OKLAHOMA CITY (Free Press) — Oklahoma City voters will return to the polls in a few weeks to decide who will fill two seats on the OKC City Council in the upcoming election on February 11.
In this election cycle, only voters in Ward 3 and Ward 7 will determine who will represent them for the next four years, as Ward 1 Councilman Bradley Carter and Ward 4 Councilman Todd Stone were unopposed and automatically re-elected.
The filing period for the nonpartisan election closed in the first week of December – with some candidates launched their campaigns early last year, others have only recently entered the race to join the nine-member horseshoe.
Ward 3
Barbara Peck – incumbent
Incumbent Barbara Peck is seeking a second term to represent Ward 3, which covers areas in the west and southwest parts of the city – extending into western Canadian County and the northwest corner of Cleveland County.
Peck, a longtime Ward 3 resident and businesswoman, was first elected in 2021 when she defeated her former opponent Jessica Brooks-Jimenez in a runoff for the Ward 3 seat. With over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, she has spent a majority of her career working in development with OKC-based Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.
Before her time on the council, Peck was a 911 dispatcher for the Oklahoma City Police Department. She currently serves as Trustee with the OKC Airports Trusts, the Riverfront Redevelopment Authority, Human Rights Commission, Audit Committee Trails Committee. She is also a board member of the Alliance for
During Peck’s tenure, she highlights that the community has benefited from over 70 miles of road improvements without raising any taxes.
If re-elected, some of her priorities would include supporting public safety, improving roads and infrastructure, addressing homelessness, protecting quality of life, and improving the economy.
“I deliver. I am endorsed by public safety. I oversaw miles of road expansion, advocate for tax payers, and supports developing a robust economy as a business woman,” Peck wrote in an email response to the Free Press.
Katrina Bedell Avers
Katrina Bedell Avers, a fifth generation Ward 3 resident and scientist, filed to run against Peck in November.
According to her campaign website, Avers is an entrepreneur, Christian leader, and rancher. She holds a Phd and Masters of Psychology from the University of Oklahoma, with expertise in leadership, innovation, and human performance in aerospace. She was recently recognized as a SWOSU Hall of Famer for her contributions to aviation safety and human factors research.
On her campaign website, Avers outlines her priorities for Ward 3, including preserving public safety, enhancing employment opportunities and wages and improving roads and public infrastructure.
Ward 7
Four candidates have joined the race for Ward 7, seeking to succeed longtime Councilwoman Nikki Nice as she transitions to the Oklahoma Senate. The seat is temporarily held on an interim basis by appointee and former Councilman Lee Cooper.
The expansive Ward 7 covers a vast area of the city, including the northeast, the historic eastside, and stretches into the southwest near Nicoma Park and Del City. Its size surpasses that of most senate districts.
Masood A. Haqq
Masood A. Haqq, a community organizer, author and co-founder of Peace of Mind Pediatrics, launched his campaign in the spring of last year. Originally from Atlanta, Haqq established roots in Oklahoma City over a decade ago and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.
He serves as the chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Oklahoma and as the secretary of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce.
Haqq said that his decision to run for the seat was influenced by former Senator George Young who encouraged him to consider public service to utilize his leadership and communication skills.
The political newcomer aims to prioritize homeless outreach, affordable housing, economic development, infrastructure improvements, and youth programs.
“I’m of the people and I’m for the people,” Haqq said in an interview with the Free Press “I’m not a person who [ward 7 residents] they’re just starting to see because I want votes… I’ve already been apart of this community. I’ve been a person who’s bringing resources and assets to the community and I just want to continue to do that from a position where we can make the most change.”
Andrea Holman
Andrea Holman, who currently serves as the president for the Park Estates North/Cashions Wildewood neighborhood in northeast OKC, entered the race for Ward 7 during the filing period in December.
Holman did not not appear to have a campaign website, however she does have an active Facebook account that she has recently dedicated to campaign efforts.
According to an article by the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma, Holman has strong ties to the northeast OKC Community. She attended Langston University, where she earned a bachelors degree in broadcast journalism, before continuing her education with a master’s in international relations at a private university.
In a Ward 7 candidate’s forum hosted by OKC Alunnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Holman emphasized that education is her top priority, stating that it connects to every other issue affecting both the city and Ward 7.
“Education is so important because our education deals with every aspect,” Holman said during the forum. “It deals with the social infrastructure, it deals with the affordable housing and it deals with homelessness.”
Camal Pennington
Camal Pennington, a northeast OKC native and the Ward 7 Planning Commissioner, launched his campaign for the Ward 7 seat in May last year.
Pennington is currently the executive director of It’s My Community Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on enhancing and expanding programs to strengthen families and communities.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and government at Oklahoma City University on a Clara Luper scholarship, then attended law school at OU. He is the president of the Harding Fine Arts Academy School Board as well as board member of the Northeast Oklahoma City Renaissance.
In 2016, he ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for House District 97.
Pennington’s priorities include empowering families, economic and community development, and public safety.
“The reason why I’m running is because I believe every kid in every part of our community deserves the same opportunity as I did to grow up in a healthy, strong family in a safe neighborhood,” Pennington said in an interview with the Free Press. “So all the work that I want to do is centered around how we can build safe, healthy, thriving communities so that our families are strong.”
John Pettis Jr.
The former Ward 7 Councilman is seeking to return to office after announcing his candidacy last fall. Pettis previously resigned in 2018 after holding the seat for five years, following charges of embezzlement and intentionally failing to file state tax returns.
He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor tax evasion charge after embezzlement counts were dropped.
As a part of his plea agreement, Pettis was given a five year deferred sentence for the misdemeanor. In addition, Pettis made an agreement with the DA’s Office (1) to refrain from seeking public office in the future, (2) to never again hold a position that would grant him control over public funds, and (3) pay a $5,000 fine.
The deferred sentence was scheduled to be over in five years which would have been August 21, 2024.
But before that, Pettis filed a motion in May to expunge the charge after Oklahoma County District Judge Cindy Truong accelerated the dismissal of his case earlier that month.
But, the motion for expungement was opposed by the OK County DA’s office arguing that the case is not eligible for expungement until May 16, 2025. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation submitted a filing in support of the DA’s argument.
Pettis’ motion for expungement is still listed as pending.
The public documents from the case are available on the OSCN network at CV-2024-1416 .
Pettis highlighted his extensive track record in Ward 7 and his commitment to continuing his efforts if re-elected.
“I believe I represented the people of Ward 7 very well and when the seat became open, I decided to run for City Council again – that has always been my plan, so this is nothing new at all,” Pettis told Free Press in an interview.
He emphasized his efforts to reduce crime in northeast OKC by introducing foot patrols and implementing body cameras, accomplishments he attributed to fostering collaboration between the community and law enforcement.
“When I was in on the city council we had some major success. We had the success of driving down crime in Ward 7 and one of the reasons why were able to decrease crime in Ward 7, especially the Spring Lake division, [law enforcement] they would actually get out of their car and do foot patrol and I would actually do foot patrol with them and see what was some of their concerns about safety in northeast OKC.”
Pettis said his priorities for Ward 7 will remain on economic development, crime reduction and improving infrastructure.
Voting information
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11. All registered voters in Wards 3 and 7 will be eligible to participate in this nonpartisan election.
To locate your polling place and view a sample ballot for your precinct, visit the OK Voter Portal.
Embark Bus and OKC Streetcar services will be free on all routes throughout Election Day.
Brianna Garcia is a freelance journalist covering local politics and culture for Free Press. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Oklahoma.