NORMAN — The small business climate in the city was a hot topic at a Norman City Council candidate forum hosted earlier in the week by the local League of Women Voters chapter.
Candidates will answer questions again Thursday at a forum hosted by the Norman Chamber of Commerce. The two-hour forum will be at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 201 W. Gray St.
Brande Kauffman, running in Ward 7 against Stephen Tyler Holman and Linda Lockett, said she was concerned about her family’s future in Norman because of the “asinine” way the city’s government operates.
“I’m very concerned that the city is not very customer friendly,” Kauffman said. “We’re losing out to Moore, to Blanchard ... to south Oklahoma City.”
Dave Spaulding, running against Howard Saxion in Ward 5, also was concerned about the conditions for small business. The owner of a small contracting company and a father of three, he said improving the business climate in Norman has become his platform.
“That’s the reason why I’m running for office, because of family,” Spaulding said. “I’m primarily interested in making Norman a better place for small business.”
Lockett, a longtime Norman businesswoman, said her family has been a part of the local business scene for decades. They formerly owned and operated the Lockett Hotel in downtown Norman.
“I’m running, again, like the others, for small business,” she said. “I know a lot of the problems (businesses) coming to Norman (will be faced with), and I know those problems businesses in Norman have. I’m pretty knowledgeable about how that all works.”
None of the candidates came out in defense of the small business climate in Norman or said anything to contradict comments made by Kauffman, Spaulding or Lockett.
For or against collective bargaining?
Chris Lewis, running in Ward 1 against Roger Gallagher, said he was for collective bargaining, but added that it must be done properly to work.
“Like each of you, I want the best fire and police,” Lewis said. “Collective bargaining came to the table for a reason, but we will get to that bargaining through balance.”
Gallagher, who said he felt like the city has gone too far in its recent negotiations with the firefighters’ union, also was for collective bargaining.
“Collective bargaining gives both sides a chance to equally espouse their positions,” he said. “It’s important. It’s an American tradition, and it gives both sides a chance.”
Saxion noted the “toxic environment” the latest round of contract negotiations have created within the city’s ranks, adding that he feels like non-union workers (who were made to take furlough days when police, fire and non-uniformed workers — who are unionized — did not) have “been unfairly treated” by city management.
“There’s no trust,” Saxion said.
Holman said he supports city workers, both unionized and non-unionized, but didn’t mention whether he’s for or against collective bargaining.
Spaulding spoke plainly about why he supports the bargaining process as it stands now.
“How important are the police, the firefighters ... the guys cleaning up the roads?” he said. “I think an officer needs to know they have our support when they’re out there in the trenches.”
Lockett also believed that collective bargaining can work, if done properly.
“It’s something we need to look at,” she said. “There are limits to how much we can pay ... and to negotiate anything, you have to have honesty and transparency on both sides.”
Kauffman, an attorney, also was for collective bargaining.
University North Park TIF
Kauffman said the University North Park Tax Increment Finance district is fine but, right now, the developer is reaping all the benefits. She also said she was displeased with the job quality in the area.
“There are very few jobs that pay over $20,000 (a year) out there,” Kauffman said.
Like Kauffman, Lockett wasn’t against the TIF, but wasn’t thrilled with it, either.
“I thought the timing wasn’t right,” she said. “I think most of the people who voted for it didn’t understand the implications of what they were doing.”
Lewis, who was quick to distance himself from the TIF, said that it’s working, despite being unpopular with some local residents.
“Am I a proponent of the TIF? No, but it is working,” Lewis said. “Nothing would be out there, including the Embassy Suites, if not for the TIF.”
Saxion said he was concerned the TIF would “cannibalize” existing businesses. He’s concerned about the heavy retail presence in the area.
“I’m all in favor of more retail, but I’d like to see more Class A office space,” he said, “because we don’t have any (in Norman).”
Gallagher openly spoke out against the TIF, taking particular exception with the developers’ slow work on certain projects outlined in the original 2006 agreement.
“I’m not in favor of the TIF anymore,” he said. “We need to pull out. He (the developer) signed the agreement. We should litigate, we should get 100 percent of the sales tax.”
Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com
