UPDATE 2: Shadid Candidacy Looks To Shake Up OKC Political Landscape

More coverage from yesterday’s campaign kick-off announcement from OKC Councilor Dr. Ed Shadid who intends to announce his bid for Mayor of Oklahoma City in August.

For those who are unfamiliar with Shadid, he previously ran as the ‘Green Party’ candidate for OK House District 85 in 2010. According to their release:

“Dr. Shadid is a vegetarian and enjoys organic, locally produced food, especially that distributed by the Oklahoma Food Cooperative. Dr. Shadid feels most impassioned when thinking and discussing the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Concerns about the health of Oklahomans, especially the epidemics of obesity and nicotine dependence, have pervaded his medical practice since inception. Investigation into the industrialization and mass production of food has led Dr. Shadid to champion the marginalization of the fast food industry and processed foods and the support of the local farmer delivering organic produce to Oklahoma’s citizens. Dr. Shadid has agonized over the impact of fossil-fuel dependence on the environment and has designed his home to be solar powered and “off the grid” and has extensively studied and utilized “green building” designed to minimize impact on the environment and maximize indoor air quality of the home.”

It will be interesting to see how voters in the capital city of the reddest state in the union react to Shadid’s Green Party past. More coverage of this race and Dr. Shadid as they unfold.

UPDATE 2: Sources close to The Okie also are reporting that if Mayor Cornett chooses not to seek re-election, State Senator David Holt would seriously consider a run. More to come on this story…

VIDEO: Shadid Announces Campaign Kick-Off For August

NewsOK: Ed Shadid will run for mayor of Oklahoma City

By William Crum Published: June 25, 2013

Oklahoma City Councilman Ed Shadid announced Monday that he will run for mayor in 2014, setting up a potential battle with three-term incumbent Mayor Mick Cornett.

Cornett, elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2006 and 2010, has said he will decide whether to seek a fourth term later this summer. He’s proved to be a popular candidate, winning with 87 percent of the vote in 2006 and 58 percent in 2010.

Shadid said in a video that he planned a “campaign emphasizing honesty, transparency, unprecedented public participation and neighborhood interests over special interests.”

Shadid announced his plans far in advance of the campaign season — candidates will file for mayor at the end of January, and the primary will be in early March.

Read more on NewsOK.com