The proprietor of a neighborhood development firm has introduced his bid for the Norman Metropolis Council Ward 6 seat, promising voters to revive police funding and increase financial progress.
A Unite Norman supporter, Torvi Building proprietor Alexander W. Torvi knocked on doorways in the course of the recall petition drive to oust odd-numbered metropolis councilors and Mayor Breea Clark in August 2020. The group shaped following the council’s vote on June 16, 2020, to reallocate practically $1 million from the Norman Police Division’s proposed finances enhance and earmark the cash for neighborhood packages and a metropolis auditor place.
Whereas Torvi reported no expertise in metropolis authorities or serving on metropolis boards, it might not be the primary expertise in civic responsibility for Torvi. He has served on an advisory board for Mid-America Know-how Facilities from 2017 to 2020, serves as secretary for his neighborhood house owner affiliation board and is becoming a member of Norman’s Residents Police Academy, which begins Monday.
Torvi known as public security “an enormous challenge” in his determination to run for council.
If elected, Torvi plans to hunt a second time period.
“It’s not my aim to make this a profession, however I like to sort things when I’ve the power to do it. I don’t wish to restrict it to 2 years. I wish to do that so long as it takes,” he mentioned.
Torvi in 2008 began Torvi Building in Moore. He and his spouse of 32 years, Suzanne, moved to Norman in 2016 to be nearer to household. His enterprise primarily serves transforming, flooring and common house enchancment development.
Torvi mentioned his expertise as a small enterprise proprietor in each Moore and Norman revealed variations in what it’s like to begin a enterprise on this metropolis. He hopes to discover measures to make the town extra aggressive for financial progress, he mentioned.
“I feel we’d like a business-minded individual on the council to have the ability to perceive all of the completely different points that come up for improvement initiatives,” Torvi mentioned. “
Financial alternative “for all residents” is one other challenge he hopes to concentrate on if elected.
“I feel the commerce jobs — there’s not sufficient concentrate on them. There’s a big share of highschool college students who don’t really feel like they match into school,” he mentioned. “I need alternative for everyone. Youngsters have to know they’ve an opportunity to achieve success even when they don’t go to varsity.”
Throughout the recall petition drive, Torvi additionally heard from residents who fear the town’s historical past of flat or minimal gross sales tax income progress might imply a drop in public providers. Oklahoma is the one state within the nation whose cities rely solely on gross sales tax to fund operations.
“Loads of residents are involved concerning the metropolis not having the ability to handle its obligations,” he recalled. “The financial progress piece is a large concern.”
Greater schooling was not a route Torvi selected and he mentioned he hopes there are methods to get the town concerned in partnerships with profession expertise facilities and small enterprise progress as a strategy to hold Norman college students within the metropolis after commencement.
Whereas residents who supported Unite Norman’s efforts made their voices heard to Torvi, he mentioned he’ll hearken to and characterize everybody whatever the challenge.
“I’ve all the time been instructed I’m an excellent listener,” he mentioned. “All of us have a civic responsibility to serve our neighbors, even those that don’t agree with you.”
If Torvi wins the election, he faces displacement outdoors his ward if the council adopts the Reapportionment Committee’s new ward boundaries. The brand new boundaries is not going to affect the Feb. 2022 election, which implies Torvi could be allowed to serve his two-year time period.
Torvi mentioned he plans to hunt a second time period whatever the ward he’ll stay in after the boundaries are adopted.
Mindy Wooden covers Metropolis Corridor information and notable courtroom circumstances for The Transcript. Attain her at [email protected] or 405-416-4420.
