OKC Voters Prepare to Choose Between Republican and Green

OKC Voters Prepare to Choose Between Republican and Green

Can a self-funding Green Party candidate who admitted to drug abuse and domestic violence upset the popular incumbent Mayor of Oklahoma City? OKC voters will finally face their long-awaited choice Tuesday.

A poll last week by KWTV and The Oklahoma Gazette showed Republican Mayor Mick Cornett to be leading Green Party challenger Councilman Ed Shadid 64-19. Political observers have noted, however, that a high turnout election favors Cornett, and severe winter weather hit Oklahoma City on Sunday.

Shadid’s campaign has been one long soap opera, as comprehensively recapped by The Okie in a recent piece.  Fittingly, it wound down with another melodrama on Friday. A negative attack mailer from the Shadid campaign labeled a “pro-gay” play recently staged in Oklahoma City as “offensive.” Shadid, the author of an ordinance expanding City employment non-discrimination policies to gays and lesbians, called the mailer from his campaign “regrettable” and unauthorized.

Both campaigns were working hard over the weekend to turn out their supporters.

On Saturday, Oklahoma City voters received robocalls in support of Cornett from Governor Mary Fallin and Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel. Cornett and Shadid appeared on the “Flashpoint” program Sunday morning. Both candidates are on the television airwaves, with Cornett currently holding a 4-to-1 advantage in advertising.

Polls are open Tuesday in Oklahoma City 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Other candidates in the race include perennial candidate Joe “Sarge” Nelson and politic novice Phil Hughes. A candidate must receive over 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.

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