Election asking Guthrie voters to decide on utility rates; Republicans to decide next sheriff

Voters will be heading out to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether elected city officials will continue to overlook utility rates, or change the city’s charter and let the people decide on any future proposed increases.

A yes vote would mean a change to the charter and any future water or sewer rate increase would be decided by a vote of the people instead of the Guthrie city council. A no vote will keep the council in control and keep the charter in place.

Tuesday’s Election: All the information you need | Guthrie Proposition Ballot | Sheriff Primary Runoff 2016 Ballot

The City was ordered by the Supreme Court to hold this election after the Oklahoma Court of Appeals overturned a Logan County judge’s decision, which ruled in favor of the City, on the initiative petition presented by former city Councilwoman Patty Hazlewood and resident Karen Schandorf on Sept. 7, 2008.

Hazlewood and Schandorf have proposed the city should not be allowed to raise water and sewer rates, but instead be submitted to the legal voters of the city for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election or at a special election.

Norman is the only city in Oklahoma that has utility rates decided by voters.

A finance director for Norman, who testified in district court in July 2013, said it is a “bad business practice.”

Guthrie City Manager Bruce Johnson in a council meeting said, “No (city) representative has ever come to me in my entire career and said, ‘Bruce we want to make the city worse and somehow cripple it to make sure that our citizenry out there are in the worse possible condition they can be.’ That’s exactly what this type of lawsuit, vote and mindset could cripple our community going into the future.”

The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for eligible voters within the city limits.

Voters to decide on next Logan County Sheriff

Sheriff Jim Bauman faces off with challenger Damon Deveraux for the next sheriff for Logan County.

With no Democrat on the ballot, the winner will avoid a November campaign, which results only Republican voters being allowed to vote in the Republican primary vote.

In June, seven candidates were seeking the top law enforcement spot in the county. Bauman came away with the majority of the votes while former City of Guthrie Police Chief Devereaux finished second in the polls. Related story: Sheriff’s race headed to a runoff; Pearson elected to office

Bauman, who won 16 precincts, collected 1,712 votes, or 45.23 percent, while Deveraux, who won five precincts, brought in 1,157 votes, or 30.57 percent.