Fri, Jul 18 2008
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Published May 14, 2008 10:48 am - Newcomers unseat incumbent councilmen When the voters spoke Tuesday, they approved new councilmen in both Ward II and Ward IV. The closest race was in Ward II, as businessman Shawn Raper unseated longtime incumbent Frank Borovetz Jr. 51.04 percent to 48.96 percent. Winning Ward IV Councilman Jackie Luckey said he was elated and ready to go to work. He defeated incumbent Troy Stoutermire 59.93 percent to 40.07 percent. Raper said he interpreted his narrow win as additional responsibility. “That just means there is a lot of work for me to do to prove myself to those people who didn’t vote for me,” he said. “It was a hard fight. Mr. Borovetz has served the city for many years, and I’ve got a lot to live up to. What I lack in experience I hope to make up for in enthusiasm and new energy.” Raper plans to find out how well his goals mesh with the new mayor and council at a retreat planned by City Manager Greg Buckley for Saturday. “The first big challenge we face is dealing with the hospital funds (proceeds from the lease of Muskogee Regional Medical Center),” he said. “It is a tremendous opportunity and a great thing for the city, but if people think we didn’t handle it fairly, it could be very divisive.” Raper emphasized that Muskogee needs new industries to bring more jobs and opportunities. Borovetz said he is concerned that the new council lacks depth of experience. He hinted that he might be available to assist new Mayor John Tyler Hammons. “The city needs a plan and they need to get on track,” he said. “We need to have a vision of where we’re going, how we’re going to get there, and what we’re going to do when we get there.” Luckey is prepared to learn what it takes to make a good councilman. “The first thing I will do is be an observer,” Luckey said. “When it’s time to speak, I’ll speak, and when it’s time to listen, I’ll listen.” Luckey emphasized a theme of unity when he looked ahead to his upcoming term in office. “I will keep my pledge to the community, and we will move together,” he said. “It will not be about ‘I’ or ‘me,’ but ‘we.’ My style of leadership will be one of focus, fairness, availability, open and honest, respectability, bringing solutions and problem solving.” The differing viewpoints on the council will not be a problem as long as city leaders can hammer out effective results, Luckey said. 
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