Stephanie Adams, Russell Rice and Jacy Deck will face off for the Ward 2 Norman City Council seat in the municipal election Feb. 10.
Incumbent Ward 2 Councilmember Matthew Peacock announced in December he wouldn’t be seeking reelection after six years on council due to family and time constraints.
Early voting opens Thursday and Friday. To win the Feb. 10 election, a candidate must receive over 50% of the total vote. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held April 7. Oklahoma residents can visit the OK Voter Portal to find sample ballots and their designated polling location.
Stephanie Adams
Adams, a Norman High School graduate, told the Daily she has a background in animal welfare, municipal sheltering and zookeeping. Adams moved to Houston in 2011 due to her husband's job and returned to Norman in 2016 to finish her degree at OU. In April 2017, Adams’ husband died, but she chose to remain in Norman to raise her two boys.
Ward 2 candidate Stephanie Adams on Jan. 20.
Adams said she had always considered running for city council, but waited to take time to raise her children.
“You get to a point where if you’re waiting for the perfect time, then you’re just going to aim, aim, aim, aim and never fire, …” Adams said. “I was ready to give back. … I want to serve with humility and with an open mind.”
In a Facebook post, Adams described community, compassion and common sense as pillars that guide her to work toward “practical, people-focused solutions to housing, infrastructure, and responsible growth in Norman.”
Russell Rice
Rice, a veteran and co-founder of Care-A-Vans and Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development, is a longtime Norman resident. Rice volunteers at the Red Dirt Collective and is a member of the Norman’s Public Safety Sales Tax Committee, according to his website.
Rice previously ran for the Ward 2 seat in 2024 but lost to Matthew Peacock.
As board chair of ORED, Rice and his team gathered 11,602 signatures to bring the Rock Creek Entertainment District TIF to a public vote. Rice stepped down from his role as chair earlier this month.
Ward 2 candidate Russell Rice during Norman City Council meeting on Jan. 27.
“I do not feel comfortable being the board chair of an organization that is currently trying to get ordinances changed while at the same time running for office,” Rice wrote in a Facebook post.
In the League of Women Voters of Norman forum in January, Rice said his campaign was built on action over words.
“If you knew who I was before I walked in this room today that means you’ve seen me work before,” Rice said. “I've organized and I've served and I’ve fought for Norman from the outside, now I want to try it from (council).”
Jacy Deck
According to Deck’s website, the OU alum has over 20 years of experience in finance, insurance, budgeting and benefit coordination and is currently a project manager at OU’s Advanced Radar Research Center. Deck has also served as treasurer of the Norman Cultural Connection and has volunteered with Norman Music Festival and The Share Center at Food and Shelter.
Ward 2 candidate Jacy Deck during the League of Women Voters forum on Jan. 21.
During the League of Women Voters forum, Deck said her experience in finance, insurance and budgeting gives her a unique skill set to bring to council.
In an email sent to the Daily Friday, Deck wrote she chose to run for council to provide consistent leadership that shares voters’ values.
Deck wrote she is endorsed by Democratic state Reps. Jacob Rosecrants, Annie Menz and Jared Deck.
Candidates responded to topics important to Norman residents including the proposed homeless shelter, entertainment district, the city’s economy and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Homeless shelter
In January, council approved an $8 million bond to construct a new homeless shelter along Reed Avenue. The bond will be on the April ballot.
Adams told the Daily she is excited about the prospect of the homeless shelter.
“The fact is, everyone recognizes that there needs to be a solution, …” Adams said. “That resource is going to be there, and I think it’s going to impact and it's going to cascade down through everyone who’s experiencing (homelessness) throughout the city.”
Adams said she supports the potential shelter’s location due to the nearby resources.
“Food and Shelter is right next door, and then mental health services are nearby, so it's an area that’s historically been a space of services,” Adams said.
Rice voiced his support for the potential homeless shelter and its proposed location during the League of Women Voters forum.
When asked why he wanted to run for council, Rice cited a time when homeless shelters were closed.
“There was a point in time where the shelter was closed and the team over at Norman Care-A-Vans … we had to take people off Food and Shelter’s property by a certain time. We didn't have anywhere to take them when they shut that shelter down,” Rice said. “It’s the worst feeling in the world having to let somebody that you know off in a field to sleep for the night.”
Rice emphasized how important aiding Norman’s homeless population is to him.
“I will not rest until our homeless friends are sleeping and they’re in a bed at the shelter,” Rice said.
Deck wrote she supports building a permanent homeless shelter.
“I’ve listened to many opinions … and have found the best path starts with getting our unhoused population inside and out of the elements,” Deck wrote.
Deck believes partnering with a local nonprofit to provide mental health care programs to the homeless population would help individuals transition from shelters to employment and permanent housing.
Rock Creek Entertainment District
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday the gist included in the petition to turn the entertainment district to a public vote is insufficient. According to an update on the city of Norman’s website, the project will move forward as originally planned.
Adams, who spoke with the Daily before Tuesday’s ruling, said she agrees with the petition to turn the Rock Creek Entertainment District to a public vote and believes in tax increment financing, or TIF, reform.
“The short, easy answer is, I’m for a vote of the people for the entertainment district,” Adams said.
Rice worked with Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development to gather over 11,500 signatures with the goal of taking the Rock Creek Entertainment District to a public vote.
In a Tuesday press release, Rice wrote that the Supreme Court’s ruling was a profound disappointment for more than 10,600 Norman residents who supported the petition.
“This ruling does not mean the TIF is a good idea. It only means that the people’s right to a direct vote was blocked by a legal gatekeeper. The court has validated a system where the intent of the people can be nullified over phrasing, even when the substance of their demand is crystal clear,” Rice wrote. “But the fight is not over; it simply moves from the courtroom to the council chamber and the ballot box.”
Rice wrote that, if elected, he will continue to advocate against the TIF district and hold the project to expectations of accountability and transparency.
Deck believes TIFs must reflect the will of the taxpayers, according to her website.
“(I) will ensure accountability by listening to Ward 2 residents and thoughtfully balancing the costs and benefits of every proposal,” Deck wrote.
In the League of Women Voters forum, Deck said she wanted to learn more about TIFs.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to learn more about TIFs in general,” Deck said. “Especially the TIFs that already exist in different parts of Norman.”
More information on the entertainment district, including a timeline of events, can be found on the OU Daily website.
Economy
Adams said she would love to see more development on the Lindsey Street corridor.
“(Lindsey Street) should be full of college kids. … It was this vibrant, just historic area of Norman, and it's a little depressed right now, …” Adams said. “I would like to advocate for the city to step in and help with development there.”
Adams believes Ward 2’s location is important to capturing passing business.
“Ward 2 is the gateway to core Norman. All the major thoroughfares go through Ward 2,” Adams said.
Adams said she wants to preserve what she called the “Normantown” essence while maintaining city growth.
“I think what we’re in the precipice of being able to do is being a city that has our districts,” Adams said. “We have our commerce districts, we have our downtown, and we have our campus corner, we have our arts district.”
Rice told the Daily one of his long term goals was to increase tax revenue, not by increasing the rate but by drawing people in to spend money.
“We’re missing a lot of opportunity with these cars that drive down Lindsey Street and Main Street on game day or any other event day,” Rice said. “We need them to stop and buy souvenirs out here or grab a meal.”
According to Rice’s website, his goal is to revitalize these areas and to “create community events to bring various areas back to life which will support existing business owners in the area.”
Deck believes Ward 2 businesses deserve infrastructure improvements.
“Despite being a corridor to the university, Lindsey Street has experienced numerous commercial vacancies due to a systemic push for opportunity in other areas of town,” Deck wrote. “As a result, many locally-owned businesses can feel left behind. As a former business owner, I know that struggle and will listen to their needs.”
Regarding the city budget, Deck wrote that due to her experience, she would be ready to address the city budget on day one and is already reviewing past budgets.
Deck wrote her experience as an insurance agent would be important in maintaining Norman's Class 1 fire rating with the Insurance Services Office, or ISO.
According to the city of Norman website, ISO scores are determined by how well a fire department can protect their community. Some insurance companies use ISO scores to help set property insurance rates. Essentially a higher score gives lower insurance prices. The Class 1 rating is the highest rating.
“One of the issues I hear about on doors is the cost of living, particularly rising insurance premiums, …” Deck said. “I understand that maintaining Norman's ISO Class 1 fire rating is imperative to keeping insurance and rental costs from rising even higher.”
ICE
At the League of Women Voters forum, candidates were asked what they would do if the city were asked to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Adams said she supports the police but not ICE.
“So while I trust our leadership and I trust their judgment, I am not supportive of ICE coming in with the procedures, denying people of their civil rights (and) due process,” Adams said. “I would support supporting our police in a way that keeps them safe, but protecting our citizens and their constitutional rights.”
Rice said: “No. Just no. We're not immigration.”
Deck said she would not support ICE.
Communication
Adams said that communication is one of her strong suits when asked how she will communicate with her constituents.
“If I were elected, having events like meet and greets and coffees and different little events that are going to draw attention to the different areas of Norman,” Adams said.
Rice told the Daily he is available and can be reached through multiple organizations.
“You can reach me multiple ways, through multiple organizations. You can literally ask any homeless person, they can help you get a hold of me,” Rice said.
According to Rice’s website, his goals for council include listening and coordinating with marginalized populations in Norman.
“When working with the community, ensuring we work with all age groups, including students, young students, is important,” Rice wrote.
Deck wrote that her plan if elected is to set up an email list for interested constituents and host in-person listening sessions.
Deck added she has a contact form on her website where she can receive messages from her constituents.
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Madisson Cameron and Audrey McClour. Mary Ann Livingood and Tori Pham copy edited this story.
