A candidate selection committee nominated Robert Bruce in a 3-2 vote for Norman City Council’s consideration to become Ward 3 council member in a five-hour meeting Tuesday.
The committee also interviewed James Howard, a member of the city’s Board of Adjustment, and Heather Hall, owner of Green Feather Book Company.
The search follows the resignation of former Ward 3 Councilmember Bree Montoya, who resigned in September after screenshots of now-deleted Facebook comments resurfaced from June. In the screenshots, Montoya is seen engaging with another user in the comments of a KFOR-TV post about the “No Kings” protests, where she encouraged the user to perform acts of suicide.
After conducting interviews, Ward 3 candidate selection committee members Robert Castleberry, Alison Petrone, Ben Carter, Stacy Bruce and Sandra Artman made the nomination.
Bruce retired from the Air Force in December 2007 as a lieutenant colonel and Commander of the 72nd Contracting Squadron stationed at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma City. He continued work at Tinker in civil service for 17 years and retired earlier this year.
"I made the decision to retire from civil service in 2025 — a deeply personal choice after a lifetime of dedicated service to the Department of Defense and the Air Force,” Bruce wrote in an email to OU Daily Tuesday.
Bruce wrote in the email that he and his wife remained in Norman despite being offered jobs with major defense contractors in other states.
"I had potential opportunities to relocate to the East or West Coast for post-military work with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and other defense contractors," Bruce wrote. "However, my wife and I chose to make Norman our permanent home, prioritizing the quality of life it offered our family."
Bruce previously served on the city’s Greenbelt Commission.
Asked by the committee about the biggest issues facing Ward 3, Bruce noted the importance of quick first responder times.
He also mentioned the University North Park tax increment financing, or TIF, district, which he said he would have approved to go to a vote of the people.
“I would prefer that approach,” Bruce said. “I’m inclined to go with a vote of the people for something like that.”
Artman asked Bruce how he would maintain the high standards that come with being council member both on and off social media. Bruce said he holds himself to the same standards he holds others.
“I’ve never had a problem maintaining standards,” Bruce said. “The number one thing is integrity.”
Castleberry, who chaired the committee, said the decision was difficult.
“We had five great applicants,” Castleberry said. “It was really tough.”
Castleberry said Bruce indicated on his application that he intended to run for the seat in February.
If appointed, Bruce will serve until February, when regular elections for Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8 and a special election for the Ward 5 seat will be held.
Former Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash resigned from his position in August, just over a month before Montoya’s resignation. His seat was filled by Brandon Nofire, who was appointed in September.
Council will consider Bruce’s nomination at its Oct. 28 meeting.
This story was edited by Natalie Armour.
