Walter Kula
Walter Kula was a candidate for Ward 4 representative on the Oklahoma City Council in Oklahoma. He was defeated in the primary election on February 14, 2017. Click here to read Kula's response to Ballotpedia's 2017 municipal candidate survey.
Although city council elections in Oklahoma City are officially nonpartisan, Kula is known to be affiliated with the Republican Party.[1]
Biography
Kula earned an associate degree in police science from the Community College of the Air Force, an associate degree in general studies from Georgia Military College, a B.A. in criminal justice administration from Park College, and an M.A. in management from Webster University.[1][2]
As of his 2017 run for city council, Kula was an aerospace science instructor in the Air Force Junior ROTC program at Choctaw High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1978 to 2005, when he retired as a chief master sergeant. From his retirement until 2008, he was the chief of guards for the USProtect Corporation.[2]
Kula has served as chair of the Oklahoma City Traffic and Transportation Commission and the Tinker Air Force Base Chiefs Group. He has also worked with Oklahoma City's SouthEast Sector Planning Community Group, Lions Club International, and Tinker Federal Credit Union's credit committee. Kula has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.[2]
Elections
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.
Four of the eight city council seats were up for election in the February primary—in Wards 1, 3, 4, and 7. 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.[3][4]
Richard Morrissette and Todd Stone defeated Doris Mangiaracina Benbrook and Walter Kula in the primary election for the Ward 4 seat on the Oklahoma City Council.[5]
| Oklahoma City Council, Ward 4 Primary Election, 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Richard Morrissette |
48.04% | 856 |
| Todd Stone |
33.28% | 593 |
| Doris Mangiaracina Benbrook | 9.54% | 170 |
| Walter Kula | 9.15% | 163 |
| Total Votes | 1,782 | |
| Source: Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official Results," accessed March 4, 2017 | ||
Campaign themes
2017
Kula participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of municipal government candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what his top priority would be if elected, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ |
Learn exactly what we do and why. From that budgets can be properly created.[1][6] |
” |
When asked what he would most like to change about the city, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ |
Community support for education. Residents must own their schools[1][6] |
” |
When asked what he is most proud of about the city, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues by importance in the city, with 1 being the most important and 12 being the least important. This table displays this candidate's rankings from most to least important:
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| K-12 education | |
| Government transparency | |
| Crime reduction/prevention | |
| Housing | |
| City services (trash, utilities, etc.) | |
| Transportation | |
| Civil rights | |
| Unemployment | |
| Homelessness | |
| Environment | |
| Recreational opportunities | |
| NA | |
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer four questions from Ballotpedia regarding issues facing cities across America. The questions are in the left column and the candidate's responses are in the right column:
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
| Very important | |
| Federal | |
| Public outreach/education programs | |
| Recruiting new businesses to your city |
The candidate was asked to answer three questions from Ballotpedia regarding specific issues facing Oklahoma City in 2017. This section displays the questions and the candidate's responses.
Q1: Sales tax revenue in Oklahoma City has declined recently. How, if at all, do you think the city should respond to the decline in revenue?
| “ |
Work with the State to have them allow a more stable funding source.[1][6] |
” |
Q2: A general obligation bond package will go before Oklahoma City voters in September 2017. Which projects, if any, do you think should be included in the bond package?
| “ | ” |
Q3: Would you favor increasing the property tax rate to fund more bond projects?
Yes[1]
Additional themes
Kula's 2017 campaign Facebook page listed the following as issues important to city government:[7]
| “ |
Education, Medical, Transportation, Infrastructure, Environment, City/Well Water and Sewer, Entertainment, Tinker AFB and Boeing, Land Use, Social Services, Commerce (Companies and employment) and Housing.[6] |
” |
According to the Oklahoma independent news site Red Dirt Report, "Kula supports an extension of the [city's capital improvement effort, the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS)] program, but would like to develop a long-term strategy that addresses 'citywide infrastructure' plans that would include more projects outside of the downtown and Bricktown areas."[8]
The Red Dirt Report also reported that Kula expressed concern about cuts to the city's police and fire departments, saying, "Being 200 cops short is scary. We need to find ways to make sure that is not a long term situation... We need to provide the best service for the citizens so they don't have to pay more for homeowners insurance."[8] Kula also emphasized public safety in an interview with the Oklahoma Gazette. "We want city government to provide us all that we need, good roads, fire, police and EMTs," he said. "We want it done good and done right. We need a law enforcement presence out here. We need proper fire response times. We need EMT drivers and technicians that are really good. That's what we care about in this area."[9]
See also
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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External links
- Oklahoma City Council
- Social media
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Ballotpedia's municipal government candidate survey, 2017, "Walter Kula's Responses," February 5, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Facebook, "Walter Kula for OKC Ward 4 on December 5, 2016," accessed January 6, 2017
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Facebook, "Walter Kula for OKC Ward 4 on January 2, 2017," accessed January 6, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Red Dirt Report, "Retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Seeks Ward 4 Council Seat," December 23, 2016
- ↑ Oklahoma Gazette, "Election Preview: Four Candidates Vie for Ward 4 City Council Seat," February 1, 2017
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