Ed Shadid running for Mayor 2014!

[progressiveboy]

Looks like the mayoral race has another candidate! This should really be interesting!












Councilman Ed Shadid plans 2014 race for Oklahoma City mayor | News OK

[Urban Pioneer]

Good luck...

[betts]

I will only vote for a mayor who strongly supports existing MAPS projects and is open to the prospect of a MAPS IV.

[adaniel]

He will be destroyed. Once it gets out that he feels MAPS money can be spent wherever with no regard for the voter's decision, he won't have a chance.

Should Cornett run, this may be the only time in my life I will actively campaign for a Republican.

[Tier2City]

I will only vote for a mayor who strongly supports existing MAPS projects and is open to the prospect of a MAPS IV.

Why? Doesn't he support MAPS or something?

[soonerguru]

He will be destroyed. Once it gets out that he feels MAPS money can be spent wherever with no regard for the voter's decision, he won't have a chance.

Should Cornett run, this may be the only time in my life I will actively campaign for a Republican.

At one time, Ed would have had my enthusiastic vote. But after turning against MAPS in general and the streetcar in particular, he will not have my support. I know many other folks who are in the same camp. Can't imagine someone who opposes MAPS, which is almost singularly responsible for OKC's turnaround, getting the votes of rational OKC citizens.

[soonerguru]

Why? Doesn't he support MAPS or something?

No, he does not, and he didn't even bother to vote in the MAPS elections.

[Hutch]

Based on the content of the news article, it looks like someone leaked an internal memo to the press. Not really the way to kick-off a mayoral campaign.

[zookeeper]

I wouldn't underestimate Ed Shadid.

[OKCisOK4me]

Will not be receiving my vote!

[zookeeper]

I'm surprised so many here have turned so quickly on the best friend the citizens in the neighborhoods, as opposed to the suites, have had in years. Maybe ever. I would hope people here would give Shadid a fair hearing, like he does for us. When was the last time Mick Cornett held a townhall meeting on multiple issues to get your feedback? He's too busy going on TV and working for the insiders that want to control OKC. Ed Shadid wants to move this city forward as much as all of us here on this board, he just wants to do it the right way and not by being irresponsible. Some here want the sizzle without having to worry about how the steak gets grilled.

[OKCisOK4me]

He posted the story about the new CC & hotel on his Facebook page and I said on it that he 'just wants the land for bus storage', which he liked. I wasn't joking because he's anti-streetcar, which is the reason I voted for MAPS3. Not a fan of Ed anymore...

[bchris02]

I am sure Mr. Shadid wants what he thinks is best for this city, its just his focus sounds like its the suburbs rather than downtown. I can definitely understand that viewpoint. OKC has many suburban areas that are deteriorating and feel neglected. However, there is so much momentum downtown and in the inner-core why not stay the current course? It also seems he is against city-funding towards any recreational amenities. He wanted to eliminate the Zoo funding a while back.

What he needs to understand its these amenities that make OKC an attractive place to live and work and without them this city could easily fall back to what it was 15-20 years ago. We need a mayor that wants to take this city forward, not backwards. I hope Cornett runs again.

[OKCisOK4me]

A flower blooms from the inside...

[dwellsokc]

Tulsa, here we come...

OKC's transformation from dead-city to thriving-city occurred largely due to the Council’s political ubiquity. Dr. Shadid is an intelligent and adroit man, but the contention he fosters will surely stunt the transformation.

Electing a Mayor Shadid would signal the beginning of the end of OKC’s golden era.

[catch22]

Won't get my vote. Hope Cornett runs again.

[Decious]

Interesting. I'll give him a fair shake... but he'll have to prove to me that his "dissension stance" has been genuine and not just an attempt to do something that is inherently difficult... as in taking over the captaincy of a ship that has recently been steered away from an iceberg... under the direction of said ship's present captain. Exaggeration? Yes... but the general NATIONAL opinion is that things are going well. Not exactly time for a change.

I don't know. I really want to like Ed. Unfortunately, he seems to feel that he is smarter than his peers on the council in every way(he very well may be)... and has allowed that to feed his opinion of his own opinion. I'm cool with that. Hubris is useful, but he seems to have maybe allowed that to extend too far and it seems to color his listening skills and "mind changing ability" at too broad a radius. He talks too much... too confidently... too finitely... too often... too fast. Once a grown man voices his opinion publicly it's very hard for that same man to change his mind publicly... especially when the change would have been brought about by the voice of another man/woman.

We will see. I generally love my Batman being a vigilante. Bruce Wayne being my mayor? Meh... not so much. I completely dig intelligent leadership... but not leadership that insists upon itself. We'll see. I'll hear him out. IF he'll let me inside of his echo chamber to listen. (i kid)... he'll let me in. Lol! Every politician has to balance doing what THEY want to do against executing the will of those who elected them. How he continues to handle the streetcar issue will speak to whether or not he understands the nuance that being an elected leader demands. It's not the same as steering a private company. (To exhaust the previous metaphor) If he does assume captaincy of said ship... I want to know that if the consensus says/already said let's go dock in Streetcarville... I don't want him saying, "No, no, no... you all don't know what you want. Let's just drop anchor here and spiffy up the ship. We'll go to Streetcarville later on". Him being right or wrong would not be relevant in that case. Batman should think long and hard about running for mayor. The Office of the Mayor has rules. I want my mayor solely focused on fighting to take OKC forward. Not fighting to take OKC forward AND fighting the constraints of the mayorship. Just my current opinion. I'll allow him an undefended chance to augment my opinion. I expect him to behave the same way in his public service positions.

[Bellaboo]

Ed said he'll spend up to 1.5 million of his own money on his campaign. I read this in todays DOK.

Is it worth 1.5 mil to be the mayor ? What is the motive here ?

Nope, the questioning of the dedicated, voted for by the people zoo tax did him in with me.

[Tier2City]

Ed said he'll spend up to 1.5 million of his own money on his campaign. I read this in todays DOK.

Is it worth 1.5 mil to be the mayor ? What is the motive here ?

Nope, the questioning of the dedicated, voted for by the people zoo tax did him in with me.

What exactly was the deal with Shadid and the zoo? How did that end up?

[HangryHippo]

Will not be receiving my vote!

Nor mine!

[Bellaboo]

What exactly was the deal with Shadid and the zoo? How did that end up?

That zoo tax (1/8 cent dedicated) was voted in for exclusive zoo upgrades and maintenance back in the '80's. Never to expire -

He wanted to 'look' at doing away with or moving it to different receipients, IIRC. You can probably research for more details.

[Pete]

Ed just posted this on Facebook:

Yesterday afternoon while seeing patients I received a call from the Oklahoman newspaper indicating they had acquired a memo to consulting firms that morning and that they were going to publish the details on the internet in a couple of hours. It is no secret that I have been approached and have explored the possibility of trying to unite the people of OKC across the spectrum, rescue the MAPS program from a fatally flawed process, introduce honesty, transparency and public collaboration on an unprecedented scale, and add value to the city. Hundreds of people have indicated a desire to help on such a campaign. Such due diligence is not the same as filing and there are many moving parts not the least of which is substantial financial sacrifice and no declared candidates including the current mayor. If such an effort were to occur the contract between the people of OKC and myself would be unbreakable and sacred to me; the full narrative of that vision deserves additional reflection.

[BoulderSooner]

Ed just posted this on Facebook:

"rescue the MAPS program from a fatally flawed process" that is enough for me right there .... fatally flawed means dead ...


can/could/should the Maps process be improved? sure things can always be improved but to take it that far ..... no he will note get my vote and i will actively help anyone that runs against him

[Decious]

Ed just posted this on Facebook:

That's a good start. The question isn't about his honesty or ability. I believe him to be both able and truthful. The issue is concerning where his utility has the greatest impact for progress. A simple question can be asked. If he were mayor would the entire council unite against him? If the answer is yes what does that mean for OKC? He answers his own questions. Admirable. Will he always answer his own questions as mayor? Some long and winding roads lead to small houses. I just hope that him believing himself to be a "better" choice doesn't cause him to feel indemnified in fulfilling his calling by any means necessary. 1.5 million bucks can buy a load of divisive and negative ads in a local campaign. What would that mean for OKC?

For the record. I'm politically independent. I'm affiliated with no political entity. I'm a musician. I just wanna see OKC improve. I like Ed. I just want him to correctly identify his most effective station. He shouldn't travel a path just because he's smart enough to see it.

Gino Guest

[LuccaBrasi]

"rescue the MAPS program from a fatally flawed process" that is enough for me right there .... fatally flawed means dead ...


can/could/should the Maps process be improved? sure things can always be improved but to take it that far ..... no he will note get my vote and i will actively help anyone that runs against him

I concur.

Although I don't doubt he has good intentions, his election would be a disaster for OKC's momentum.