Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman during his watch party at The Standard on Feb. 11.
As polls closed at 7 p.m., Normanites watched to see how their neighbors would cast their votes for their next representation on city council. A year filled with intense issues and controversial matters at City Hall ended with the election of a new mayor and two new council members.
City Hall was flooded with red in August, as residents against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s ACCESS Oklahoma plan filled the chamber in protest. Four hours later, the council unanimously rejected the resolution. The resolution would reappear as a topic of conversation only a month later.
In September, after a seven-hour-long meeting, the council approved the project plan for the Rock Creek entertainment district, which includes two tax increment finance districts, in a 5-4 vote.
Norman’s current Mayor Larry Heikkila voted in favor of the district, while Ward 7 Councilmember Stephen Tyler Holman, now mayor-elect, voted against it.
Since 2022, the city of Norman has funded A Friend’s House, a 55-bed shelter for people experiencing homelessness, which has become a widely contested issue among Normanites.
City council voted 5-4 in November to approve the transition of management of the Gray Street shelter from Food and Shelter to City Care, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit organization that specializes in addressing homelessness.
Plans for the shelter have been widely debated with some Normanites wanting to keep the shelter on Gray Street, while others hope for a different solution. City council revisited the purchase of a new, permanent homeless shelter in February 2024, but the plans were axed with a 7-2 council vote. Heikkila voted against the purchase, citing that he didn’t want the city to fund the shelter; Holman voted in favor.
At 8:02 p.m. on Tuesday, all unofficial results were tallied. Norman had picked Holman to serve as mayor, beginning a new era for the fourth-generation Norman native and long-serving council member.
The Standard: Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman
Energetic Norman residents gathered at The Standard on Tuesday evening for a mayoral watch party hosted by Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman.
Ward 1 Councilmember-elect David Gandesbery threw his arms around his fellow newly elected council members, while Ward 7 Councilmember-elect Kimberly Blodgett jumped in celebration, arms raised high to show the election results on her phone.
Ward 3 Councilmember Bree Montoya hugged friends and supporters, toasting her next two years on the dais as results came in about her reelection. Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash celebrated his reelection by greeting supporters with family at his side.
At 8 p.m., an hour after polls closed, Holman entered the party to applause. Surrounded by family, friends and supporters celebrating his win, he thanked his supporters and campaign staff, and shared a tearful embrace with his dad, Steve.
A 22-year-old single father, Steve Holman sacrificed his twenties to raise his son, despite grandparents willing to take in his child, the mayor-elect said in his acceptance speech. Holman told OU Daily he wouldn’t be the person he is today without his father.
“He’s always been there for me, no matter what I wanted to do,” Holman said in his acceptance speech. “My dad has been behind me and supported me all the way.”
Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman and his father Steve Holman during his watch party at The Standard on Feb. 11.
Growing up as a shy child in east Norman, Holman never thought he would grow up to be mayor. Holman told OU Daily he was excited to serve his hometown for the next three years.
“Being able to become mayor of a city like Norman, I just hope that helps inspire others to know that they can too, that they can do anything,” Holman said.
Holman received 69.21% of the vote, with Heikkila receiving 27.37%.
Holman said this election shows that Norman wants “compassionate leadership,” not political partisanship or division. Holman said he has seen how residents work together and take care of one another throughout his life.
Homelessness, affordable housing and water quality are some of Holman’s priorities, he said, and have been for the past 12 years he’s served as the Ward 7 council member. Holman said he will work with the other council members to understand their ward’s concerns.
Holman told OU Daily that residents may not agree with every decision he makes, but he will listen to his constituents. Holman said he will represent everyone.
“Regardless of who you voted for, if you have an issue in Norman that is important, that you need someone to talk to about, that I will be a mayor who will listen to everybody,” Holman said. “I will take your issue seriously.”
At his election watch party at The Standard, Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman delivered an acceptance speech. For full election coverage, visit oudaily.com.
Redrock Canyon Grill: Incumbent Mayor Larry Heikkila
On the other side of town, supporters and volunteers for incumbent Mayor Larry Heikkila’s campaign for a second term filed into Redrock Canyon Grill to await results of the election.
About 30 people attended the invite-only watch party in Redrock Canyon Grill’s event room where guests ate and socialized. Standing in a circle with heads bowed and hands held, the group prayed together before unofficial results started rolling in.
Three years earlier at Redrock Canyon Grill, Heikkila was elected as the 61st mayor of Norman in 2022, his first time running for public office. At the time, Heikkila received 53.39% of the vote against former Mayor Breea Clark who received 46.61% of the vote.
Campaign volunteers and family at the restaurant watched in eager anticipation as unofficial results slowly poured in from the Oklahoma State Election Board website.
Ward 3 candidate Sandra Artman, Ward 5 candidate Cindi Tuccillo and Ward 7 candidate Amanda Chaffin were also in attendance. All three candidates lost their races against opponents Montoya, Nash and Blodgett.
After all races were called, the group congregated in the middle of the restaurant’s event room where they bowed their heads and prayed once again. Heikkila stood in the center, praying for the city of Norman and expressing gratitude for his last three years as mayor.
Attendees of Mayor Larry Heikkila's reelection campaign watch party join hands in prayer while election results come in.
Some attendees expressed their disappointment while others remained solemn by the news. Heikkila remained positive and hopeful for Norman's future.
Heikkila congratulated Holman following the results, wishing Holman the best as he steps into his new role as mayor.
“Congratulations to Stephen Holman,” Heikkila said to OU Daily in response to the election results. “He won fair and square, and so, good for him.”
Heikkila said he didn’t know what would come next for him but he has high hopes for the future and believes his faith will give him clarity.
“I’m a person of faith and I believe God will tell me what comes next, but he hasn’t told me yet,” Heikkila said. “So I’m going to get up tomorrow, do the things I need to do and just follow what he wants.”
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd, Ana Barboza and Anusha Fathepure.
