Ward 2 Councilor James Cooper Announces Re-Election Campaign for 2023
Contact: media@jamesforokc.com
Oklahoma City, OK - Today, Oklahoma City Councilor James Cooper announced his re-election campaign for a second four-year term as Ward 2’s representative. The primary election occurs Tuesday, February 14, 2023. The message Cooper will share with Ward 2 voters is simple: we’ve made significant progress and—working together—we can continue to make our ward more walkable, better connect our neighborhoods with reliable public transportation, and link city services to our people.
“Three years ago—after our state’s historic teacher walkout—Northwest OKC residents took a chance on me, a young teacher from Ward 2’s Paseo neighborhood. With a second term, we’ll build on accomplishments and work to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls OKC and Ward 2 home,” said Cooper. “I won’t let despair, cynicism, or anyone undo our city’s progress.”
Since taking office in April 2019, Cooper worked to finish MAPS 3’s remaining projects, implement 2017’s Better Streets, Safer City infrastructure improvements, craft MAPS 4’s $978 million investment in OKC’s people, parks, and places, and pass a resolution to research and implement public safety initiatives based on community outreach and council input. He also met regularly with residents during scheduled office hours and passed employment protections based on gender identity and expression in OKC’s Personnel Policy. When the pandemic began, Cooper prioritized public health and science, and he fought to secure $122 million in federal funding to replace lost revenue facing the city due to COVID-19, specifically for public health, infrastructure, and community needs.
Looking forward, Cooper is most excited about implementing MAPS 4, connecting city staff with residents to implement MAPS 4’s parks, community gardens, and youth center projects, and seeing 2023’s Northwest Rapid BRT service offer reliable public transit for Ward 2 neighborhoods, providing accountability for his public safety resolution’s initiatives, advocating for a dedicated funding source for street maintenance and transit operations, and preparing residents for the next general obligation bond package.
James Cooper is the first openly LGBTQ member of the Oklahoma City Council, a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University. He serves on OCU’s Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, and OKC’s Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA) Board of Trustees. In 2019, Cooper won a five-way primary race with 53.03% of the vote, avoiding the general election to become Ward 2’s representative.
Supporters and constituents can learn more about Cooper’s stances on the issues and his campaign at www.jamesforokc.com.
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