Transcript Staff Writer

A variety of mostly business-oriented issues provided the fodder for the Norman Chamber of Commerce's "Get Out the Vote" council candidate forum Wednesday evening in council chambers at City Hall.

Seven out of the eight candidates fielded questions, with Ward 6 candidate Lou Mansfield out because of illness. In attendance were Ward 2 candidates Chebon Marshall, Tom Kovach and Michael McKee; Ward 4 candidates Chris Jingozian, Greg Jungman and incumbent Carol Price Dillingham; and Ward 6 candidate Jim Griffith.

Some of the issues presented dealt with proactive code enforcement and whether Norman is business-friendly.

Steve Corley moderated the panel, with questions posed from the audience and later from one candidate to their opponents.

It was the third forum where all candidates were invited and were posed the identical question -- if they were on council, would they have voted for the $54.7 million University North Park Tax Increment Financing District No. 2 and would they support such measures going to a vote of the people.

And the answers, once again, were the same. They were printed with coverage of the League of Women Voters candidate forum in the Feb. 12 edition of The Transcript.

Candidates were asked what the biggest concern is for Norman, other than water.

Public safety was tops on the list for Dillingham, who said she had been working with citizen groups on a proposed sales tax to help increase police and fire presence.

"We're trying to make sure we don't outgrow our ability to protect our citizens," Dillingham said.

Jingozian said public safety was his priority after water.

"I do think we could use some retooling," Jingozian said, about responses particularly in rural Norman. "We need some better response times. ... I'd also like to see more community policing."

Jungman said he would argue that developments are possibly the biggest issue other than water. He said Ward 4 encompasses Campus Corner, downtown and historic homes.

"You have to make sure these developers pay their own way and they honor the core area," Jungman said.

Ward 6 candidate Jim Griffith said the City doesn't have enough officers and hasn't for more than 20 years.

"I wholly support the new tax being proposed for that purpose," he said.

He also said preserving green wilderness spaces are a high priority for him.

Kovach said he had been working with a citizen group to bring the issue of increasing public safety staffing to a vote.

"We aren't just trying to throw money at the problem," Kovach said. "This is something we should all get behind."

Marshall agreed.

"The previous councils have let this go too far. ... We are way behind the curve," Marshall said. "The proposal is a good start, but that's all it is -- a good start. ... You fix the leaky roof first."

McKee said when he was an assistant city attorney working with the police that the City was shorthanded on its staff then.

He said appropriate staffing and public safety needs to be one of the City's goals.

Candidates were asked with sales tax providing 70 percent of the City's funding, what they believed the council's role should be in encouraging businesses.

"(Norman) is a hub for a number of surrounding counties ... I think that's adequate," McKee said. He characterized himself as frugal.

Marshall said the City always should be involved in luring business to Norman, especially with other cities and states willing to offer incentives.

"We have to be in the business of being a recruiter," he said. "We would fall behind.

Kovach said he believed the best lure for businesses is Norman's quality of life including an excellent school system and hopefully a new library.

Griffith said he believes it's important to encourage growth and support the efforts of the Norman Chamber.

"In the metropolitan area, there is competition for the businesses we want," he said. "We are all competing for the same tax dollars."

Jungman said there is a myth about new retail development and often it has a displacing effect for existing businesses.

"For the City to be in the business of using incentives to recruit ... is just wrong."

Jingozian said he would be cautious and recruit quality businesses.

"We should not subsidize one business over another," he said.

Dillingham said the role of the city is to "make sure we have the kind of community that people want to be a part of."

She said she would like to see the results of the North Porter and North Flood studies for potential business corridors.

"We are going to have to think very, very creatively," she said.

Ward 4 candidates agreed that proactive enforcement in certain targeted neighborhoods is a good idea. Officers patrol certain areas and write tickets for code violations without being prompted first by a citizen complaint.

"It does prevent neighbors from having to call on each other," Jingozian said.

Dillingham said proactive enforcement has been well received, and has cleaned up several properties with tall weeds and other nuisances.

"I think if other neighborhoods want it, they should get it," said Jungman.

The forum will be rebroadcast as possible on Cox Channel 20.

A candidate survey taken by the Chamber will be available on its Web site at www.NormanOK.org.

Carol Cole-Frowe

366-3538

ccole@normantranscript.com