Norman group files recall petitions
Organization targets mayor, council members over police funding decisions
NORMAN—Unite Norman, the group that's trying remove Norman Mayor Breea Clark and four city council members filed recall petitions with the city clerk's office on Friday.
Clark and four of eight council members eligible for recall — Kate Bierman, Alsi on Petrone, Sereta Wilson and Stephen Holman—do not" represent the views of the people of Norman on important issues, including, but not limited to, support for law enforcement and public safety," the petitions state.
Unite Norman's purpose is to remove "divisive and radical" figures from local political office, according to its Facebook page. Volunteers are set to begin collecting signatures Saturday, said Russell Smith, a group co-founder.
"We really want a council that focuses on Norman, not the hot national news issue of the day," Smith said in a news release. "Unite Norman is about making certain our leadership puts Norman first instead of promoting personal ideologies and bringing Washington D. C. style politics to Norman."
Smith called the council's June 17 vote to cut $865,000 from the police department and redirect the money" the straw that broke the camel' s back." He said between 200 and 300 people have volunteered to collect signatures once the petitions are filed.
The petition to recall Clark would require 18,124 signatures, or 25% of registered voters in Norman, while petitions for Ward 1 representative Bierman, Ward 3 representative Petrone, Ward 5 representative Wilson and Ward 7 representative Holman would also require the signatures of 25% of t heir respective wards' registered voters. That would mean 1,899 signatures for Bierman; 2,566 signatures for Petrone; 2,574 signatures for Wilson; and 1,453 signatures f or Holman, according to figures provided by the city.
"It' s a really high bar and its a high bar for a reason ," Bi er man said of the recall attempt. "It is not supposed to be a politicized process but a method by which to address grievance against elected officials, so it should be a high bar. "
Clark did not immediately respond to a request for comment.