Transcript Staff Writer

A variety of mostly business-oriented issues provided the fodder for the Norman Chamber of Commerce's "Get Out the Vote" council candidate forum Wednesday evening in council chambers at City Hall.

Seven out of the eight candidates fielded questions, with Ward 6 candidate Lou Mansfield out because of illness. In attendance were Ward 2 candidates Chebon Marshall, Tom Kovach and Michael McKee; Ward 4 candidates Chris Jingozian, Greg Jungman and incumbent Carol Price Dillingham; and Ward 6 candidate Jim Griffith.

Some of the issues presented dealt with proactive code enforcement and whether Norman is business-friendly.

Steve Corley moderated the panel, with questions posed from the audience and later from one candidate to their opponents.

It was the third forum where all candidates were invited and were posed the identical question -- if they were on council, would they have voted for the $54.7 million University North Park Tax Increment Financing District No. 2 and would they support such measures going to a vote of the people.

And the answers, once again, were the same. They were printed with coverage of the League of Women Voters candidate forum in the Feb. 12 edition of The Transcript.

Candidates were asked what the biggest concern is for Norman, other than water.

Public safety was tops on the list for Dillingham, who said she had been working with citizen groups on a proposed sales tax to help increase police and fire presence.

"We're trying to make sure we don't outgrow our ability to protect our citizens," Dillingham said.

Jingozian said public safety was his priority after water.

"I do think we could use some retooling," Jingozian said, about responses particularly in rural Norman. "We need some better response times. ... I'd also like to see more community policing."

Jungman said he would argue that developments are possibly the biggest issue other than water. He said Ward 4 encompasses Campus Corner, downtown and historic homes.

"You have to make sure these developers pay their own way and they honor the core area," Jungman said.

Ward 6 candidate Jim Griffith said the City doesn't have enough officers and hasn't for more than 20 years.