Two Newcastle City Council seats and one Newcastle Public Schools Board of Education seat will be on the ballot Tuesday, April 1. An election will be at area polling locations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Filing for Council Member Ward No. 1 are Todd D. D’Amico, 54, and incumbent, Kimberly Sutton, 51.
Two also filed for the Council Member Ward No. 3 seat. Incumbent Mike Fullerton, 59, and Jon Malcolm, 42, filed for the position.
Two Newcastle residents have filed for Office No. 5 of the Newcastle Public Schools Board of Education.
Incumbent Jeremy Gilbertson, 49, has filed to retain the office he was appointed to, and James Orton, 69, has filed as a challenger.
Early voting is available at the McClain County Election Board from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today (Thursday) through tomorrow.
Incumbent City Council members Karl Nail and Gene Reid filed unopposed for their seats and will continue serving. Nail, 58, represents Ward No. 4 and has been serving as mayor of Newcastle. Reid, 75, represents the Council Member at Large seat. He is a former mayor.
Blanchard resident Donna Stokes, 83, was the sole filer for Office No. 1 of the Mid-America Technology Center Board. No election will be necessary for this office.
Candidates’ Q & A & Sample Ballots further those attributes?
A: Moving forward with Newcastle, we need to be more than just a bedroom community with that small town feeling, we need to be a community that maintains that small town feeling in our hearts all while welcoming good paying jobs inside our city when we have a chance to recruit manufacturing, or other industrial employment to Newcastle. Thru Tubing is a prime example of the types of manufacturing needed in Newcastle. We just need to make sure we have more diversified industry in our city, so we do not experience the boom and crash of just one industry being the primary employer. I experienced that many times when I was growing up and first married living in my hometown of Duncan.
Q: What are the negative attributes of the City of Newcastle?
A: Growth, just like any town/city that has a positive influx of growth — that increased population places a burden and taxes the existing infrastructure services. Newcastle has had its fair share of growing pains and will continue. In the original years of growth starting in the 1960s and 70s,Newcastle leadership had a burden of trying to expand water and sewer services to new subdivisions that were miles away from existing services. Unfortunately, not having much sales tax revenue Newcastle accomplished what they could by running undersized line to areas needing fresh water to get those areas up and going. This happened because to keep areas of Newcastle from being swallowed up in the 1960s by other cities like Oklahoma City, Tuttle and Blanchard we took in 62+/- square miles of city limits to stop being absorbed into part of those other communities. Good or bad it is what Newcastle is today.
Q: How would you address the negative attributes?
A: While sitting on council, I have been part of implementing new city standards and requirements to land developers with my fellow council members, like running (preferably) 12” waterlines down section line roads to new subdivisions so that fire protection and supply is plentiful. I have witnessed other communities in our area that have basically failed to maintain the basic needs (water) for its residents. Newcastle is starting to see some of the outcomes of these standards and ordinances to be positive for Newcastle.
Q: How is the city’s infrastructure and what needs further work?
A: City infrastructure in general is making huge strides, but we have more work to do. When I first was elected to council one of the first things I noticed was the bridge on N.E. 16th St. that had been washed out since we were under the roadway maintenance of the county commissioners. I approached my council members and county commissioner at the time to possibly use the old crosstown beams that the county had to rebuild a bridge that allowed the roadway to be open for use much more cost-effectively with no compromise to quality.
This bridge had been closed for about 15-20 years at that time making it difficult to access Pine Crest (soccer fields), especially if an emergency service vehicle needed to come to aid in an accident. Looking forward, the city is already moving forward with an additional wastewater treatment facility in the southern area of Newcastle to help with the growth that is beginning to be seen in that area. The City will also be adding an additional freshwater conduit under the river for additional water services with a current need to replace some section line waterlines to help circulation by looping waterlines, all while increasing pressure levels. Many section line roadways need to be made safer that have historically been neglected by the county when they were helping the city by widening the roadway and resurfacing.
The City is also placing proper sized drainage ditches and drainage structures to properly drain the roadway which helps in maintaining the condition of the roadway. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet with other council members across Oklahoma and it seems every community has some type of growing pains no matter how large or tiny they are. I will also say many communities have used Newcastle as a good example of how to help improve their cities as well.
Q: Are there economic development opportunities you would pose to the City?
A: I would like to see more manufacturing industry in Newcastle. This allows locals to not have to travel outside the community for jobs. It also gives back to the community through property taxes for the school district without adding to the number of students, while also increasing sale tax revenues to help with City services. In the future, we will see additional local sales tax revenues build as our economic growth opportunities are realized. Especially with the new river bridge crossings coming in a few years in the Tri-City area.
Q: Are there any services the City doesn’t already have that it could offer residents?
A: The conservative side of me is for smaller government because the more you grow your City services the more burden economically it is on its residents of the community. The current areas of our city I would like to see improved more is Parks and Sport Complex. These two areas make life better for our residents, all while keeping and bringing in outside dollars to our local businesses.
I would like to see our police and fire have additional members and equipment like a ladder truck that would help give us better fire ratings and hopefully lower insurance costs.
JON MALCOLM
Q: Candidate Name and office you seek?
A: Jon Malcolm, City of Newcastle Council member Ward 3 Q: Who are the members of your family?
A: Two brothers, who are my best friends. A daughter who is the light of my world Q: What is your employment?
A: Line cook at BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse.
Q: Why are you seeking a seat on the Newcastle City Council?
A: I grew up in this town, I’m proud of this town. Our City and council members have always been exemplary. I want to continue that tradition of excellence, and I don’t think it’s a bad thing to get new perspectives into local leadership.
Q: What are the positive attributes of the City of Newcastle?
A: We are rated as one of the best places to live in Oklahoma, according to a Google search. I feel we are a community that is excellent for raising children.
Q: How would you work to further those attributes?
A: I would continue to support local education. I want to explore ideas that will build a sense of community, and bring a togetherness that will continue to make us a great place to live and perhaps make our town the place that families want to move to in order to give themselves and their children the best start and chances of success.
Q: What are the negative attributes of the City of Newcastle?
A: I feel that Newcastle can be a bit clique-ish depending on who you know and who you spend time with. The trash service can be unreliable at times, an issue I know the city council is looking at right now. The small but noticeable homeless population in Newcastle is a matter of concern to many residents.
Q: How would you address the negative attributes?
A: I would address the clique-ish nature of our community by encouraging community events that would bring people together that would hardly meet otherwise. The city council is already addressing the unreliable trash service. I would have to ask and explore solutions to the homeless population that would preserve some dignity and humanity. You don’t solve homelessness by destroying camps.
Q: How is the city’s infrastructure and what needs further work?
A: The city’s infrastructure is fantastic, from what I can tell. I am certain that residents have issues or concerns that I am not currently privy to, and I look forward to working with residents and the city council to address these concerns.
Q: Are there economic development opportunities you would pose to the City?
A: I am most interested in economic opportunities that would provide residents the option of opening their own businesses. Local and small businesses are the beating heart of community, and it helps add to the city’s character and distinctiveness.
Q: Are there any services the City doesn’t already have that it could offer residents?
A: With grocery prices being a continuing concern for Newcastle residents and Oklahomans statewide perhaps the city could work with seed suppliers to offer discounted seeds and information on how to grow our own small gardens. This could provide some financial relief for struggling families while also encouraging a healthy outdoor hobby.
