Editor's note: This story was updated on Dec. 7 at 11:32 a.m. to reflect the proper spelling of Ray B. Howerton's name and the correct filing date of Howerton's candidacy. The story was also updated to reflect the correct spelling of Dawn Brockman's surname. The story was updated again on Dec. 14 at 11:18 a.m. to reflect Joshua Hinkle has lived in Norman his whole life, not for 18 years.
Several Normanites filed for candidacy for the Norman City Council and Norman Public School Board of Education elections on Feb. 13, 2024.
Even-numbered ward seats are up for election along with the NPS Board of Education’s Office No. 4 seat.
The filing period for both elections began Monday at 8 a.m. and ended on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Norman City Council Ward 2:
Dismukes is the executive director of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Oklahoma. In 2021, he applied for the Ward 2 vacancy while he was working as the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services director of communications. Dismukes recently left the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health in May.
Karjala served on city council from 2016 to 2018 and is seeking to return to council after Lauren Schueler decided to not run for reelection. According to Karjala’s campaign announcement on Facebook, she was asked to run again and saw an opportunity to address issues she saw in Norman. Karjala is currently a political science professor at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Peacock has been serving as Ward 8’s council member since 2020, but is now no longer a resident of the district after Norman’s redistricting process moved his home into Ward 2 boundaries. Peacock is now seeking to claim the Ward 2 seat and seeks to address issues in Norman such as walkability, public transit and preserving Norman’s heritage. Peacock is the owner and principal architect at Peacock Design, LLC.
Rice is a union electrician and co-founder of Norman Care-A-Vans, a nonprofit that transports and assists people experiencing homelessness. Rice intends to address affordable housing concerns in Norman. According to Rice, he plans to expand public transit because access to transportation is a barrier to basic necessities such as food and education.
Ray B. Howerton
Howerton filed at 3:55 p.m. on Wednesday. OU Daily was unable to find a campaign site or social media page.
Norman City Council Ward 4:
Grant has been in the Ward 4 council seat since 2022. Grant wishes to create more mental health services in Norman and promote diversity by addressing past ailments that they said may have leaked into present day policy. One of Grant's long-term goals is to create equitable, people-driven TIF districts in Ward 4 and Norman.
Moss seeks to maintain the cleanliness of Norman’s green spaces and collaborate with small business owners to address city problems. Moss also wants to build on and improve Norman’s current infrastructure and increase retention in the city among OU graduates.
Norman City Council Ward 6:
Drewery has been living in Norman for over 15 years, and wants to fund and fully staff the Norman Police Department and the Norman Fire Department. He wants to work with Mayor Larry Heikkila in helping first responders address drug use and vagrancy and foster relationships with small businesses.
Hinkle is a community banker who has lived in Norman for his entire life. Hinkle is currently a member of Norman's Economic Development Advisory Board, as well as the Cleveland County Community Correction Planning Committee. Hinkle is an OU alumni and wants to expand outreach to Norman’s homeless population.
Norman City Council Ward 8:
Hurley is a former paramedic and lifetime Norman resident. Hurley currently chairs the Norman Forward Citizen Ad Hoc Committee for the Young Family Athletic Center. He ran for the Ward 7 council seat in 2018, but lost to current council member Stephen Tyler Holman. Hurley plans to bring his financial expertise to help protect the general budget.
Dixon is a former Army National guardsman and has lived in Norman for over 15 years. Dixon plans on addressing crime rates and public safety. He is in support of job growth and championing small businesses in Norman. Dixon ran for the Ward 8 seat in 2022, but lost to Peacock.
Norman Public School Board of Education Office No. 4:
Brockman is a former NPS teacher and is currently the director of Alumni Relations and University Development at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Brockman plans to address issues within education by creating a more transparent relationship between NPS leaders and the community.
Christian is a banker and the son of a former NPS teacher. He plans on assisting teachers in their pursuit to educate students and is in support of school resource officers.
This article was edited by Alexia Aston, Peggy Dodd and Taylor Jones.
