An OU graduate student is exercising his right to run for office.
Leslie Fife, 35, is a student, an assistant professor at Oklahoma City University and a family man. Now he is running for Norman City Council.
Fife is running for Ward 7, which includes OU. He said bringing the campus and city together is important.
"I want to be more involved in city government, especially with issues concerning the city and campus. They don't always get along," Fife said. "If I become a city councilman, I want to meet with OU leaders and develop a rapport between OU and the city."
With everything else going on in his life, Fife said that being a city councilman would be a juggling act, but shouldn't be a problem.
"If you wait until you have the time then you'll be too old," Fife said. "It's like waiting to have a child until you can afford it, by that time you are 70 years old. You just have to work hard, and I can handle that."
A Norman resident since 1967, Fife said he has lived here long enough to understand the qualities that make Norman a great place to live.
Fife said one issue the city needs to address is the water supply.
"The biggest city issues are the annual water problems during the summer and the on-going debate over trash pickup," he said. "We've been rationing water every summer that I can remember, and keep building houses. The city needs to take a hard look at how to get ahead."
Fife received his bachelors and masters degrees from OU and is currently working on his dissertation for a Ph.D. in computer science.
Molisa Derk, computer science department chairwoman at Oklahoma City University, has known Fife for three years. She said he has a great work ethic.
"He takes a pro-active approach to his job, and is always wanting to do more," she said.
"He is always coming to me with ideas on how to improve our department."
Fife said that citizen involvement is crucial if people want fair representation.
"The city would run better if more people know what is going on. If only a few people are involved, than only their needs are met," he said. "I'd like to see everyone getting involved."
The election for city council is March 16.
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