Hooray for red-state democrats!

I was back in Texas and Oklahoma over the summer, and I am so encouraged by the great candidates for governor in both states.

In Houston, I was a huge fan of Bill White. I think he can make a real stand against Rick Perry, and he would be a great governor... And if he won, well, 2016! So far Perry has been too cowardly to agree to a debate on the issues, but with any luck pressure will force his hand. White's coffers are full, and he will be a formidable foe.

Likewise, Jeri Askins would be a fabulous choice for Oklahoma. She's hard working and dedicated. Oklahoma's going to have a woman governor no matter what, with Askins, we would also have a good governor :)

Council cleared - finally and completely.

The spurious OSBI charges that were tossed around on the campaign trail have finally been resolved. The council did nothing wrong, and you can read about it here.

Unfortunately, resources were wasted in the investigation process... however, if someone thought there could have been a technical violation, then they had every right to request and investigation. What was not reasonable was jumping from suspicion about a minor violation to viscous and slanderous accusations about the integrity of the mayor and the council!

But enough is enough, so I'm just glad this is resolved.

News coverage of the election

Awesome article in the OU Daily!

Nice story in the Daily Oklahoman - love the picture of my mom! And another one.

Terrible story in the Norman Transcript. Misquotes my mom, who did not run a negative campaign, and did not say that she did. Just look at what you got in your mailboxes, folks!

Also, what paper in history has ever put a picture of the loser and not the winner on the front page? I don't think I have ever seen that before... And a 7% victory as "edged out"? The Transcript needs to put it's opinion back on the editorial page. If I had a subscription, I would cancel it.

Go norman!

We won, as did all of the other hard-working councilmen and women. Thanks to everyone for their support--everyone who volunteered, gave money, put up a sign, or even just checked the facts for themselves before voting. And thanks to my mom for her endless hard work.

Signs of Success!

Just called home to catch up before the election. My parents were painting signs to replace the ones stolen last night. Some wonderful volunteers are going to put them out bright and early tomorrow morning so they can't be whisked away. Here is my dad with their handiwork. Now go vote!

In the final push - keeping it positive!

Well, tomorrow is election day. I'm so glad it's finally here--my mom's staying positive and pushing through on the last day. It has been hard: last night, yard signs were torn down all over town. It's illegal, but almost impossible to prevent from happening if the opposition is determined to do it. If yours was torn down, make sure to file a police report and let people know what is happening.

On the positive side, lots of people are voting early, and I hear there is lots of enthusiasm at the polls. My mom has worked so hard, and she has knocked on so many doors. Hopefully all of this person-to-person contact will prevent these flimsy, mean-hearted accusations from sticking.

If you're suspicious, I urge you to check the facts yourself. For example, Ezzell's OSBI mailer cites several transcript stories. Go read the stories and see if you think that these advertisements are presenting an accurate picture.

Please go vote, and tell your friends to go vote! I'm so proud of my mom, and only your help can make all of our hard work pay off.

Hal Ezzell's funny finances?

The transcript didn't publish campaign donations like it usually does, but they are available on the city website.

As you can tell from my prior posts, I'm not a big fan of Ezzell, but I was still really shocked when I heard about his finances! His total contributions are almost $64,000, but if you go to the actual list of donations there are less than $17,000 from 44 donors. The rest is a self-contribution/loan of $46,274!!! So, either Ezzell is totally self-financed and utterly without support, or he's hiding the sources of his funding. Hopefully it's not the latter, but it's strange that these questions were removed overnight from his facebook page when a few Norman citizens (not me) asked about the discrepancy. It just doesn't make sense to spend so much money running for a job that basically amounts to volunteering.

On the bright side, Cindy's finances are impressive. Something like 463 donors (not sure if I counted right!) plus more than $5,000 in small donations. I'm particularly impressed by the small donations, because they demonstrate the depth of her support. Ezzell had only $270 in small donations!! All of his money is coming in big checks.

I hope that a news outlet picks up on this story. People have the right to know that the nasty postcards filling their mailboxes are essentially personal ads paid for by Ezzell himself, not Norman residents.

UPDATE: apparently this was in the Transcript's monday paper, it just isn't on their website.

Mittens off in Mayoral Campaign

This morning, the Norman Transcript ran a story about how dirty the Mayoral campaign has gotten: Gloves off in Mayoral Campaign. They're right, it has gotten dirty, but the story is also pretty flawed. If you read the whole thing, you discover that their leading paragraphs are about a situation with no violations at all. And one that it's pretty hard to spin as dirty... A private citizen gives his name to the campaign, exercises his right to free speech.

Hal Ezzell, not Cindy Rosenthal, has made this campaign dirty and negative:

• Look at his mailers: these contain major distortions and very little information (see my prior posts). There's a reference to one of these at the bottom of the Transcript article. I wish the paper had used the space to clarify the issue.
• Make a visit to the campaign websites. Ezzell's seems to say that he wants to talk about the issues and that Cindy Rosenthal won't talk about them, but there are very few specifics on the site. Rosenthal's is all about the good things in Norman. All about those issues that Ezzell claims she refuses to address.
• Follow Ezzell's supporters' twitter accounts (twitter.com/sindyrosenthal is by far the nastiest! shockingly mean, actually. I'm not going to dignify it with a direct link, you have to type it in yourself.)

The main issue about which my mom has been critical of Hal Ezzell is the fact that he has missed many, many finance committee meetings and important budgetary votes--that's something that voters should know about considering that budget cuts are a major part of his platform. Cindy Rosenthal has had plenty of opportunities to twist the truth, and at every turn she clarifies it instead!

I will give the Transcript credit for a good general article on the mayoral race and their reasoned analysis of the council races.

Please help get the word out. Volunteering will start at 1pm at the Chouse at 717 W. Boyd. You can go any time until 5pm, and you don't have to knock doors: we also need people to drop off door hangers reminding our citizens to vote.

If you can't go out, call your friends, remind them to vote, and make sure they aren't being misled!

Hal Ezzell's misleading mailer about utility rates!

Another last-minute mailer from Ezzell contains major distortions. Mayor Rosenthal does not want to take away the rights of voters to approve rate increases, and in fact, it is not even within the council's rights to do this.

There have been discussions on the council about whether changing the procedures for utility rate increases might be beneficial because they would (a) lower our borrowing costs for infrastructure investment, (b) prevent steep rate hikes by allowing more frequent and smaller adjustments up and down, and (c) enable Norman to participate more effectively in regional negotiations about water. Ezzell actually supported council control of utility rates in a Chamber survey when he first ran for council, he only seems to have changed his tune now that he can spin the issue on a glossy mailer.

Mayor Rosenthal is open to considering a change in the procedures, but only if it is initiated by a citizen petition. This would be the most democratic way to resolve the issue and would ensure that the citizens of Norman retain control over the way their utilities are managed.

Last weekend of the campaign! And comments on the OSBI accusations.

Let's start with a the bright side. It's a beautiful day in Norman. If you aren't already out, hit the street and knock on doors or distribute reminders to vote. Today from 9:30-5:00 and Sunday from 1:00-5:00, volunteer organization will happen continuously at the Chouse (717 W. Boyd). You can come any time!

Now, for a short rant. Hal Ezzell has more nasty mailers going out today, as well as very aggressive "persuasion" calls. I can't wait until this is over! To me, one of the most upsetting things about the campaign has been the way it discourages people from seeking public office. My mom is determined not to let these attacks get to her, but the kind of tactics used by Ezzell are the kind that drive good people away from public office! On council or as Mayor, you are already volunteering hundreds of hours of your time (presuming you go to the meetings!), and the reward is false accusations and ad hominem attacks. Norman's a great town, and if anywhere could avoid these kinds of campaigns, I would have thought it would here!

One of the Ezzell mailers deals with these trumped up accusations about the OSBI investigating the city council. The specifics are complicated, and it's my understanding that the mailer doesn't lay anything out, it just makes the empty claim that there is a "Major Ethics Problem" at city hall. The accusation is simply that an issue that should have been discussed in an open meeting also came up in a closed session. Having heard the details and read the coverage, the bottom line is that there there clearly was not a violation. However, even if you aren't convinced by me, here are a few things that might help convince you that this isn't worth your time or your vote:

1. The city attorney already issued an opinion that there was no violation.
2. The accusations were against the entire council - Ezzell says it's the mayor who's being investigated, but really if anyone is under investigation, everyone is under investigation.
3. If you follow the news, you know that nothing much has happened with this convoluted debate over the past year. The OSBI has done very little since the allegations were made, and this seems to be because they know there isn't a case! Resources are scarce and shouldn't be used to drum up scandal where there isn't any.
4. The accusations were made by councilman Tom Kovach, who is supporting Ezzell's campaign. Basically, it's like this: make an accusation, tell the public that the city is under investigation but not that you started the investigation! Sounds a little bit circular. What a waste of state resources.
5. I think one of the Ezzell mailers cites transcript articles--go read them all for yourself and see if you think that they're representing the facts fairly and accurately.

Spinning this as "CORRUPTION" reflects badly on Norman and belittles the hard work of our council members. Corruption exists, but this sure isn't it...

Cindy Rosenthal's out knocking on doors!

It's a rainy day in Norman, but my mom is out knocking on doors to talk to voters. Maybe you'll get to see her today! When we spoke over lunch, she had talked to 40 people, and she's on her way to talk with at least 60 more before the end of the day. Openness has really characterized her time as mayor: she listens to constituents, responds to emails, and holds open sessions to get citizen feedback on the various issues before council. She even holds "walks with the mayor" during seasons with better weather!

The opposing campaign has tried to accuse her of being secretive and "corrupt," but if you have had contact with her, you know that's a trumped up charge. A few months ago, someone from the opposing camp filed a freedom of information act request for her emails. She shared them all immediately, and there was nothing even slightly incriminating. I was pretty impressed when she told me that the worst thing in all of her emails was a comment like: "sheesh, this is frustrating!" She really tries hard and listens to everyone.

On the topic of secrecy, I was amazed to find that Ezzell prefers not to use his email account since it is open to the public. Apparently he only responds by phone so that he leaves no written record... not very good for accountability and accessibility!

If you want to support my mom, it's not too late to volunteer this weekend:

Saturday (Feb 20), Meet at Texadelphia (1150 West Lindsey Street)
• 9am-noon, 1pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm
Sunday (Feb 21), same place
• 1pm-3pm, 3pm-6pm

Like a player who doesn't come to practice...

Check out the latest mailer from Cindy Rosenthal for mayor:



As my mom pointed out in the latest debate, Bob Stoops would never make a player who doesn't practice captain of the team. That's what it would be like electing Hal Ezzell. As far as I can tell, he seems like a reasonable person, but he definitely doesn't seem like he has the time to add the job of mayor to his busy schedule.

Ezzell's excuse for missing the meetings: “I have to prioritize my time."

You can read about city attendance records here--all in, Ezzell has missed more meetings than anyone on council!

Ezzell's excuse for missing so many city council meetings was that he was busy, as he says: “I have to prioritize my time." We need a mayor who prioritizes Norman!!

I also thought it was a really low blow how Ezzell questioned my mom's ability to do her job at the university, something he seems to know nothing about. My mom has never questioned his ability to run his businesses--merely his participation on council!

Further, for the record, my mom works hard both as a professor and as mayor--I see her working hard all of the time. It's amazing, she is attentive to her students and has even co-authored a new book that will be coming out soon. I think she learned to do it by raising kids and finishing her PhD at the same time!

Ezzell's nasty campaign tactics getting noticed

Today the city employee union withdrew their prior endorsement of Hal Ezzell. According to the Norman Transcript, Henry Baskeyfield, president of the local chapter, said the endorsement was withdrawn because of “negative campaigning," which he feared could "do harm to the city of Norman's reputation." Check it out here.

Cindy Rosenthal is doing a great job of staying positive and on-point. Her critiques of Ezzell have been honest and accurate - like the fact that he has missed something like 40 percent of the council's meetings.

Are you a special interest?

Great, on-point message from my mom's campaign...

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

With only two weeks until the election, my opponent is criticizing me for "pet projects that serve only small 'special interests.'" Norman's high quality of life is the result of citizens who take a special interest in making our community great! Maybe you are one of them?

• 92,000 water customers who have a special interest in water quality in Lake Thunderbird
• 331,000 people who visit Norman's recreation programs and 72,000 who participate in recreation programs
• 2,800 people who gave input in the master park plan process
• Thousands of pet owners who have a special interest in improving Norman's animal shelter
• 65,000 Norman library cardholders who have a special interest in the public library

• 34,000 bicycle-owning households who have a special interest in using trails and bike paths
• Hundreds of businesses and homeowners whose properties are at-risk of flooding and have a special interest in storm water management
• 12,400 children who have a special interest in the library's summer reading programs
• Thousands of citizens who want to be heard on future quality of life issues -- the Porter Corridor, storm water master plan, greenway efforts, or parks priority setting.

If you are one of these special interests, it is time to mobilize and make sure that your voice is heard on city issues.

Please forward this email to all of the other special interests in Norman and make sure they know what is at stake on March 2. We need your help and energy to continue the city's efforts to plan for the future. Volunteer now in any way that you can. Set aside a few hours the next two weekends to get the word out.

Together, we will continue to pull together for all of Norman and continue the progress of our great community.

Remember, March 2 is just two weeks away.

Best Wishes,

Cindy Rosenthal

Cindy Rosenthal & Fiscal Responsibility

I listened to the first mayoral debate last week, and a few things stood out at me... One of the most striking was the fear-mongering around "outrageous spending."

One of the major tactics of the Ezzell campaign has been to claim that spending is completely out of control. The way this seems to work is to add up all of the money set to be spent on anything over the next 30 years until you get an outrageous sum. Most of the numbers provided aren't increases at all. And, almost all of the things that Ezzell has pointed to as unnecessary are things he voted for.

My mom has made financial responsibility a priority - under her leadership the city's bond rating has improved. Norman has also managed its budget shortfall very effectively compared to other towns and cities nationwide. Smart cuts have been made - ones that don't jeopardize Norman's future growth. You can't just stop paying for clean water during an economic downturn--that's the kind of thing that ends up costing more in the long run. If you compare Norman to Tulsa & OKC (both cities have had lay-offs to cover their budgets), our record is impressive!

One last note about the debate. Hal Ezzell keeps throwing out the accusation that the city is hiring expensive consultants for no good reason. But if you listened closely to the debate, Ezzell cited consultants' reports in his comments about the various issues. Consultants can provide good information--you just have to use them sparingly and responsibly!

First outrage

Someone has started a fake twitter account slandering my mom: http://twitter.com/sindyrosenthal

Perhaps the posts intend to be parody, but the twitter definitely doesn't identify them as such. Perhaps more amazing, I am shocked that someone has the time to make up twits like this every hour or so.

Here's a screen shot of the latest:

Amazing! If anyone making these accusations actually bothered to consult her voting record, they might discover that she has voted against the university's interests many times... and that when she has supported the university it has been from a consensus position.

UPDATE - Feb 26: Wow, this twitter has gotten really nasty. I'm blown away that anyone could think this tactic was effective. Anyone who actually reads all of the posts won't believe any of them!

About me!

Hi, my name is Catie Rosenthal. I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and consider myself a proud native despite having been away for a few years. Right now, I'm away in Boston, MA, where I'm getting a PhD in economic history and working on a dissertation on the evolution of accounting and numerical record keeping during the industrial revolution. Before coming up here, I was a consultant with McKinsey & Company where I specialized in consulting for non-profits (but also worked for lots of businesses!).

I'm starting this blog in support of Cindy Rosenthal--my mom!! She has been mayor of Norman for the last three years, and before that she served on city council. Before that, she was a tireless volunteer, and she still is a great mom. She's also a professor at OU. Over the past three years, I have watched her work incredibly hard. She's the kind of politician who isn't political. She listens to everyone and tries to find a solutions that work for everyone--she stands up for her principles, but also recognizes that others have different priorities.

The election is only a few weeks away, and even thought I can't be in Norman, I had to do something. The election has gotten so dirty: every day when I call home, there are new lies and rumors... none of them true!