Editor's note: OU Daily conducts a background check on all candidates in all elections. While examining a past record, the Daily will take into account any case details, timeframe of the incident and overall record while deciding what to include in election coverage. All Norman city elections are nonpartisan, and OU Daily will not note party affiliations unless a candidate self-declares as part of their campaign platform.
To secure a win in the Feb. 11 election, a candidate must receive over 50% of the total vote. Those elected will be sworn in on July 1 and serve a two-year term.
Teacher Kim Blodgett and disability advocate Amanda Chaffin will face off on Feb. 11 to replace Ward 7 Councilmember and mayoral candidate Stephen Tyler Holman.
City of Norman is divided into eight geographical areas called Wards. The voters in each ward elect a council member to represent them, and al…
Kimberly Blodgett views, platform
Blodgett is an elementary school teacher and mother of six, three of whom she adopted out of foster care. She advocates for affordable housing, mental health resources for people experiencing homelessness and education.
Housing and Homelessness
Blodgett wrote in an email to OU Daily she is passionate about affordable housing and providing resources for Norman's homeless population. She said she wants to create incentives to build more affordable housing and provide rental assistance vouchers for people struggling to afford housing.
“Incentives to build affordable housing. Rental assistance vouchers to decrease evictions, rental assistance programs, etc,” Blodgett wrote in a Facebook post. “All of which supports our small businesses by decreasing the number of unhoused friends we have.”
In a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Norman on Monday, Blodgett said there is not enough affordable housing to keep up with the homeless populationin Norman. She said the solution is in funding more services and increasing access to affordable mental health services.
“Because affordable housing in Norman cannot keep up, I mean there’s just not enough of it to keep up with the need to keep our unhoused friends off the street, …” Blodgett said. “Norman has had a shelter for as long as I can remember, what needs to happen, our services need to be increased, access to mental health (services), things like that.”
Education
Blodgett wrote that as an educator of 10 years, she wants to collaborate with the Norman Public Schools Board of Education to combat changes in the system, specifically at the state level.
Blodgett also wants to use her experience as an elementary school teacher to advocate for improvements in NPS.
“As a teacher for over a decade, I look forward to collaborating with the school board to help combat attacks from the state department of education/state superintendent of education,” Blodgett wrote in a Facebook post.
Accessibility
Blodgett wrote she is passionate about equal opportunity for all people, including making Norman more accessible. She wants to make the city “walkable, bikeable, and accessible for all abilities,” according to her campaign website.
She wrote that better accessibility for all people will help them feel like they have equal access to opportunity and success.
“My goal is to make our city a place where everyone feels like they belong, and like they have a voice,” Blodgett said. “A place where everyone feels supported and like they have access to opportunities and success.”
Blodgett said she is running for Ward 7 because she sees the position as a way to compassionately serve the Norman community. She said service is important to her and she will advocate for the needs of all Norman residents.
“I am running for city council because I want to bring more compassionate leadership to Norman,” Blodgett wrote. “As a teacher and a foster/adoptive parent, service has always been very important to me, and I see running for city council as a meaningful way to serve my community because it puts me in a position to advocate for the needs of my neighbors, or specific groups within the city.”
Amanda Chaffin views, platform
Chaffin is a mother and a patient advocacy consultant for Medable, a health care technology company. She supports small businesses, affordable housing and parks and recreation. Following the loss of her son, Chaffin wants to continue to be an advocate for children with special needs.
“I want to honor (my son’s) memory by continuing the fight for accessibility for disabled children and families in Norman,” Chaffin wrote in a Facebook post. “I have advocated at the state level and will continue to support families with children with disabilities.”
Chaffin did not respond to OU Daily’s request for an interview.
Supporting Small Businesses
Chaffin is passionate about supporting Norman’s small businesses as the backbone of the Norman community. She wrote in a post on Facebook that she wants to ensure small businesses have the resources they need to thrive.
“Small, family-owned businesses are the backbone and foundation of the economy,” Chaffin’s website reads.
Affordable Housing
Chaffin believes home ownership is important and she wants to support those who struggle to afford housing in Norman. She wants to support grant initiatives that give Norman residents the opportunity to access quality housing.
According to her website, Chaffin is passionate about creating opportunities for others and hopes her efforts can make housing more accessible for first-time home buyers.
“Amanda understands the importance of home ownership and is passionate about creating opportunities for others,” Chaffin’s website reads. “She aims to support initiatives for grants for first-time home buyers to access affordable, quality homes.”
Parks and Recreation
Chaffin is passionate about making Norman parks accessible and safe for all people. She believes Norman parks and city facilities need to be modified to be more accessible for people with disabilities.
“City Facilities and Parks need to be improved to become ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant,” Chaffin’s website reads.
The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990 to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. The act includes regulations and design standards developed by the Department of Justice to ensure cities and businesses are easily accessible for people with disabilities.
Chaffin wrote on Facebook she wants to promote transparency and accountability within local government and hopes to use her platform to advocate for all Norman residents.
“My campaign is built on the values of transparency, accountability, and service,” Chaffin wrote. “I promise to listen to the needs of residents, advocate for smart solutions to our toughest problems, and ensure that our city’s government is responsive, responsible with spending, and accessible.”
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Gretchen Schultz and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
