with Shadid on changing MAPS. As far as new police officers, the money has already been allocated. It's not like the mayor personally goes over to the police station to review and approve applications to our academies.

Shadid is a great councilman. I'm glad he's there. His campaign message isn't very sexy and he's trying to walk this fine line of being supported by the Tea Party and public unions at the same time. I'm not sure anyone can continue to effectively walk that tightrope for very long.

[soonerguru]

Is Holman "CraveCity" in the comments here? Working to improve public transportation for everyone in Oklahoma City | News OK

I have no idea. I would tend to doubt it. That seems like someone who actually works for Ed's campaign. Holman, though, is very supportive of a regional transit link to Norman, so killing the streetcar would surely doom his hopes for regional rail. I think he just likes Ed and is parroting some of his tropes.

[GaryOKC6]

Someone who thinks the mayor alone can do either of those things doesn't really understand how municipal government works. To accomplish either of those things, he has to get the votes of at least four councilmen/woman. By my count, five of those wards are represented by solid Chamber of Commerce types who won't work with Shadid on changing MAPS. As far as new police officers, the money has already been allocated. It's not like the mayor personally goes over to the police station to review and approve applications to our academies.

Shadid is a great councilman. I'm glad he's there. His campaign message isn't very sexy and he's trying to walk this fine line of being supported by the Tea Party and public unions at the same time. I'm not sure anyone can continue to effectively walk that tightrope for very long.

He can walk that line by changing his story to fit the crowd that he is talking to at the time. Nothing new. He ran on an anti-maps platform basically. I heard it when he was campaigning. I live in his district and a lot of the business owners on Western Ave that I talked to felt as though MAPS was hurting their business by drawing people downtown. I had one actually tell me the reason that his bar was empty was because of MAPS and that all of his patrons were at the thunder game. Funny thing was that I went there to watch the game at the bar.

[krisb]

No offense, but this is the same crap that was spewed about Obama in 2008. Not saying that shouldn't resonate with people, but it shouldn't decide who runs and leads our governments.

Reality check, people vote for leaders they can identify with. Shadid certainly had an Obama flavor at his rally last night. Diverse crowd, soulful performances, targeted message of hope and change. Regardless of your point of view, one has to appreciate the way this race is shaping up in terms of public debate and responsiveness. A turnout of 24,000 during the last mayoral election is simply unacceptable.

[bradh]

I agree with the last sentence for sure

[krisb]

I totally agree, Betts. Tell me what your positions are on issues affecting our city not about your meaningful journey. krisb, can you fill us in any better about what his specific positions are after hearing him speak?

Here are his positions from what I have observed on the horseshoe, at my neighborhood association meeting that he attended, and the rally in oversimplified form:
1) MAPS 3 - Investing in quality of life and our downtown is important. Let's not screw up the MAPS legacy by building projects with no dedicated funding source.
2) Transit - Streetcar is sexy, but is it real transit? Funding source? Bus service on nights and weekends. Promote transit for everyone.
3) City-subsidized sprawl - No
5) Build walkable neighborhoods and "places" throughout the entire city - Yes
6) Address poverty, homelessness, and public health issues - Yes
7) Reach out to immigrant communities - Yes
8) Affirm the LGBT community - Yes
9) Hire more police officers - Yes
10) Beholden to corporate interests and plutocrats - No

[ljbab728]

Here are his positions from what I have observed on the horseshoe, at my neighborhood association meeting that he attended, and the rally in oversimplified form:
1) MAPS 3 - Investing in quality of life and our downtown is important. Let's not screw up the MAPS legacy by building projects with no dedicated funding source.
2) Transit - Streetcar is sexy, but is it real transit? Funding source? Bus service on nights and weekends. Promote transit for everyone.
3) City-subsidized sprawl - No
5) Build walkable neighborhoods and "places" throughout the entire city - Yes
6) Address poverty, homelessness, and public health issues - Yes
7) Reach out to immigrant communities - Yes
8) Affirm the LGBT community - Yes
8) Hire more police officers - Yes
8) Beholden to Larry Nichols and Roy Williams - No

As for your first point, that is basically saying he isn't in favor of any of the MAPS projects. I don't see much in your other points that separates him or contrasts his view with those of Cornett. Also, he is in a much better position to accomplish his goals while serving in his current capacity given what little authority the mayor actually has.
He may be great at attracting enthusiastic crowds but he also has a great propensity for alienating many of OKC's biggest supporters.

[soonerguru]

Here are his positions from what I have observed on the horseshoe, at my neighborhood association meeting that he attended, and the rally in oversimplified form:
1) MAPS 3 - Investing in quality of life and our downtown is important. Let's not screw up the MAPS legacy by building projects with no dedicated funding source.
2) Transit - Streetcar is sexy, but is it real transit? Funding source? Bus service on nights and weekends. Promote transit for everyone.
3) City-subsidized sprawl - No
5) Build walkable neighborhoods and "places" throughout the entire city - Yes
6) Address poverty, homelessness, and public health issues - Yes
7) Reach out to immigrant communities - Yes
8) Affirm the LGBT community - Yes
9) Hire more police officers - Yes
10) Beholden to corporate interests and plutocrats - No

I'm sorry, but he is such a charlatan. "Funding source?" The funding source has already been provided in the MAPS tax. Then he advocates buses in the same breath? The cost of operations and maintenance of buses is more than the streetcars. He is needlessly dividing the transit community and has proposed NOTHING to improve our transit solution.

Shadid's plan-free platform is a garden variety of feel good progressive platitudes. And yet he contradicts himself. So he's in favor of downtown investment? Yes? No? Oh wait, we're "neglecting" other parts of the city. But wait, we're "subsidizing sprawl."

This is a rich tapestry of BS.

[kevinpate]

If that is the doc's main pitch, P.T. Barnum is chuckling in his grave.

[betts]

Funding source for police officers, addressing poverty, homelessness and public health issues, transit for everyone? How do you accomplish hope and change at a city level when your major funding source is a sales tax? Ron Norick showed us how and the next two mayors continued his legacy. I don't see any need for change when what they have been doing has worked beyond our wildest dreams. But increasing sales tax, unlike at the federal level, doesn't mean convincing your fellow city councilmen/women to vote to increase taxes. It requires a vote of the people. When you scuttle what they've already voted for because it doesn't have a funding source only to ask for a new tax to run an operation that needs an even greater funding source, how's that gonna fly?

[SoonerDave]

Reality check, people vote for leaders they can identify with. Shadid certainly had an Obama flavor at his rally last night. Diverse crowd, soulful performances, targeted message of hope and change. Regardless of your point of view, one has to appreciate the way this race is shaping up in terms of public debate and responsiveness. A turnout of 24,000 during the last mayoral election is simply unacceptable.

And considering Obama was 0-for-154 counties in this state across two presidential elections, using that as a model doesn't bode well for his prospects here.

[SoonerDave]

Here are his positions from what I have observed on the horseshoe, at my neighborhood association meeting that he attended, and the rally in oversimplified form:
1) MAPS 3 - Investing in quality of life and our downtown is important. Let's not screw up the MAPS legacy by building projects with no dedicated funding source.
2) Transit - Streetcar is sexy, but is it real transit? Funding source? Bus service on nights and weekends. Promote transit for everyone.
3) City-subsidized sprawl - No
5) Build walkable neighborhoods and "places" throughout the entire city - Yes
6) Address poverty, homelessness, and public health issues - Yes
7) Reach out to immigrant communities - Yes
8) Affirm the LGBT community - Yes
9) Hire more police officers - Yes
10) Beholden to corporate interests and plutocrats - No

If a laundry list of puffery and platitudes is the best he or his contemporaries can do, he'll have absolutely zero chance getting my vote.

[Hutch]

Someone who thinks the mayor alone can do either of those things doesn't really understand how municipal government works.

Exactly.

Oklahoma City has a "Council-Manager", also referred to as a "City Manager", form of government. The Mayor's position is simply to administer Council proceedings, execute official Council documents, make appointments to committees and commissions, and serve as the government representative for ceremonial purposes. Beyond those functions, the Mayor is just another council member and has no more authority to act or bring a cause of action than any of the other members of Council.

In a Council-Manager form of government, City Council hires the City Manager. The City Manager is responsible for hiring all staff and overseeing government operations. The Mayor and City Council are restricted by state statute from directing, admonishing, interfering with or in any way administering City staff and employees. Only the City Manager has that authority.

Most issues having to do with city government actions, services and accountability arise out of the actions of staff, which Council has no authority over except through directives given to the City Manager.

In a City Manager form of government, you don't achieve accountability or set new agendas or pass new ordinances or direct funding to certain projects by electing one person as Mayor. To accomplish anything substantive takes at least five votes on Council, and other than presiding over Council meetings and serving as representative for the City, the Mayor's position is just another vote on Council.

Below is some of the specific statute language for the Council-Manager form of government. Besides the sections detailing the duties of the Mayor and powers of the Council, make sure to read the limitations of Council to act.

Statutory Council-Manager Form of Government
(Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes)

DUTIES OF THE MAYOR AND VICE-MAYOR (Section 10-105)

The mayor shall preside at meetings of the council, and shall certify to the correct enrollment of all ordinances and resolutions passed by it. He shall be recognized as head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purposes of military law. He shall have no regular administrative duties except that he shall sign all conveyances and other written obligations of the city as the council may require. The vice mayor shall act as mayor during the absence, disability or suspension of the mayor.

POWERS VESTED IN COUNCIL — DESIGNATED POWERS (Section 10-106)

All powers of a statutory council manager city, including the determination of matters of policy, shall be vested in the council. Without limitation of the foregoing, the council may:

1. Appoint and remove the city manager as provided by law;
2. Enact municipal legislation subject to limitations as may now or hereafter be imposed by the Oklahoma Constitution and law;
3. Raise revenue, make appropriations, regulate salaries and wages, and all other fiscal affairs of the city, subject to such limitations as may now or hereafter be imposed by the Oklahoma Constitution and law;
4. Inquire into the conduct of any office, department or agency of the city, and investigate municipal affairs, or authorize and provide for such inquiries;
5. Appoint or elect and remove its own subordinates, members of commissions and boards and other quasi legislative or quasi judicial officers as provided by law, or prescribe the method of appointing or electing and removing them;
6. Create, change and abolish offices, departments and agencies other than those established by law, and assign additional functions and duties to offices, departments and agencies established by this article; and
7. Grant pardons for violations of municipal ordinances, including the remission of fines and costs, upon the recommendation of the municipal judge.

LIMITATION OF COUNCIL AUTHORITY TO ACT THROUGH CITY MANAGER (Section 10-107)

Except for the purposes of inquiry, the council and its members shall deal with the administrative service of the city solely through the city manager. The council and its members may not:

1. Direct or request the city manager or other authority to appoint or remove officers or employees;
2. Participate in any manner in the appointment or removal of officers and employees of the city, except as provided by law; or
3. Give orders on ordinary administrative matters to any subordinate of the city manager either publicly or privately.

[Midtowner]

Here are his positions from what I have observed on the horseshoe, at my neighborhood association meeting that he attended, and the rally in oversimplified form:
1) MAPS 3 - Investing in quality of life and our downtown is important. Let's not screw up the MAPS legacy by building projects with no dedicated funding source.
2) Transit - Streetcar is sexy, but is it real transit? Funding source? Bus service on nights and weekends. Promote transit for everyone.
3) City-subsidized sprawl - No
5) Build walkable neighborhoods and "places" throughout the entire city - Yes
6) Address poverty, homelessness, and public health issues - Yes
7) Reach out to immigrant communities - Yes
8) Affirm the LGBT community - Yes
9) Hire more police officers - Yes
10) Beholden to corporate interests and plutocrats - No

He can only really do 7 and 8. You see, the mayor is more of a cheerleader and spokesman than someone who can really get things done. It does matter that he can work with business interests to help us build a vibrant downtown. Do you think a project 180 Project 180 : Home would ever have happened with someone like Shadid as mayor? Nope. He'd be holding press conferences where he made nice with Al McAffrey (nice guy, btw), but he'd never be able to work hand in glove with the business community like Cornett has.

Number 9 is something he's actually legally barred from having anything to do with. Just sayin'

[betts]

Maybe he needs to read the job description for mayor.

[Doug Loudenback]

Snark attack!

[ljbab728]

Snark attack!

Doug, some comments may be snarky but most are very pertinent.

[betts]

Snark attack!

I was actually trying to be kind. Perhaps we need a "I'm saying this without tongue in cheek"emoticon. You see, I can only think of two interpretations. When a candidate promises things they know they cannot deliver, based on the limits of the position to which they are aspiring, you can call them "campaign promises", a euphemism for lies. Or, you can take the high road and assume they are not aware of the limitations of the office to which they aspire.

It is possible that a recently elected councilman might not be aware of the fairly significant limitations on mayoral power in Oklahoma City, especially if he had not been involved in city politics until a short time ago. Even as a voter I was not until fairly recently.

[ljbab728]

Betts, I'm more of the opinion that he is totally aware of the limitations on the mayoral power in OKC but is hoping that the electorate isn't.

[Urban Pioneer]

Ed Shadid commented on NewsOK.com.
17 minutes ago ·
Poll-driven chameleon-like marketing by anonymous big money is not going to work this time; not with the Mayor’s 13-year track record. Just as occurred in my city council race, and the more recent Ward 1 city council race, anonymous independent expenditure organizations are spending large amounts of money engaging in at least two major live polls (which would cost in the $50,000-$70,000 range) and other expensive support activity for the Mayor’s campaign. The seemingly coordinated strategy of the Independent Expenditure and the Mayor is easily predictable: take the Mayor’s weaknesses and portray them as strengths. The Mayor’s record on public safety, neighborhood advocacy (especially when pitted against special interests), and street and sidewalk investments is abysmal and yet, those issues dominate his messaging. The Mayor tells the same joke at national meeting after national meeting making fun of those neighborhood advocates who question the allocation of resources in OKC (Mick says some variation of “Many people in the suburbs do not like the emphasis on downtown, but I tell them you may not like it but your children and grandchildren will like it and you know what, they are angry because they know I am right”) and now wants us to know how much he enjoys getting out and meeting neighbors. The Mayor does not speak with the City Council with any regularity much less neighborhoods. Adding police officers? We have the same number of officers today as we had 20 years ago with 200,000 more people. The Mayor’s relationship with the good men and women of our police and fire forces is nothing less than toxic. Want to understand the situation? Walk up to any member of the OKC Police and Fire force, any random member, and ask them their opinion of Mick Cornett, his working relationship with them, his understanding of the police manpower study and the future needs of this city in terms of public safety and who they would prefer as Mayor. Those who are not already aware will understand how preposterous it is for the Mayor to portray himself as a public safety advocate. Spending large amounts on streets? Developer after developer was able to get their streets widened and sidewalks built in areas where virtually no one lives in the range of $200 million while the streets in neighborhood after neighborhood have to wait as long as 20 more years to get their potholes filled. The misallocation of resources in the ’07 Bond promoted by the Mayor makes concerns about MAPS3 projects pale in comparison.
Notice how Roy Williams tries to turn a perceived weakness of the Mayor into a strength (“The fact that he is interested and wants to stay in that role, I think that bodes well for OKC”). The Mayor is tired. 13 straight years is a long time on the horseshoe. He spent enormous sums of money and almost every other week for two years during his last term getting a MBA in New York City (because OKC apparently does not have adequate MBA programs). Reports of the mayor actively searching for a mayoral replacement because he did not know if he would finish this last term led to uncertainty among some members of the city council. According to sources he had to be repeatedly lobbied by the Chamber to convince him to run. He offers no opinions much less solutions to the most controversial subjects in front of the council; in fact, he generally maintains complete silence. The Mayor was apparently looking for an exit strategy (one does not need an MBA from NYU to be Mayor of OKC although it might be useful for a board seat at Chesapeake), did not find one, was lobbied by those concerned that our campaign is going to be successful and is now running to stay on the horseshoe for years 14-17.
There are much better ways to lead the city and make decisions. There is much which needs to be done. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Downtown Farmer’s Market on August 15th from 6-8pm as I outline how we can make more inclusive, fiscally responsible decisions which will prepare our city for the 21st century.

Actually I think this is what real snark looks like Doug.

[Wambo36]

Betts, I'm more of the opinion that he is totally aware of the limitations on the mayoral power in OKC but is hoping that the electorate isn't.

You mean like the way Cornett used his position as Mayor to basically lie in multiple commercials during the last week of the M3 campaign? You remember, the ones that he came back to the council and asked them to make good on. They basically told him to see if his handlers at the Chamber would pony up the money to keep his promises made on their behalf. Are those the type of lies we're talking about?

[Midtowner]

Care to deal in specifics? Or are vague accusations going to remain your stock and trade?