Q&A: Newcastle City Council seats Ward 1, Ward 3

Q&A: Newcastle City Council seats Ward 1, Ward 3

D’Amico, Sutton, Fullerton, Malcolm will be on Tuesday’s ballot

Four Newcastle residents are seeking two seats on the Newcastle City Council. They are on the April 1 ballot.

The Newcastle Pacer has sent each of them a questionnaire to be used for this story.

Filing for Council Member Ward No. 1 are Todd D. D’Amico, 54, and incumbent Kimberly Sutton, 51.

Filing for the Council Member Ward No. 3 seat are incumbent Mike Fullerton, 59, and Jon Malcolm, 42.

The following represents the questions we asked and the answers they provided.

TODD D.

D’AMICO

Q: Candidate Name and office you seek?

A: Todd D. D’Amico, City of Newcastle Ward 1 (unexpired term) Q: Who are the members of your family?

A: Amber D’Amico (wife), Roman D’Amico and Reid D’Amico (sons) Q: What is your employment?

A: V.P. Commercial Surveying, Mapping and Zoning First American Commercial Due Diligence Services (26 years) Q: Why are you seeking a seat on the Newcastle City Council?

A: To use my time and talents to help the City and people of Newcastle.

Q: What are the positive attributes of the City of Newcastle?

A: Newcastle is unique due to its continued growth. It has opportunities for many people and families along with commercial opportunities for businesses that can benefit the City and community.

Q: How would you work to further those attributes?

A: My years of working in the Land Development, Surveying, Zoning and Engineering fields would allow me to assist decision making for the City of Newcastle. My 30+ years of experience tie into growth, development, land use, and finance. My experience has allowed me to prepare PUD documents for zoning approval, create and prepare residential subdivisions, handle large commercial transactions, surveying on the largest ranch in Texas (Waggoner Ranch) and handling seasoned commercial one-acre development properties all over the United States.

Q: What are the negative attributes of the City of Newcastle?

A: I don’t see any negative attributes, I see opportunities. I do see a need to plan and coordinate City resources accordingly in strategic areas that serve the growth of the City.

Q: How would you address the negative attributes?

A: By using my years of expertise to assist in the review of items that are presented to the City Council.

Q: How is the City’s infrastructure and what needs further work?

A: I look forward to meeting with the City staff to evaluate the needs of the infrastructure. This would include an evaluation of all City utilities along with meetings with the Police and Fire Departments.

Q: Are there economic development opportunities you would pose to the City?

A: I have many contacts in the development industry that may tie into the growth of Newcastle. I would help leverage those relationships to assist the City and people of Newcastle.

Q: Are there any services the City doesn’t already have that it could offer residents?

A: I know other cities offer recycling services. I would like to review what it takes for Newcastle to provide this service. Newcastle would also benefit from a Medical/Emergency Services location for the residents.

KIMBERLY SUTTON

Q: Candidate Name and office you seek?

A: Kimberly Sutton, City of Newcastle Ward 1 (unexpired term) Q: Who are the members of your family?

A: My children, Jerret and Elizabeth, have grown up and started families of their own, blessing me with five wonderful grandchildren. My father, Robert, and stepmother, Elizabeth, are retired and have resided in Newcastle for over 30 years. My sister, Crystal, and her husband, Shawn, along with their two children, also call Newcastle home. We all live within a few miles of each other, which allows us to spend more time together and cherish our close-knit family bonds.

Q: What is your employment?

A: I am a CPA and CFP who owns and operates two small businesses dedicated to helping businesses and individuals with accounting, tax planning and preparation, financial planning, and investments. Before starting my own businesses, I worked as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Newcastle. I’ve also held leadership accounting roles in diverse industries, including oil and gas, public accounting, manufacturing, biopharmaceutical research and development, non-profit, and service companies.

Q: Why are you seeking a seat on the Newcastle City Council?

A: Throughout my life, I’ve always been able to offer my time, and I’ve found meaningful ways to give back and serve others. I’ve volunteered with organizations like City Rescue Mission, Regional Food Bank, Pregnancy Center for young moms, City of Newcastle Lions Club, Newcastle Rotary Club, Newcastle Oversight Committee for the 1/2 cent sales tax, and as a Newcastle Council member for Ward 1.

In August 2023, I was appointed to Newcastle City Council Ward 1 when the seat became vacant. My experience as a Council member has been positive, and my background as a CPA allows me to bring valuable insights to the Newcastle City Council. Together with my fellow Council members, we bring a diverse range of expertise, making us well-rounded and effective in our roles.

Q: What are the positive attributes of the City of Newcastle?

A: The City of Newcastle is truly home — a welcoming and kind place. Yesterday, I visited the Post Office in Newcastle in the afternoon and later went to the one in downtown Oklahoma City. While standing in line, I reflected on the differences and found myself wishing I was back at the Newcastle Post Office, where the sense of personalization and community is so strong.

The people of Newcastle are some of the warmest and most generous individuals I encounter in the metro area. We are a community that genuinely cares about one another. Additionally, our leadership is deeply committed to our city. They have worked for years to bring about the positive changes needed to support our community. They truly care about Newcastle and strive for the best for everyone.

Q: How would you work to further those attributes?

A: When I was first asked if I was interested in becoming a Council member, my very first thought and mission was to serve for the betterment of our community. This commitment remains unchanged. My intention is to do what is best for our residents and the city, to be fair and just, and to lead in a positive manner.

Q: What are the negative attributes of the City of Newcastle?

A: This is a challenging question because it involves addressing areas that need improvement, which I know our city leadership and council are actively working on. The process can be time-consuming, with multiple steps from initial discussions to completion. It would be wonderful to hear the concerns of our residents so we can address them, either by making changes or providing clarity. It’s important that everyone feels heard and seen. While it’s impossible to make everyone happy, understanding the processes can hopefully lead to a more united community.

Q: How would you address the negative attributes?

A: To understand the concerns of our citizens, I need to be accessible. I plan to achieve this by scheduling events where residents can meet with me and share what matters to them. Additionally, they can reach out via my city email address or connect with me on my Facebook page.

Q: How is the city’s infrastructure and what needs further work?

A: Overall, I would say the city’s infrastructure is continually evolving and growing to meet our needs. The city leadership and council have been forward-thinking about infrastructure for years. As with most large projects, it takes time to see the plans come to life. From the time I joined the oversight committee for the 1/2 cent sales tax to now, I’ve seen how much time and money is invested in our roads. The city manager and the streets department work diligently on improving our streets, which will be an ongoing project.

The Highway 76 project has been in the pipeline for years, and I’m happy to see the work starting soon. While construction will be inconvenient, it will make that stretch of highway safer. Highway 130 also needs attention and is the responsibility of ODOT, so we need to reach out to our state legislators to keep this top of mind for them.

The wastewater treatment facility is expected to be completed around May or June this year, which is an exciting accomplishment. From the preliminary development plans to now, this project has spanned approximately eight years. The City has also begun working on another facility at the northeast corner of Highway 62 and Highway 9. Additionally, the City is actively working on replacing water lines where needed.

Q: Are there economic development opportunities you would pose to the City?

A: I am very excited about the future of Newcastle and the opportunities ahead. Many of the ideas I would propose are already part of The Newcastle 2040 Comprehensive Plan. This plan outlines goals for various mixed-use developments. The City has already drawn up plans for a “Town Center Plaza,” which will be fantastic for creating jobs and generating sales tax revenue to support future development. Other ideas mentioned that I would love to see come to fruition include a community garden, recreation center, robust trail network, and arts and cultural activities.

Q: Are there any services the City doesn’t already have that it could offer residents?

A: A service I would love to see provided is public transportation. Public transportation offers numerous benefits, such as reducing traffic congestion, lowering carbon emissions, and promoting physical activity. It also enhances social connections and provides economic benefits to the community by increasing business sales and property values. Implementing public transportation in Newcastle could greatly improve the quality of life for residents and support the City’s growth and development.

MIKE FULLERTON

Q: Candidate Name and office you seek?

A: Mike Fullerton, City of Newcastle Council member Ward 3 Q: Who are the members of your family?

A: Married to my beautiful wife Lisa Fullerton for 38 years, raised two sons in the same house right here in Newcastle. Oldest son and daughter- in-law Trevor and Kurstin Fullerton; youngest son Tyler Fullerton; granddaughter Blakelee Fullerton Q: What is your employment?

A: I have been a Senior Civil Technician designing infrastructure projects like water, sewer, highways, and roadways for 40 years. The last 34 years with the same company and the last five of those years doing Utility Relocation for ODOT projects. I have taken all this professional knowledge and experience to the city council to help make improvements to our own community. As a member of the city council, I am committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and transparency. I recognize the importance of making decisions that serve the best interests of our community, and I will always be vigilant in ensuring that I do not have any conflicts of interest. By fully disclosing any potential conflicts and recusing myself from discussions or votes where necessary, I strive to maintain trust and accountability in all my actions as a public servant.

Q: Why are you seeking a seat on the Newcastle City Council?

A: In my youth, I was in the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, along with being a member of the Future Farmers of America where I earned a State Farmers Degree, both organizations taught me about Duty to God, Duty to Country and Duty to Community. These two organizations embedded me with a goal to be a public servant and to be actively part of and help when I can to make my community better.

Growing up, my parents owned two small businesses, Fullerton Plumbing and Elaine’s Beauty Shop in Duncan as well as the family farm at Empire. I worked both farming and plumbing growing up from childhood to adulthood and that was how I paid for my way through college at first. I understand small business owners and the difficulty they have with overreaching government policies wether it be federal, state, county, and even local city government.

I also understand that for a local business to stay open, it takes a certain number of possible customers walking in daily to keep those doors open, so growth is also good for small business owners. Years ago, when I was first elected to city council, I took a pledge to follow the U.S. Constitution, Oklahoma Constitution, Oklahoma State Law, and all ordinances of Newcastle.

From my very early childhood years, I learned to be an American first and to follow the rules. Growing up on the farm in south central Oklahoma, my parents modeled and taught strong conservative values, independence to reach for success, and heart to help others — not with a hand out but with a hand up. Those conservative values I have carried forward into my adulthood.

Q: What are the positive attributes of the City of Newcastle?

A: Positive small hometown atmosphere feeling! You see this daily. When someone needs assistance with an issue, you see folks reaching out to give a helping hand up, not a handout, especially when it comes to helping our youth programs in our community. I have seen this personally over 20-plus years while working with different youth involved groups like Scouting and 4-H shooting sport programs.

I have spoken with so many new families over 30 years that have moved here for the exact same reason. Newcastle has become the next best place to live, if you had to pick up and leave your small town to follow a career in the metro area. This made Newcastle that coveted bedroom community to be part of over the decades.

Q: How would you work to