Will MAPS 3 Be Overturned?
Only five council votes are needed to change how all or part of the $777 million MAPS 3 money is to be spent.
Doug Loudenback has taken a couple of audio clips provided by Gwin Faulkner-Lippert and trimmed the interviews down to parts pertaining to MAPS 3. Notice neither candidate commits to following the intent of the resolution passed by the council leading up to the MAPS 3 ballot (which is their right).
I would be curious to see whether only 54 percent of Ward 8 voters cast a yes vote on the MAPS 3 ballot. Typically this ward has had a higher amount of support for such ballots.
MAPS 3 Concerns
Doug Loudenback is one of the city’s leading bloggers. Not only has he closely followed the MAPS campaign and implementation, but he was also active in the study sessions on the downtown streetcar system. And as I post this link, I must fully disclose I am caught in between two people I respect, admire, and with whom I share a great passion for this city’s history. The three of us have dined together, shared laughs and a few rants.
To read all of Doug’s post, go here. The video above clearly consumed much of Doug’s time and effort, and he obviously feels very strongly that things are threatening to go off track.
All I will say on this matter is don’t be surprised if there are more issues ahead. We know that one council seat, Ward 2, will be filled with a new face who may or may not decide to abide by his predecessor’s promises (the MAPS 3 resolution, unlike previous MAPS initiatives, is non-binding). We also know that two other seats held by incumbents Meg Salyer and Pat Ryan are being challenged by individuals who may have different views on several of the MAPS 3 items.
At the end of the day it’s important to note that regardless of his likability, his promises on the campaign trail, etc., Mick Cornett may discover himself in an uncomfortable position held much more often by his predecessors Kirk Humphreys and Ron Norick: he is one of nine votes.
It’s not as if this should have been a surprise to anybody. Let the butchering of the steer begin.
Zach Nash Haunts City Hall and Takes Cool Photos
Devon Tower – Snow Day
Looking at the NewsOK Skyline cam, it appears as if some folks who were working on the Devon tower may have the day off.
Must Read
This is, in my opinion, the most important story in today’s paper: State Tea Party Activists Focus on Oklahoma City Government
Excerpt: Van Manen and Hearron admit they talk often and have a lot in common but stop short of saying they should be viewed as running together. Both men are members of Windsor Hills Baptist Church. Van Manen is music director at the church, where Sooner Tea Party meetings have been scheduled.
I would also urge you to read this story in the Journal Record as well: Ward 2 Seat Draws 6 Candidates
Excerpt: The Sooner Tea Party’s Internet site, for example, in the group’s January newsletter says, “We have two Tea Party candidates for OKC City Council, Cliff Hearron for Ward 8 and Adrian Van Manen for Ward 6. … These races are very low turnout; literally a couple thousand voters will choose who gets the seat, so we stand an excellent chance of winning these two seats if we put money and effort into the races. No doubt other conservative candidates will be found before the filing deadline, so the Tea Party could simply take control of OKC city government if we can rally the Tea Party members.”
Final note: why is this of interest to readers of OKC Central? These reports also indicate the only incumbent councilman supported by the local Tea Party organization is Brian Walters, who opposed MAPS 3 and the 2007 bond issue.
Both elections included significant re-investment in the inner-city.
