Four OKC council seats will be up for election in February. Who is running?

Jana Hayes, Oklahoman
·2 min read
The Oklahoma City Council meeting room at City Hall is pictured earlier this year.
The Oklahoma City Council meeting room at City Hall is pictured earlier this year.

Candidates filed this week to run for Oklahoma City's city council, with four ward seats heading for a Valentine's Day election.

City council seats for Wards 2, 5, 6 and 8 are up for grabs in February, with the incumbent running for reelection in all but Ward 5. Challengers to current city council members include both newcomers to city government and those who have experience serving on city boards and commissions. And a former mayoral candidate, attorney Frank Urbanic, filed to oppose Ward 8's Mark Stonecipher.

Ward 5 Councilman David Greenwell, the council's current longest-serving member, did not file for reelection.

"I Voted" stickers are shown on a table for voters after casting their ballots.
"I Voted" stickers are shown on a table for voters after casting their ballots.

The city council general election will take place Feb. 14, 2023. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the top two candidates will head to a runoff on April 4. Official council terms, which are four years long, will begin May 2.

City council seats are nonpartisan and councilmembers receive a $12,000 annual salary.

Who is running for Oklahoma City's Ward 2?

  • James Cooper, 40, incumbent, Ward 2 councilmember and Oklahoma City University professor.

  • Chris Cowden, 44, founder of real estate company Cowden Homes.

  • Alexander DeShazo, 22.

  • Weston Storey, 32, business owner.

Who is running for Oklahoma City's Ward 5?

  • Audra Beasley, 43, corporate and estate planning paralegal.

  • Matt Hinkle, 60, Tyler Media employee and Ward 5 planning commissioner.

  • Thuan Hieu Nguyen, 46, CEO of THN Insurance Solutions.

  • Jeff Owen, 56, nurse practitioner .

Who is running for Oklahoma City's Ward 6?

  • Marek Cornett, 38, founder of Alaine Digital marketing agency and Oklahoma City traffic commissioner.

  • JoBeth Hamon, 32, incumbent, Ward 6 councilmember and education coordinator for the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma.

Who is running for Oklahoma City's Ward 8?

  • Mark Stonecipher, 65, incumbent, Ward 8 councilmember and attorney with the Fellers Snider law firm.

  • Frank Urbanic, 42, attorney and former Oklahoma City mayoral candidate.

  • Amy Warne, 45, registered and licensed dietician.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Candidates file for OKC City Council elections planned for February