Bond package will help city, says mayor
Bond package will help city, says mayor

By Wendy K. Kleinman
Published: October 11, 2007

Barely more than 10 percent of eligible voters went to the polls for this week's Oklahoma City Public Schools bond election, but Mayor Mick Cornett said approval of the bond package indicates that the city is moving forward.

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The four bond proposals, worth $248.3 million, will be used to pay for improvements in school facilities, technology, transportation and security.

In addition to helping schools, Cornett said the approval will benefit the city as a whole.

"It does sing loudly about how united we are as a community, and I think it'd be very appropriate right now for our economic development people to compare our support for our inner-city school system with what other (cities do),” he said. "I think that can make a difference for us long-term.

Cornett also said he was overwhelmed by how well the bond issues did. Each passed with about 80 percent of the votes.

Who voted no?
Not everyone supported the school bonds.

"I was one of the people that voted no. As a homeowner, I voted against it,” said Robert Mulcahy, an author and retired FBI special agent. "How many people did the board of education get to vote? To me it looks like a rigged deal to start with. They've got over 11,000 people that work for the school district.”

Each of the four propositions passed with 11,000 to 11,200 votes in favor and about 3,000 votes against.

That means 10.8 percent of eligible voters, or about 14,200 people, cast votes in the special election, said Doug Sanderson, secretary of the county's election board.

"It's right within the range with what we see for special elections,” he said.

That doesn't surprise resident Jan Lovell.

"It's a typical number, and I would call that disappointing,” said Lovell, who said he is not affiliated with the school district and supported the bond package.

"I think the Oklahoma City School District, which had some severe problems a few years ago and still has some serious remaining problems, has been correcting some of those problems, and I'd like to see that continue.”

Finding the funding
Lovell said he is afraid that Americans don't recognize the importance of supporting education so that those who go to the polls can make educated decisions.

"I think (special elections) just simply hinge on people's fear of taxes, and I think when people vote negatively that is generally why — or they haven't bothered to understand the issue,” he said. "The loss of faith in government we're facing now is a major problem.”

But Mulcahy expressed skepticism about whether districts spend wisely.

Still, Cornett said citizens should expect that schools always will need bonds to operate.

"I think the voters need to assume that this is the funding source,” he said. "Schools are not something you fund once in a while.”


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Funny, most of the teachers at my school have their kids in an OKC school. But Gary wouldn't know that, because I can't imagine my principal allowing a teacher with such a horrible attitude in our school! More teachers like Gary should retire.
Neal, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 7:56 PM
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Neal, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 7:52 PM
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Richard - it's like the old saying, "You can fool some of the people all the time". The mayor and his political brethren keep telling the people of OKC -"We've got good schools, we've got good schools, we've got good schools" and many start to believe. I wonder why these same people that say this don't send their children to OKC schools. Heck, even most of the teachers in the OKC school district don't send their children to OKC schools. They're a joke.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 12:15 PM
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I'm so glad we keep pouring money into a broken system - NOT. The system will never fix itself as long as we keep pouring money into the trough. Just another tragic tax increase.I feel sorry for those that think this is a good thing.We need to attack the problem, not keep feeding it.
Richard, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 12:06 PM
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The no voter quoted in the story gives no reason why he voted against it. Being a homeowner doesn't seem like a compelling reason. Perhaps the reporter chopped up his quote.

Nonetheless, congrats to OKC for supporting this. Our city is on a roll, unlike our brothers in Tulsa who can't pass anything they put in front of their voters.
B, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 10:47 AM
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Not only that Richard, it's gullible people that have never visited these OKC schools and seen what goes on in them. These public officials like the mayor think bricks and mortar are going to improve education. However, we've still got the same students many of whom are into gangs, drugs, and alcohol, and don't give a darn about an education. Go substitute in some of these schools like I have, and you'll see firsthand.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 9:34 AM
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The game IS rigged. It was roughly 3% of the population that voted. Only the tax mongers showed up to vote for it. That's hardly a landslide. Our total distrust for our government makes our citizens don't care and don't show up to do the right thing so things like this get passed.
Richard, Oklahoma City - Oct 11, 2007 7:43 AM
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