In Tuesday’s election, Normanites elected two new council members and a new mayor. Throughout the campaign season, residents, business owners and Norman leaders showed support for candidates through campaign donations.
OU Daily reviewed campaign reports from the latest city election cycle, documenting the candidates’ highest donors and contributions from political action committees, also known as PACs. These documents are available through the city of Norman.
Mayoral campaign reports, contributions
Mayor Larry Heikkila raised $10,700 from Jan. 1-25, bringing his total campaign contributions to $64,723.99. Heikkila transferred $2,952.27 from his prior campaign.
PACs: Heikkila received $1,500 from Oklahoma Gas and Electric’s PAC, headquartered in Oklahoma City.
Notable donations: During the Jan. 1-25 reporting period:
• $3,300: Scott Lambert, owner of NOUN Hotel
• $6,600: Erik Stein, operations director, and Stacy Stein, managing partner, of Mountain Peak Law Group
From the Oct. 1-Dec. 30 fundraising period:
• $5,000: Joe and Jen Bendetti, Logie’s on the Corner owners
• $3,000: Jalal Farzaneh, Home Creations co-owner
• $3,000: Mohammad Farzaneh, Home Creations co-owner
• $3,000: Vahid Farzaneh, partner in Home Creations
• $3,000: Hossein Farzaneh, attorney
• $3,000: Hajeh Farzaneh, retired
• $3,000: Ali Farzaneh, president of 1st Oklahoma Construction
• $3,300: Mitch Manning, owner of American Trenching
• $3,300: Denver Sexton and Judd Vanmeter, co-owners of First Water Contracting
• $1,000: Russel Bates, HeyDay CEO
After paying for campaign signage, postage and food for volunteers, Heikkila has $55,344.93 remaining in campaign funds.
In a statement to OU Daily, Jalal Farzaneh — who founded Home Creations with his brother Mohammad — wrote the family is appreciative of the democratic electoral process and encourages people to run for office from “both sides of the aisle” and in nonpartisan races.
“Every election cycle we meet with candidates who share their thoughts on how to grow our city, county, state and nation and contribute to their campaigns,” Jalal Farzaneh wrote. “In this election cycle we were approached by the campaign of Mayor Heikkila, Amanda Chaffin and Austin Ball and we donated to their campaigns.”
Jalal Farzaneh wrote the family respects the decision voters made on Tuesday and they look forward to supporting the new members of council in their roles.
Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman raised $27,009 from Jan. 1-27, bringing his campaign funding total to $69,301.53. Holman transferred $7,163.53 from his prior campaign for Ward 7’s city council seat and received $3,000 from two PACs.
PACs: D.R.I.V.E. Political Fund Chapter 886, an Oklahoma City PAC run by Teamsters, donated $500 to Holman’s campaign. Teamsters is a labor union that represents workers across the country. Teamsters Chapter 886 endorsed Holman on Jan. 26.
The Sierra Club of Oklahoma, an organization focused on climate change and protecting wildlife, air and water, donated $2,500 to Holman’s campaign through its PAC.
Notable donations: During the Jan. 1-25 reporting period:
• $1,000: Mike Rainer of Monterey Development Company
• $300: Jason Zimmerer, a property manager based in Philadelphia
• $250: April Doshier, executive director of Food and Shelter
• $200: Bree Montoya, Ward 3 council member
From the Oct. 1 to Dec. 30 fundraising period:
• $2,500: James Griffith, dentist
• $2,500: Peter Petromilli, developer with Red Prairie Design Group
• $2,000: David Kinnard, landlord
• $1,000: Joey Wishnuck, real estate developer
• $750: Cindy Rosenthal, former mayor
Holman has $41,459.95 left in campaign funds after paying for yard signs and campaign literature.
Attorney Riley Mulinix raised $5,985 from Jan. 1-25, bringing his total contributions to $10,008.76. Some of his campaign donations came from lawyers across the state, including in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Midwest City. Other donations came from a homemaker in Enid, a rancher in Mounds, a small business owner in Newalla, a salesman who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, and a truck driver who resides in Peoria, Arizona.
Notable donations: During the Dec. 19-31 reporting period, Mulinix received four contributions. Two were self loans totaling $173.76, one was from an attorney in Edmond and one was from Russell Mulinix totaling $3,300.
After spending funds on his campaign website, signs, posters, flyers and his campaign management team, Mulinix has $2,011.17 remaining in campaign funds.
Ward 1 campaign reports, contributions
Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball raised $2,250 from Dec. 8-Jan. 25. He transferred $214.37 left over from a previous campaign.
Notable donations: From the Dec. 8-Jan. 25 reporting period:
• $500: Azam and Jalal Farzaneh
• $500: Hajeh Farzaneh
Ball has $1,359.18 remaining in campaign funds after purchasing campaign software for $489.25.
David Gandesbery, security coordinator at Norman Regional Health System, raised $2,693 from Jan. 1-25 for a total of $4,818 raised during the campaign.
Notable donations: In the Jan. 1-25 reporting period:
• $1,000: David Kinnard, landlord
In the Oct. 1-Dec. 31 fundraising period:
• $1,500: self donation
Gandesbery has $1,518.03 remaining after paying for campaign signs, mailers and events.
Ward 3 campaign reports, contributions
Ward 3 Councilmember Bree Montoya raised $5,485 from Jan. 1-25, raising $7,311 during her reelection campaign. She transferred $3,144.96 from a previous campaign.
Notable donations: In the Jan. 1-25 reporting period:
• $3,300: Ted Blodgett, a managing partner at Gray, Blodgett & Company
• $500: Thomas Lewis II, executive director at the Credit Union Association of Oklahoma
After paying for campaign literature, Montoya has over $6,446.73 remaining in campaign funds.
Small business owner Sandra Artman raised $5,250 from Jan. 1-31, bringing her fundraising total to $7,675. She loaned herself $250 for campaign expenses.
Notable donations: In the Jan. 1-31 reporting period:
• $2,000: KOR Building Group LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas
• $250: Rob Standridge, pharmacist and former state senator
After paying for yard signs, campaign literature, voter mapping and administration costs, Artman has $4,315.58 to spare.
Ward 5 campaign reports, contributions
Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash raised $2,175 from Nov. 1-Feb. 3, loaning himself $950. Most of his donors are retired Norman residents giving $100, $300 or $500. Nash has $77.54 left to spend after paying for campaign signs and mailers.
Trey Kirby, owner of Kirby Land and Cattle, raised $1,550 from Jan. 1-31, bringing his fundraising total to $8,365, including a $100 self loan.
Notable donations: During the Jan. 1-31 reporting period
• $350: Don Kirby, a farmer and oil field worker
Kirby has over $981.67 remaining in funds after paying for yard signs and event supplies.
Small business owner Cindi Tuccillo raised $2,675 from Jan. 1-31 for a total of $6,273 raised across her campaign, including a self-loan of $1,000.
Notable donations: During the Jan. 1-31 reporting period:
• $1,000: Joe Bendetti
• $250: Rob Standridge
After paying for advertising materials and her campaign website, Tuccillo has $3,447.35 left in campaign funds.
Ward 7 campaign reports, contributions
Kimberly Blodgett, a teacher, raised $1,415 from Jan. 1-31, bringing her campaign donations to $3,425 with a self-loan of $250. Her donors included seven Norman residents giving $100 and one donating $60. Blodgett has $154.01 left in campaign funds after paying for her campaign website and literature.
Amanda Chaffin, a disability advocate, reported fundraising $6,550 from Dec. 31 to Jan. 29, bringing her total campaign donations to $9,339.50.
Notable donations: From the Dec. 31 to Jan. 29 reporting period:
•$1,000: Hajeh Farzaneh
• $1,000: Azam Farzaneh
• $1,000: Ali Farzaneh
• $1,000: Mohammad Farzaneh
• $1,000: Hossein Farzaneh
• $1,000: Sarah Farzaneh
After paying for mailers and her campaign website, Chaffin has $6,878.26 left in campaign funds.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Anusha Fathepure. Mary Ann Livingood and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story.
