Edmond elections: Your guide to 2023 races for city council, mayor
EDMOND — Data from the Edmond Economic Development Authority shows just how much this community is growing.
In just 12 years, Edmond's population has soared from 81,785 to 96,391 as its number of households climbed from 31,610 to 37,123. Over that same period, numerous businesses have come to town, especially along the Interstate 35 corridor, and vehicles have followed.
Sam Kearney, an Edmond resident who addressed council members in late February, discussed how residents' decision in 2021 to support a dedicated tax to expand Hafer Park, keeping future homes, businesses, traffic and crime out of an already congested area, was "democracy in action."
Kearney said he has seen media predictions Edmond will grow by another 40,000 the next 30 years.
More: Where traffic is the worst, and other facts about business and life in Edmond, Oklahoma
"Do we want that? Let's put that to a vote of the people. We want quality of life. Not quantity of growth."
Kearney's concerns probably aren't unique.
Headaches caused by current traffic congestion and debates about future development seem to be on everyone's minds as April 4 elections for mayor and two seats on the city council approach.
Here are brief introductions of the candidates, what concerns they say voters have shared and their priorities they intend to pursue, if elected.
Who are the candidates to be Edmond's mayor?
Voters select a mayor in Edmond once every two years. This year, current mayor seeks to be reelected to a second term and faces one opponent.
Mayor Darrell Davis
Age: 64
Occupation: Retired after a 35-year-career at Tinker Air Force Base that ended with him serving as the base's installation contracting division chief.
Edmond resident since: 1987
Municipal experience: Mayor since 2021, city councilman since 2011 (initially appointed to fill a vacancy, then re-elected without opposition two additional terms), chairman of Edmond's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 12 years after serving on the board for three years as a member.
What he is talking about with voters: Edmond's traffic issues and questions about how Edmond is addressing those problems and future development. Davis tells them Edmond's spent millions of dollars to improve traffic flows through numerous intersections across town (E Second and Bryant, 33rd and Broadway and Covell's intersections with Broadway and Kelly, among others). He said more intersection upgrades are planned and that Oklahoma's Department of Transportation soon will begin repaving Second Street between the interstate and Broadway and Broadway between Second Street and Comfort Drive on the community's south edge. ODOT also has made longer-term plans to rebuild those roads and to improve Interstate 35 as it passes through the community, something he contends will help Edmond attract additional businesses and residents.
His pitch: Davis believes Edmond continues to grow because of a high quality of life supported by three pillars: city government, the community's school systems and supporting organizations like the Metropolitan Library System and the YMCA. "The task now is, how do we handle it? The challenge we face today is how to strengthen each of those pillars so they can support all of this growth." As for traffic issues, Davis said he views it as a positive. "Why are roads congested? Because people want to live here."
More: These heavily used Edmond roads also serving as highways about to get needed attention from state
Brian Shellem
Age: 49
Occupation: founder, owner and operator of Advanced Automotive Equipment, a company that distributes specialty equipment used to repair vehicles to businesses across the nation.
Edmond resident since: 2002
Municipal experience: None.
What he is talking about with voters: Traffic headaches and development issues, especially those outlined by the East Edmond 2050 Plan, which Edmond developed and published last year after getting help from a consultant and city residents who participated in surveys or took part in related workshops. Shellem says he has lived in other quickly-growing communities and knows from those experiences and through visits with both city officials and consultants some easy fixes could be made to Edmond's network of traffic signals to improve traffic flows. "It's not because we can't make immediate changes. We can."
His pitch: Edmond should accelerate business growth along I-35 by shunning potential dense residential developments there and by exerting more pressure on ODOT to speed up its interstate improvement plans. "We have to have a greater vision than where we are at today. Leaders don't lead to lead. Leaders lead to serve," Shellem said.
Who are the candidates for Edmond City Council?
Voters select a Ward One councilman every four years. This year, Councilman David Chapman chose not to seek re-election. Two candidates are seeking the seat.
Ashley Nicole Bradley
Age: 38
Occupation: oil and gas senior engineering technician
Edmond resident since: 2015
Municipal experience: None, though she says she did help put a city question before voters that secured additional land for Hafer Park. "That was one of the most amazing groups I have ever been part of, coming together for the single goal of helping the community expand its green space," Bradley said.
What she is talking about with voters: Traffic and development issues.
Her pitch: Bradley believes Edmond could do a better job of informing its residents about steps it is taking to improve traffic flows and about what future development might look like along the I-35 corridor. "We know that we have growth coming, but people remain concerned about what that growth will look like," Bradley said. "One of the biggest things I would like to do is improve the city council's transparency through the use of improved technologies. I want to help people see things are being carefully considered."
Tom Robins
Age: 42
Occupation: Founder and owner of Solid Foundation Consulting, which, among other things, created a national work zone safety educational program for teen drivers and created the Oklahoma Legislative Fellowship program to network college-aged Oklahomans with current and past Oklahoma leaders to help them learn more about the state's issues, aiming to keep them home after they leave school.
Edmond resident since: 2011
Municipal experience: None.
What he is talking about with voters: Traffic headaches, how the city is responding to those concerns and maintaining Edmond's high living standards evidenced through public programs like VIBES, Heard on Hurd and and the Cycle 66 Tour and Festival. "That's why we came here, that's why we stay and that's why I am in the race."
His pitch: Edmond needs to proactively plan for its future growth. "Voters should have the opportunity to support a long-term transportation plan that can modernize our streets and signal systems," Robins said. Also, the candidate wants Edmond to work closely with school officials to ensure Edmond's quality of life remains excellent. "The city council is a perfect way to work with the community's residents because so many of its decisions end up shaping the city and impacting its families."
Voters select a Ward Two councilman every four years. This year, Councilman Josh Moore chose not to seek re-election. Two candidates seek the seat.
Barry Moore
Age: 61
Occupation: Telecommunications consultant.
Edmond resident since: 1994
Municipal experience: Edmond Planning Commission member since 2005 and its chairman the past several years. Moore also serves on Edmond's Board of Adjustment and Board of Appeals.
What he is talking about with voters: Development issues and traffic. Moore believes elected leaders should be willing to listen to and work with developers and residents to reach solutions that are reasonable and responsible so projects can move forward to benefit the city. As for traffic, Moore said he recognizes the inconveniences and aggravations it causes, especially when major intersections undergo expensive renovations that can take more than a year to complete. "People have to be patient and make alternate routes, but life gets simpler once a project is done."
His pitch: Moore seeks to bring forward the experience he has gained through serving as a planning commissioner to move the city forward in all areas, including public safety and other city-provided services. "A reasonable, responsible and well-thought management of growth is not only something I view as important, I know the citizens do as well. I hear it all the time. With my experience and willingness to listen and bring people together, I can make a difference."
Judy Rau
Age: 51
Occupation: Retired civil servant.
Edmond resident since: 2011.
Municipal experience: None, though Rau said she worked for the city of Oklahoma City for more than 20 years, first as a 911 dispatcher and then as part of a staff keeping track of how public safety sales tax dollars were being spent to improve the community's police and fire departments.
What she is talking about with voters: Traffic and the development issues, especially involving the East Edmond 2050 plan. "Edmond needs to be more transparent about the plan because a lot of people don't know anything or are just now finding out about it," Rau said. As for the traffic issue, she said voters are telling her they don't understand why Edmond is building a new city hall and a new YMCA and library at a cost of about $88 million when they could be using that money to address traffic issues instead. "I don't question the need for a new city hall, but I do wonder if the timing is right," Rau said.
Her pitch: Rau promises to find an expert to get answers about ways Edmond can address its traffic congestion issues, plus pledges to be a voice for citizens who haven't felt like they have been getting heard by Edmond's elected leaders. "Whether it is for me to win or not, it is something God is leading me to do and He is putting me in this position for a reason. I can't sit here and gripe if I am not willing to jump in and do something about it."
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Edmond Oklahoma elections in 2023 will decide city council, mayor
