Norman Election Commission Meeting

NORMAN ELECTION COMMISSION MINUTES November 6, 2017 The Norman Election Commission of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, met in the Municipal Building Conference Room at 201 West Gray on the 6th day of November, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. Notice and agenda of the meeting were posted at the Municipal Building 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. MEMBERS PRESENT: Michael Moorehead Elizabeth Pierce Amelia Torres Ty Hardiman, Chairman MEMBERS ABSENT: Jane Purcell OTHERS PRESENT: Brenda Hall, City Clerk Item 2. Consideration of approval of the Norman Election Commission minutes of August 7, 2017. Member Pierce moved that the Norman Election Commission minutes of August 7, 2017, be approved, which motion was duly seconded by Member Moorehead; Items submitted for the record 1. Norman Election Commission minutes of August 7, 2017 and the question being upon approving the Norman Election Commission minutes of August 7, 2017, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Norman Election Commission minutes of August 7, 2017, were approved. ***** Item 3. Review of Statement of Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Reports from the following candidates and elected officials. CONTRIBUTION & CONTRIBUTION & NAME ON REPORT EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE REPORT REPORT - FINAL Lynne Miller for Norman 2016 X Kate Bierman for Ward 1 2017 X Greg Heiple for Ward 1 2017 X Castleberry for Ward 3 2017 X Hickman for Ward 4 2016 X Friends of Sereta Wilson for Ward 5 2017 X Friends for Breea Clark 2016 X Holman for Norman 2017 X Allison for Ward 8 2016 X Norman Election Commission November 6, 2017 Page 2 Item 3, continued: Lynne Miller for Norman 2016 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Lynne Miller for Norman 2016, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Lynne Miller for Norman 2016, filed October 26, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Lynne Miller for Norman 2016, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Lynne Miller for Norman 2016, was accepted. * Kate Bierman for Ward 1 2017 Member Moorehead said a Schedule B form is indicated on the report, but no Schedule B form is attached and Ms. Brenda Hall, City Clerk, said that is for the return of the filing fee so this should not be a “no activity” report. She said that was an oversight when reviewing the report and she will request Councilmember Bierman file a corrected report. Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Kate Bierman for Ward 1 2017, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Kate Bierman for Ward 1 2017, filed October 26, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Kate Bierman for Ward 1 2017, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Member Pierce NAYES: Members Moorehead, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman The Chairman declared the motion failed and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Kate Bierman for Ward 1 2017, was not accepted. * Norman Election Commission November 6, 2017 Page 3 Item 3, continued: Greg Heiple for Ward 1 2017 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Greg Heiple for Ward 1 2017, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Moorehead; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Greg Heiple for Ward 1 2017, filed October 30, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Greg Heiple for Ward 1 2017, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Greg Heiple for Ward 1 2017, was accepted. * Castleberry for Ward 3 2017 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Castleberry for Ward 3 2017, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Castleberry for Ward 3 2017, filed October 31, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Castleberry for Ward 3 2017, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Castleberry for Ward 3 2017, was accepted. * Norman Election Commission November 6, 2017 Page 4 Item 3, continued: Hickman for Ward 4 2016 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Hickman for Ward 4 2016, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Hickman for Ward 4 2016, filed October 31, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Hickman for Ward 4 2016, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Hickman for Ward 4 2016, was accepted. * Friends of Sereta Wilson for Ward 5 2017 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Friends of Sereta Wilson for Ward 5 2017, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Friends of Sereta Wilson for Ward 5 2017, filed October 26, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Friends of Sereta Wilson for Ward 5 2017, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Friends of Sereta Wilson for Ward 5 2017, was accepted. * Norman Election Commission November 6, 2017 Page 5 Item 3, continued: Friends for Breea Clark 2016 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Friends for Breea Clark 2016, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Friends for Breea Clark 2016, filed October 23, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Friends for Breea Clark 2016, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Final Report for Friends for Breea Clark 2016, was accepted. * Holman for Norman 2017 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Holman for Norman 2017, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Holman for Norman 2017, dated October 31, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Holman for Norman 2017, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Holman for Norman 2017, was accepted. * Norman Election Commission November 6, 2017 Page 6 Item 3, continued: Allison for Ward 8 2016 Member Pierce moved that the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Allison for Ward 8 2016, be accepted, which motion was duly seconded by Member Torres; Items submitted for the record 1. Municipal Candidate Committee Contributions and Expenditures Report for Allison for Ward 8 2016, filed October 30, 2017 and the question being upon accepting the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Allison for Ward 8 2016, a vote was taken with the following result: YEAS: Members Moorehead, Pierce, Torres, and Chairman Hardiman NAYES: None The Chairman declared the motion carried and the Municipal Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Report for Allison for Ward 8 2016, was accepted. ***** Item 4. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman for 2018. Member Pierce moved that Chairman Hardiman be reelected and Chairman Hardiman moved that Member Pierce be elected as Vice-Chairman and there being no further nominations, Chairman Hardiman and Member Pierce were elected by acclamation. ***** Item 5. Discussion regarding filing dates for the 2018 City Council elections Wards 2, 4, 6, and 8 and setting the date for Candidate Orientation session. City Clerk Hall said City Council will consider a resolution on November 28, 2017, setting the Council Candidate filing dates as December 18 through December 20, 2017, with an election date of February 13, 2018, and a run-off date of April 3, 2018, if needed. Chairman Hardiman explained to new members that a Candidate Orientation session is held after the filing period to instruct candidates on campaign contribution and expenditure report filing requirements and other issues, such as rules regarding campaign signs and campaign mailers. City Clerk Hall said a Guide for Municipal Candidates (manual) prepared by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission will be provided to each candidate that includes information regarding political sign regulations; the role of NEC; report requirements and deadlines; candidate committees; municipal political committees; duties of the treasurer; campaign depositories; financial disclosure statements; contributions; contribution limits; loans; in-kind contributions; contributions and expenditures; and disclosure requirements. Norman Election Commission November 6, 2017 Page 7 Item 5, continued: Chairman Hardiman said the orientation is usually held in January and asked City Clerk Hall if the orientation should be held on December 20th or 21st and City Clerk Hall recommended December 21st. She said letters could be sent to the candidates immediately upon filing and if someone filed at the last minute, she would still have an opportunity to personally reach out to them that evening informing them of the meeting. Chairman Hardiman asked the Committee for their thoughts and they all agreed December 21st would be the best date. Chairman Hardiman asked City Clerk Hall to schedule the orientation for December 21st at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. ***** Item 6. Miscellaneous Discussion. Chairman Hardiman provided some background about the Norman Election Committee (NEC) for the new memebers and said the NEC was created in the 1970’s before there was State oversight of local elections. He said NEC’s duties included review of campaign contribution and expenditure reports as well as reporting campaign violations for action by the City Attorney’s Office. In December 2014, the State took control over municipal elections and the City deleted portions of Chapter 7.5 of the City of Norman Code regarding elections; however, in 2015, the State gave municipalities the option of reasserting authority over their elections, but it would be all or nothing. The NEC evaluated the State process and compared that to the previous City of Norman ordinance to determine whether or not it would be beneficial for the City to opt out of the State Ethics Commission rules and adopt its own ordinance regulating contributions, expenditures, and financial disclosures. He said NEC’s final report to Council on September 12, 2017, included that dialogue. Chairman Hardiman said NEC will continue to review campaign reports and believes NEC gives closer scrutiny to the reports than the what is done at State level. He said enforcement action for any egregious violation is handled through the State Ethics Commission; however, that does not happen until after the election is over because the State does not investigate violations during an election cycle. ***** tem 7. Adjournment. Chairman Hardiman declared the meeting adjourned at 3:42 p.m.