Muskogee mayor race: Tuesday

May 10, 2008 03:49 pm

— The mayoral contest pits former Mayor Hershel McBride and Oklahoma University freshman John Tyler Hammons. Muskogee Realtor Shawn Raper is challenging Councilman Frank Borovetz Jr. for the Ward II seat. Jackie Luckey, a longtime local law enforcer, faces incumbent Troy Stoutermire for the Ward IV position.
In-person absentee voting will continue 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at the Muskogee County Election Board, 400 W. Broadway.
Polls will be open for regular voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Phoenix asked the following questions of the two mayor candidates and received the following replies:

Q: How do you see the role of mayor in Muskogee’s weak-mayor system of government? How important is that role, and what special abilities do you have that would make you a good mayor?
HAMMONS: According to the City Charter, our governing document, the mayor has no administrative responsibilities and is the ceremonial head of the city. As such, the mayor serves as the city’s chief visionary and spokesman. As an energetic and outgoing individual, I will actively use these skills to promote Muskogee’s future.
McBRIDE: A weak mayor system is what the charter says. A mayor who is content with doing only the bare minimum for the citizens of Muskogee is required to attend City Council, Public Works and Finance meetings and go to City Hall to sign documents. A mayor who functions in this way will never get anything done for the betterment of Muskogee. A strong mayor, even in a weak mayor type of government is very important. The city manager serves at the pleasure of the mayor and City Council. It is important to have strong, knowledgeable leaders in these positions to set the agenda for the future of our great city.

Q: If elected mayor, how much time would you devote to being mayor and what kind of schedule would you keep? How accessible would you be as mayor?
McBRIDE: I am fortunate to be able to devote time 24/7 for our citizens. I will be in City Hall daily and hold office hours on a regular basis, as I did when I was your mayor. I think it is important to be available have always welcomed calls, visits and concerns from the citizens. In addition, we held both listening sessions and City Council meetings in each ward in order to be more available and easily accessible to citizens.
HAMMONS: As mayor, I will dedicate as much time as is needed to conduct the people’s business. This would include regular office hours, absolute attendance at council meetings and being available to the citizens. To ensure availability and accessibility, I will hold regular ward meetings to meet directly with the citizens.

Q: What steps should Muskogee take the next couple of years to improve its economic base and vitality?
HAMMONS: Growth begins with breaking from the past. Muskogee must capitalize on the strengths of our individual citizens and our community as a whole. Our community offers citizens excellent educational and recreational opportunities and our qualified work force is eager to meet new challenges. Our location allows Muskogee to meet business needs, such as abundant land and transportation accessibility. In the coming years, health care opportunities will blossom and Muskogee is uniquely positioned to take the lead in this field. The business world is changing and our community must also change. Muskogee must be enthusiastic and vibrant in order to continue to compete.
McBRIDE: Economic and business development is vital for the future of Muskogee.
I feel Muskogee Development Corporation, which receives both corporate dues and funding from the city, should continue the same funding and apply for additional funding from the proceeds of the hospital trust.
We must not only continue but increase our efforts to be proactive in education and training of our work force in order to attract higher paying jobs and have a trained work force in place.
Our business district must be promoted by the city through the Chamber of Commerce to grow our shopping base. Close to 70 percent of our city budget depends on tax dollars spent in Muskogee by both citizens and visitors. The city, Chamber of Commerce, and Convention and Tourism work hand in hand to make Muskogee a regional shopping center, where families can shop, eat, visit areas of interest, and spend the night — a focus when I was your mayor.

Q: What role would you take in coming labor negotiations with city workers, and what is your philosophy on contracts and yearly bargaining with the unions?
McBRIDE: The roles of the city manager and personnel director are to negotiate with city workers, with the final approval for the contract coming from the mayor and city council. This is appropriate.
My philosophy is to give annual raises to city personnel to the extent the budget allows, and the City Council approves.
It would be imprudent of the mayor and council to give raises that could not be covered in budgets in future years, however. The current raises, along with FICA and benefits, must be paid in succeeding years, along with the need to continue to provide services to the citizens.
Muskogee has been fortunate, even in leaner years, to avoid a reduction in force of any city employees or eliminating city services. Other cities have not been as fortunate.
HAMMONS: Under the City Charter, the mayor’s role in labor negotiations is limited. In my official capacity,
I will do all that I am legally allowed to do to ensure fairness in all the city’s dealings.
This means actively fostering good relations with all city workers.
My philosophy is that successful bargaining is accomplished when both sides understand and trust that each will act responsibly, fairly and ethically. If both sides have a shared commitment to the citizens that they serve, an agreement benefiting both sides will be reached and the best possible services will be provided to our community.

Photos

Hershal McBride