ELECTIONS ROUNDUP Western Heights district voters OK bond issue
Voters in several Oklahoma municipalities and school districts decided on bond issues and selected officials Tuesday. Here are some highlights:
Moore elects new mayor, city council member
For the first time in 30 years, Moore has a new mayor.
Former city councilor Mark Hamm won Tuesday’s election for the open seat, unofficial vote totals show, which has been held by Glenn Lewis since 1994. He will officially take office in April. Hamm prevailed over local banker and longtime Parks and Recreation Board member Jeff Arvin.
“The city of Moore has a lot of challenges ahead. We have a good city manager. We have an experienced council, Hamm and I look forward to getting to work
with all of those people,” Hamm said Tuesday night. “I had the endorsement of our mayor, the endorsement of our fire department, and tonight I got the endorsement of the voters of Moore. And for that, I want to tell them, thank you very much.” Unofficial results for mayor’s race:
• Mark Hamm: 1,760 (57%)
• Jeff Arvin: 1,337 (43%)
Moore City Council:
A Ward 2 seat became vacant last year when Hamm resigned to announce his campaign for mayor. Rob Clark won that race Tuesday.
• Rob Clark: 598 (60%)
• Tommy J. Lawrence: 406 (40%)
The most recent candidate filing period saw several seats go unopposed, meaning that these candidates did not appear on Tuesday’s ballot.
Adam H. Webb and Kathy Griffith were both unopposed in their campaigns for the two Ward 1 seats.
In Ward 3, Louie Williams was the only candidate who filed for that office and was automatically elected.
– Staff writer Dale Denwalt
The first bond proposal from Western Heights Public Schools since 2017 narrowly passed on Tuesday, a step forward as the district tries to distance itself from a recent history of turmoil.
With all 11 precincts reporting, unofficial vote totals show the proposal passed by a vote of 76-44, a 63.3% approval rate. A second proposal dealing with transportation issues had a 77-43 margin, or 64.2%. Bond proposals require at least 60% approval to succeed.
The two proposals totaled $2.96 million. Western Heights Superintendent Brayden Savage expressed relief.
“We obviously would have liked to have a higher percentage, but we’re excited to show everyone what we can do,” Savage told The Oklahoman. “We just appreciate people coming out to vote and we’re excited it went our way.”
The bond proposal was designed to address simple needs, such as installing new security cameras and fencing across the district, securing entrances at district school sites and purchasing two school buses. The fencing would be installed at the district’s main campus, its high school, its middle school, Bridgestone Intermediate School and four elementary schools – Greenvale, John Glenn, Winds West and Council Grove.
The district serves 2,800 students in southwest Oklahoma City. It has a history of low voter turnout for bond elections – only 164 people voted in the 2017 bond election and just 120 on Tuesday.
– Staff writer Murray Evans
Edmond district voters approve proposal for new schools
Voters overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday an Edmond Public Schools bond proposal that will result in the construction of both a new elementary school and a new middle school.
The five-year, $147 million proposal passed with 79.6% of the vote, according to unofficial vote totals, while a separate ballot item related to district transportation needs received 79.9% of the vote out of a little more than 10,000 ballots cast. Bond proposals require 60% approval from voters to pass.
District Superintendent Angela Grunewald has said the bond won’t raise tax rates for homeowners. The district plans its bond issues to keep the millage level stable, between 24 and 25 mills.
Construction and renovations were the focus of the Edmond bond proposal. The planned $26 million elementary school will help relieve congestion at Redbud and Chisholm Elementary Schools and the new $30 million middle school will provide an outlet for overcrowding at Central Middle School. Both new schools eventually will feed into Memorial High School.
The two buildings will be located at the intersection of Covell Road and Air Depot Boulevard, on land the district purchased in 2013 for $3 million.
Also included in the bond proposal are a new Freshman Academy at Santa Fe High School, classroom additions at Boulevard Academy (the district’s alternative school) and Scissortail Elementary School, and renovations at five other elementary sites.
The two-story Freshman Academy at Santa Fe will cost $18 million and will help alleviate the immediate need for a fourth high school in the district. Memorial and North, the district’s other two high schools, already each have a Freshman Academy.
Unofficial results:
Yes: 7,986 (79%)
No: 2,043 (21%)
– Staff writer Murray Evans
Republican captures seat vacated by Martinez
Republican Erick Harris overcame two other opponents Tuesday to win the House District 39 contest in Edmond, unofficial election reports show. Harris’ win keeps the House of Representatives’ Republican Caucus at 81. Democrats currently have 20 seats.
Harris captured 2,507 votes – 50.3% – while Regan Raff, the Democrat, earned 2,246, or 45.13%. Libertarian Richard Prawdzienski came in a distant third at 224 votes, or just 4.5%. Each of the candidates made education issue a central component of their campaign.
The three were fighting to replace Rep. Ryan Martinez, who resigned in September. Martinez left office after he pleaded guilty to being in physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated, a felony. The winner of the contest will have to run again for a full term in November, should they seek reelection. Unofficial results:
h Erick Harris, Republican: 2,507 (50.3%)
h Regan Raff, Democrat: 2,246 (45.13%)
h Richard Prawdzienski, Libertarian: 224 votes (4.5%)
– Staff writer M. Scott Carter