Kelly Is To Seek Reelection Says Some Ask Him to Run

 

By MARIANNE S. COLE
Special to the Chronicle

 

 

City Councilman Ronald “Skip” Kelly (Ward 7) said in a statement that he will seek reelection.
He made that declaration despite his facing felony charges that may lead to his not being able to finish his term if he wins.
The city councilman said he has been approached by religious and business leaders, as well as residents from throughout Ward 7, asking him to seek another term.
The election will be Tuesday, March 5, and a runoff, if needed, will be held Tuesday, April 2..
There has been some speculation about whether the 63-year-old councilman would seek reelection, since he faces felony charges related to an alleged driving-under-the-influence incident.
He was arrested in that incident late one night last year after officers found him behind the wheel of his damaged car that had run into a fire hydrant and upon a curb.
Councilman Kelly refused to take a sobriety test, and was arrested.
That arrest was his second in three years.
In 2009, Councilman Kelly was arrested after officers said he had been driving erratically and speeding on Interstate 35 at about 2 a.m. one morning.
He was charged with a misdemeanor DUI offense, pleaded guilty and apologized during a meeting of the City Council.
With last year’s arrest, Councilman Kelly was charged with a felony, with prosecutors saying a state law requires such a charge, since that was his second DUI offense to occur in less than a 10-year period.
A state law was cited that mandates a felony charge.
But Councilman Kelly appealed to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, saying the law under which he was charged should not apply to his case, since last year’s incident occurred after the law went into effect.
Due to his appeal, his preliminary hearing was postponed until March.
If the city councilman is convicted of a felony, he must resign his seat, and, since he’s a lawyer, may face disbarment.
A special election will have to be held if Councilman Kelly wins the March 5 election or the runoff, is convicted of a felony and has to resign.
In his announcement of his plans to seek reelection, Councilman Kelly was described as “a fierce advocate” for Ward 7.
“He has successfully fought for tough new laws against gang violence,” the statement said, “and to make sure Ward 7 receives its fair share of city funding for streets and other improvements.”
The councilman’s statement said he “strongly supported efforts” that helped bring the Oklahoma City Thunder here, referring to the professional basketball team.
The city councilman “also fought for a senior citizens exemption from city sales taxes, the campaign announcement said.
Councilman Kelly said in the announcement that he has “the respect and support of my fellow council members and the mayor.”
“They and I may not always agree,” Councilman Kelly said, “but they always listen.”
“When I have said that Ward 7 needs more MAPS III funding,” Councilman Kelly stated, “and when I have said our Ward 7 city swimming pools and sidewalks are just as important as those in other parts of the city, they listened.”
“And, more often than not,” he continued, “they have agreed.”
Three others have filed to oppose Councilman Kelly.
John E. Billbury III, 57, a retired officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a retired worker at Tinker U.S. Air Force Base, was one of them.
Lillie R. Buckner, 74, a Democratic Party activist, also filed for the seat, as did John A. Pettis Jr., 30, director of the Oklahoma Institute for Minority Affairs.