Norman citizens watch and listen to the city council and mayoral candidates at a forum Monday night in Norman City Council Chambers. Jeremy Dickie/The Daily

The League of Women Voters hosted an open forum for Norman city council and mayoral candidates Monday night at City Council Chambers.

The forum gave audience members the opportunity to hear the perspectives of the people asking for their vote.

City Council candidates spoke first, and questions were directed by ward number.

Dr. James Griffith and OU grad student Matt Zellner are the candidates for OU’s ward, ward 6.

Zellner said he wants to push for more responsible spending and accessibility as a candidate so citizens can be more involved in their community.

“I want everyone to know that I’m here to bridge the gap between the citizens and the voter,” Zellner said.

Some of the key issues discussed at the forum included revitalizing Porter Avenue, final decisions on the city’s water source and budget deficits.

Porter Avenue was a key discussion point at the forum.

Ward 4 candidate John Dawson said, “This is the whole reason I’m in this campaign. I’ve not been one of these people that hangs around city hall all the time. There is no way I can explain it in 36 seconds.”

Griffith, the incumbent for ward 6, said he wants input from citizens on funding.

“Everything we do in this city’s about money,” Griffith said. “I want the citizens to understand if we’re going to have long-term water solutions…I want the citizens to know what’s going on and to tell me how to vote.”

In his closing remarks, Zellner said he wanted to focus on responsible spending, solving water projects and supporting residents.

Griffith closed in saying that the position would take experience and study.

Mayoral candidate Hal Ezzell and Norman mayor Cindy Rosenthal addressed some of these key topics, but also touched on the ideas of a central library, enhancing downtown, and regional transportation possibilities.

“We need parking downtown,” Ezzell said. “Norman can never reach its full potential without parking. Downtown has the potential to be our jewel, but we’re going to have to solve that dilemma.”

The primary city election is March 2.