James Greiner
James Greiner was a member of the Oklahoma City Council, representing Ward 1. Greiner assumed office in 2013. Greiner left office on April 13, 2021.
Greiner ran for re-election to the Oklahoma City Council to represent Ward 1. Greiner won in the primary on February 14, 2017.
Although city council elections in Oklahoma City are officially nonpartisan, Greiner was known to be affiliated with the Republican Party.[1]
Biography
Greiner earned a B.F.A. in graphic design from Oklahoma State University.[2][3]
As of his 2017 bid for re-election, Greiner was a senior graphic designer in the Hobby Lobby Art/Creative Department. He has served on the Oklahoma City Environmental Assistance Trust, the Oklahoma City Municipal Facilities Authority, the Oklahoma City Public Property Authority, the Oklahoma City Finance Committee and Neighborhood Conservation Committee, and the Arts Commission.[2]
Elections
2021
James Greiner did not file to run for re-election.
2017
The city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, held a primary election for city council on February 14, 2017. A general election was scheduled for April 4, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was December 7, 2016.
The city council seats in Wards 1, 3, 4, and 7 were up for election in the February primary. Incumbents ran for re-election in every ward except for Ward 4. Ward 4 incumbent Pete White announced his intention to retire from the council in November 2016.[4][5] Incumbent James Greiner defeated Chris Gordon and Jonathan Clour in the primary election for the Ward 1 seat on the Oklahoma City Council.[6]
| Oklahoma City Council, Ward 1 Primary Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 James Greiner Incumbent |
52.04% | 1,070 |
| Chris Gordon | 42.61% | 876 |
| Jonathan Clour | 5.35% | 110 |
| Total Votes | 2,056 | |
| Source: Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official Results," accessed March 4, 2017 | ||
Campaign themes
2017
In January 2017, the Oklahoma Gazette reported that, "Concerns about blight in neighborhoods and an uptick in crime remain top issues for Greiner’s reelection campaign. The senior graphic designer in Hobby Lobby’s art/creative department supports a new fire and police training facility as a project of the 2017 General Obligation Bond issue." Greiner said:
| “ |
We share a facility with OSU-OKC. That really restricts the number of recruits for our police department, and it hinders [us] from hiring more than just what attrition takes away. If we want to be serious about increasing the police department to the point it needs to be, that is going to be something we really need. And allocating more money to hire more officers.[7][8] |
” |
Greiner also supported using infrastructure funding for street repaving projects. "Over the last few years, the citizens survey has said citizens are most dissatisfied with their streets. It is hands down the biggest issue," he told the Gazette. "When people are talking about streets, for the most part, they are talking about arterial streets that everyone drives on every single day. When you talk about resurfacing one of those streets, it is a lot cheaper than widening."[7]
Greiner's 2017 campaign website listed the following priorities:[9]
| “ |
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A proposed development, Redstone Ranch, was also an issue in Ward 1 in the lead-up to the 2017 election. The developer proposed developing approximately 320 acres of farmland from Piedmont to Mustang Road and Britton Road to Hefner into a 1,200-home neighborhood. Some city residents opposed the development plan, citing concerns about road safety, increased burdens on emergency responders and public schools, and the loss of the area's rural character and green spaces. They petitioned Greiner to address the concerns before allowing the development plan to move forward.[10][11] In response to inquiries about the petition on his Facebook page, Greiner said:[12]
| “ |
Thank you all for bringing up this issue. I am aware of it and have been working on it. My short answer would be that I too think there needs to be improvements made to the intersections at Highway 4. I believe the intersections on Highway 4 are being addressed by [the Oklahoma Department of Transportation], but I'm checking on a timetable with our Public Works Department. As far as denying the [developer's plat plan], I don't think there is any legal way to deny it if the developer is adhering to all our ordinances. I know we have never denied a plat during my 3.5 years on the Council. But I'm checking with our Legal Department on that issue as well.[8] |
” |
See also
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Red Dirt Report, "OKC City Council Rejects Indigenous Peoples' Day Once Again, 5-4," October 13, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The City of Oklahoma City, "Councilman James Greiner," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ Oklahoma City Council, "Biography," accessed August 13, 2014
- ↑ City of Oklahoma City, "Upcoming Elections," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ NewsOK, "Ward 4 Oklahoma City Councilman Pete White to Retire," November 25, 2016
- ↑ The City of Oklahoma City, "2017 Council Elections," accessed January 26, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Oklahoma Gazette, "Ward 1 Candidates Prepare for Feb. 14's Oklahoma City Council Election," January 18, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ James Greiner - OKC City Council, Ward 1, "My Top Priorities," accessed January 31, 2017
- ↑ KFOR, "Hundreds Sign Petition against Proposed Northwest Oklahoma City Development," August 22, 2016
- ↑ Change.org, "Citizens against Development at Piedmont Rd & Britton - Red Stone Ranch Development," accessed January 5, 2017
- ↑ Facebook, "James Greiner for City Council on August 21, 2016," accessed January 5, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Oklahoma City City Council, Ward 1 2013–2021 |
Succeeded by Bradley Carter |
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State of Oklahoma Oklahoma City (capital) |
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