Norman residents can ask questions to candidates in a Mayoral Forum Monday at 6 p.m. in the Norman City Council Chambers at 210 W. Gray Street.
Another debate, slated for Jan. 30, is partially sponsored by The Transcript. See below for details.
The forum on Monday will held by the League of Women Voters and aims to educate and inform the public while providing a space to ask candidates questions ahead of the Feb. 11 election.
“It’s informational. That’s what the league is all about. We believe that every voter has a right to participate,” said Sandy Bahan from the voter service committee. “I want them to make informed choices, so that’s why we sponsor the forums,” she said.
The candidates for mayor stand as follows.
Larry Heikkila, current mayor of Norman, emphasizes both business growth and economic development in his approach to mayoral candidacy. Heikkila wants to promote growth via “bold policies” that support quality of life, he said in a statement.
Stephen Holman, city councilmember, has represented Ward 7 since 2013. The current longest serving member of city council, Holman is also a small business owner. His priorities include financial stability for the city and the protection of the environment, he said.
Riley Mulinix, a lawyer, works for Mulinix Ewert, a professional limited liability company. He wants to address public health by prioritizing clean water and strengthen public safety by helping to create positive relationships with the police, according to his website.
The forum will field questions from the audience written on cards for the candidates. Audience members can address specific candidates, but all will have the chance to answer their questions.
All three mayoral candidates have agreed to attend the forum, and each candidate will get one minute to respond to each question.
“What we do with our forums is provide an opportunity for people in the community to ask questions of the candidates, in a safe environment, if you will,” she said.
More forums are coming soon, with one for City Council on Jan. 27 and one for the school board to be announced.
The League of Women Voters was founded in 1920 alongside the women’s suffrage movement. Originally founded with the mission of expanding voting access, today the league advocates for voter participation and education.
In an era of social media sound bites and digital town halls, the League of Women Voters continues to champion in-person political dialogue, much as it has since its founding.
“It’s an effort to inform the community, to give them a chance to talk to the candidates about issues that matter to them, and to hear how they feel, or what their response would be to those kinds of situations,” Bahan said.
Another debate is slated for Jan. 30 and is sponsored by The Transcript, NonDoc, News 9, the OU Daily and OU’s Gaylord College, will happen at 5:45 p.m. in the first-floor auditorium of Gaylord Hall, located at 395 W. Lindsey St. at the University of Oklahoma. Attendance is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested for seating. Fill out the form at NonDoc.com.