Four candidates are looking to become the next Mayor of Edmond and are discussing their goals ahead of the upcoming election.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5's YouTube channelAll four candidates said managing growth and prioritizing citywide improvements are key components of the race.Edmond citizens are preparing to pick their next mayor after current Mayor Darrell Davis chose not to run for re-election. But the four candidates said they're the right guy for the job."I looked at who was running. I realized that we didn't have anybody who could really tackle the problems we currently have in Edmond," said candidate Mark Nash. "We've got a major fiscal transparency and spending problem."Nash said his history in finance and government makes him uniquely qualified for the job."Overall, the city of Edmond has over $1 billion of debt. Something has to be done," Nash said.Others, like candidate David Hornbeek, say they want to give back to the place that has given them decades of success."Edmond has been very, very good to me. It was good for my family, it was good for my business," Hornbeek said.Hornbeek's focus ranges from extending a sales tax to keep government functions to helping Edmond's future development."Most Edmond voters don't know we have a one cent sales tax coming up for renewal in 2027, we have two sales taxes that comprise 1.5 cents of the 3.75 percent we get," Hornbeek said. "It's going to greatly reduce our ability to keep staff, including our first responders; we're probably looking at laying off firemen and police officers, and, in my opinion, Edmond cannot afford to do that."Tom Robins, a former councilmember, said he's running on his record, such as cleaning up properties, voting against raising water rates and shutting down illicit massage parlors. He's also expressed his desire for more transparency.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here."I want to focus on fiscal transparency, and bring a budget and give citizens of Edmond the opportunity to invest in the things they have now," Robins said. "On city council, I proposed we double the amount we spend to fix our city's potholes. That was defeated, but as mayor I'll lead that, I know I have the votes to get that done day one." He said although he's the youngest candidate he has experience."I have the experience, and I'm ready day one. I'm running to make Edmond, Oklahoma, the best place to call home and raise a family," Robins said.And Leonard B. Scott III said his goal is to rid the city of any DEI initiatives."The city of Edmond needs to have a come to Jesus time," Scott III said. "My concentration is number one, we have to get the woke out."Scott III also wants to increase the number of school resource officers so that the city can focus on things like development."We've got some smart people in this community. We're gonna sit down and go through, we talk about I-35 we can build up, that corridor further up and further down, yes, we can do that," Scott III said.The primary is Feb. 11, with the top two candidates from the race facing off in the general election in April.Top HeadlinesMother and child dead, 2 others critically injured in northwest Oklahoma City house fireTIMELINE: Oklahoma could see ice and snow next week with winter weatherSuper Bowl LIX tickets seem cheaper than in recent years. Data shows where it ranks in the last decadeDevoted nap-takers explain the benefits of sleeping on the jobOklahoma health expert says flu cases matching historic levels

Four candidates are looking to become the next Mayor of Edmond and are discussing their goals ahead of the upcoming election.

>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5's YouTube channel

All four candidates said managing growth and prioritizing citywide improvements are key components of the race.

Edmond citizens are preparing to pick their next mayor after current Mayor Darrell Davis chose not to run for re-election. But the four candidates said they're the right guy for the job.

"I looked at who was running. I realized that we didn't have anybody who could really tackle the problems we currently have in Edmond," said candidate Mark Nash. "We've got a major fiscal transparency and spending problem."

Nash said his history in finance and government makes him uniquely qualified for the job.

"Overall, the city of Edmond has over $1 billion of debt. Something has to be done," Nash said.

Others, like candidate David Hornbeek, say they want to give back to the place that has given them decades of success.

"Edmond has been very, very good to me. It was good for my family, it was good for my business," Hornbeek said.

Hornbeek's focus ranges from extending a sales tax to keep government functions to helping Edmond's future development.

"Most Edmond voters don't know we have a one cent sales tax coming up for renewal in 2027, we have two sales taxes that comprise 1.5 cents of the 3.75 percent we get," Hornbeek said. "It's going to greatly reduce our ability to keep staff, including our first responders; we're probably looking at laying off firemen and police officers, and, in my opinion, Edmond cannot afford to do that."

Tom Robins, a former councilmember, said he's running on his record, such as cleaning up properties, voting against raising water rates and shutting down illicit massage parlors. He's also expressed his desire for more transparency.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

"I want to focus on fiscal transparency, and bring a budget and give citizens of Edmond the opportunity to invest in the things they have now," Robins said. "On city council, I proposed we double the amount we spend to fix our city's potholes. That was defeated, but as mayor I'll lead that, I know I have the votes to get that done day one."

He said although he's the youngest candidate he has experience.

"I have the experience, and I'm ready day one. I'm running to make Edmond, Oklahoma, the best place to call home and raise a family," Robins said.

And Leonard B. Scott III said his goal is to rid the city of any DEI initiatives.

"The city of Edmond needs to have a come to Jesus time," Scott III said. "My concentration is number one, we have to get the woke out."

Scott III also wants to increase the number of school resource officers so that the city can focus on things like development.

"We've got some smart people in this community. We're gonna sit down and go through, we talk about I-35 we can build up, that corridor further up and further down, yes, we can do that," Scott III said.

The primary is Feb. 11, with the top two candidates from the race facing off in the general election in April.

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