Lawton voters return Booker, Hankins to office

Lawton voters returned two incumbents to their offices Tuesday, while selecting two other candidates for a runoff election in Ward 2.

In the mayoral election, Stan Booker won a third term, while Ward 1 Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins won her third term on the City Council. In Ward 2, voters narrowed a five-person race to two candidates: R.L. Smith and Shelli Fox, who will proceed to a runoff during the November General Election.

Booker won 62.34 percent of the votes cast in the mayoral election that drew five candidates. His final tally was 3,842 votes. Other candidates were: Jacobi Crowley, 1,685 or 27.34 percent; Ronald Ballew, 388 votes or 6.30 percent; Cindy Edgar, 128 votes or 2.08 percent; and Matina Davis, 120 votes or 1.95 percent.

Booker said he was excited by the win and ready to get back to work.

“I’m humbled that they would return me for a third and final term, to finish the work that we have begun,” he said. “I’m very appreciative and excited that PROPEL 2040 passed. That will launch Lawton. And, I have the great fortune to work with a great council and with the return of Mary Ann Hankins, it looks like that is going to continue. And, congratulations to the two candidates in Ward 2 who will move forward. I know both and either one will be a great addition to the council. We will propel the city forward, thanks to the citizens’ vote.”

Booker said one of his priorities is the same one everyone in city hall has: implementing the proposals to be funded by the Capital Improvements Program Extension. He said some focus already is beginning on parks and recreation, to include the youth sports complex and upgrades to city parks, and plans already are in place to continue road upgrades. Other priorities will be upgrades to the animal shelter and Museum of the Great Plains.

Hankins said she also is excited about Lawton’s future. Hankins won 62.65 percent of the votes cast in her ward, or 416 votes to 248 votes cast for Larry Walls.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I’m excited to see things to fruition, things that this council has started. And, we’re aggressive and a forward-moving council and I get to see those things to fruition. I want to serve my city.”

Hankins said some of those projects are ones calculated to make Lawton a more family-friendly city, especially for families with young children. She also wants to support initiatives that will bring more young adults into service for their city, which is why a family-friendly atmosphere is crucial.

“There’s nothing wrong with the City of Lawton that a positive attitude and progress wouldn’t help,” she said. “There’s an old saying: are we looking for solutions or blame? If it’s blame, we still haven’t solved the problems.”

In Ward 2, constituents are replacing Councilman Kelly Harris, who did not seek re-election. Tuesday’s results pushed two of the five candidates toward the November runoff: R.L. Smith, who won 289 votes or 40.48 percent, and Shelli Fox, who won 135 votes or 18.91 percent. Other candidates were: Jervis Jackson Jr., 109 votes; Justin Harrill, 95 votes; and David Reeves, 86 votes.

Fox said she’s excited about the opportunity to proceed to the runoff and plans to keep doing what she has done: talking to constituents.

“I’m looking forward to the next three months,” she said. “I’ll do my best to beat him. I think I’m the better candidate.”

Fox said she will continue to knock on doors to talk to Ward 2 residents and to put out signs. She also plans more town hall meetings, to give citizens a chance to voice their opinion. She’s also reaching out to the candidates who didn’t make the runoff.

“I thought all five people who were running had really good campaigns and really good ideas,” she said.

Attempts to reach Smith for comment were unsuccessful.