Edmond’s Mayoral Elections Underway

On April 1, the city of Edmond, OK, will hold its mayoral election after many months of debates, campaigning and political competition.

Over the past few months, Mark Nash and Tom Robins have been battling on the debate stage as both candidates voiced their opinions, policies and stances on city issues and operations.

Nash and Robins present clear but different visions for Edmond’s future development, with fiscal, public safety, public infrastructure and recreation among the major topics discussed.

“Robins touted broad efforts to improve Edmond’s public safety, road quality and recreation during his time representing Ward 1 on the Edmond City Council, while Nash focused primarily on his financial expertise.

“Questions on public safety and the specifics of Edmond’s fiscal future also revealed finer differences in the candidates’ platforms,” according to NonDoc.

Mark Nash’s emphasis on fiscal matters concerned sales tax revenue and property taxes in Edmond, which prompted discussion on city projects that come with a hefty price tag, that some have labeled as too overwhelming for city resources.

“The sound defeat of a hefty general obligation bond package in November became Nash’s primary motivation to join the race, he said.

“He described the proposal to fund $231 million in city projects via a 14 percent property tax increase as ‘too much, too fast,’ noting strong opposition to the proposal could complicate the city’s effort to secure future revenue owing to lost public confidence. Nash has previously hammered Robins’ stance on the GO bond proposal,” according to NonDoc.

While the candidates disagreed on things like bond stances and policing, there were a few topics they agreed on: better communication and better efficiency.

Both Nash and Robins agree that the city lacks effective communication channels, especially among Edmond’s City Council. 

However, the candidates differed on their approach to how that communication can be fixed. Nash stated that communication surrounding fiscal handling and allocation would clear any public confusion on funding projects, as reported by NonDoc.

“‘We can do a better job of communicating what’s going on. And a lot of that, I’ll be honest with you, it starts with regaining the citizens’ trust, and a big piece of that is there is so much distrust about the finances,’ Nash said.”

Robins agreed that the City Council’s communication is lackluster, but made a point to emphasize his own vindication on government transparency.

“‘That’s why I’m so conscientious about communicating, and even without having a daily paper, being very responsive to everybody who reaches out or posts things online, which can definitely be uncomfortable as far as getting information out,’ Robins said. ‘For me, it’s about being a mayor that is available, that is engageable,’” per NonDoc.

The challenges that face the city of Edmond are flying at both mayoral candidates this election season.

Challenges such as crumbling infrastructure, recreational development, economic and budgetary woes, creating more efficient public policing, city planning and local government communication will face the man who takes the mayor’s seat.

The reward, however, will be a brighter, more productive and safer Edmond. One to rival some of the best suburban cities in the nation.

Click here for more information on dates and times for voting for the next mayor of Edmond.