Both candidates said they think this election is about the future of Norman; however, Rosenthal and Ezzell have made some remarks about one another, making this election about hidden numbers and policies.
In her latest campaign literature, Rosenthal reported Ezzell has missed 51 out of 140 meetings. Ezzell said he is not sure where Rosenthal concluded this number because there have been 395 council meetings since he took the Ward 3 seat in 2007.
“The mayor’s primary criticism is my attendance,” Ezzell said. “It’s very frustrating that she is willing to distort the attendance record. My attendance record is 90 percent to her 93 percent.”
Ezzell said Rosenthal has criticized his refusal to take city e-mails on his personal computer. He responded that since he has confidential law clients, he cannot have his computer subject to the Open Records Acts. His city e-mails are taken through the city clerk’s office.
“Her numbers are highly self-serving, and I think Norman voters are smart enough to see through that,” Ezzell said. “In the real world we get judged on results.”
Campaign criticisms also have been circulating about Rosenthal. Ezzell said Rosenthal is trying to push through a pricey and unnecessary addition to Norman’s Storm Water Master Plan.
“My opponent is not living in the real world,” Rosenthal said. “He’s totaling up the biggest numbers they can find as a scare tactic. I am committed to thinking about the future, 15 to 20 years into the future.”
Rosenthal said one of her campaign cornerstones is accessibility, yet Ezzell said she has created a sense of faux-accessibility.
According to each mayoral candidate’s official campaign Web site, Ezzell’s personal cell phone number is listed. Rosenthal’s is not.
Sources: Mayor Cindy Rosenthal, www.mayorcindyrosenthal.org, Ward 3 Councilman Hal Ezzell, halfornorman.com
Click here to view Ezzell's candidate profile
Click here to view Rosenthal's candidate profile
Where to vote:
•Cross Main Building 1600 Jenkins, Norman 73072
•Norman Public Library 225 N. Webster, Norman 73069
•St. Thomas More University Parish 100 Stinson, Norman 73072
•Norman First Church of the Nazarene 1801 N. Porter, Norman 73069
•Administrative Services Center 131 S. Flood, Norman 73069
•St. John’s Episcopal Church 235 W. Duffy, Norman 73069
•Savannah Ridge Apartments 4701 W. Heritage Place, Norman 73072
•Calvary Chapel of Norman 1401 W. Boyd, Norman 73069
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johanns 2 years, 2 months ago
Mayor Rosenthal is easily the right choice to continue to lead this great city of ours.
dargus 2 years, 2 months ago
At the debate last Wednesday, Councilman Ezzell said the 395 number was a false statistic he used as an example of how statistics lie. I believe he claimed that was every meeting of every committee, even ones he wasn't a member of. He never explained how Mayor Rosenthal's numbers were flawed.
TheJR 2 years, 2 months ago
Mayor Rosenthal has been an amazing asset to the city thus far - hope to see her re-elected!
mythman 2 years, 2 months ago
I don't think I've seen nearly as much improvement to Norman as I've seen with Rosenthal in office.
ccr 2 years, 2 months ago
I second that - Cindy Rosenthal's accessibility and accountability are real. Anyone who has actually tried getting in touch with both of them knows that! Check out this great daily column from a few weeks ago: http://oudaily.com/news/2010/feb/10/c...
clgokc 2 years, 2 months ago
The number of blatantly false mailers I received from Hal Ezzell was appalling. I don't know if everyone was flooded with those, or certain neighborhoods were targeted (ie. Porter corridor area). Regardless, as someone who has been volunteering as a neighborhood rep to the city for many years, I can tell you that the Ezzell mailers were absolutely untrue. Hopefully the fear tactics so often used during national elections won't work on the local level. Oh yeh, and Ezzell can't say much about the Porter corridor project - he missed that council meeting.
clgokc 2 years, 2 months ago
I agree, mythman. Let's just hope everyone gets out and votes!