Norman residents seek declaratory judgment, injunction against homeless shelter bond election

Three Norman residents are seeking a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the city of Norman, asking a district judge to answer if the general obligation bond election to construct a city-owned, permanent homeless shelter was legitimately called under the Oklahoma Constitution.

The residents, represented by Noble attorney Gregory Failing, argue in a legal filing that the shelter bond election, which was passed with 54% of the vote, should have required a 60% supermajority approval from voters, rather than a simple majority.

The three residents suing are Teresa Borum, William Coker and Dianna Hutzel, who recently lost her bid for the Ward 5 council member seat in the April runoff election with Ward 5 Councilmember Trey Kirby.

Failing argues that the election should have been authorized under the Oklahoma Constitution Article 10, Statute 26, which requires cities and other political subdivisions to become indebted only with three-fifths of voter approval.



https://www.normantranscript.com/news/norman-residents-seek-declaratory-judgment-injunction-against-homeless-shelter-bond-election/article_d99c2cfe-f38b-4f7e-b346-611228e31c15.html