The election for Oklahoma City's Ward 7 City Council seat has become the most hotly contested local race in early 2025, with four candidates running to fill the vacant position on Feb. 11. Candidates Masood Haqq, Andrea Holman, Camal Pennington and John A.
Pettis Jr. all participated in a recent forum organized by the local alumnae chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at the MetroTech Springlake Campus. Topics included everything from ongoing economic development and dissatisfaction with tax increment financing, to issues with Ward 7 school districts, infrastructure and the status of promised MAPS 4 projects.
Haqq campaign focused on improved education, health care Haqq was the first to announce his candidacy in April 2024 and has been campaigning the longest. A community organizer and author originally from Atlanta, Haqq is co-founder of Peace of Mind Pediatrics, alongside his wife, Dr. Noor Jihan, headquartered in the OKC metro area's northeast side.
Haqq has been running on a platform emphasizing economic development, expanding educational equity, improving health outcomes and protecting affordable senior care in Ward 7. “I knew that I had a gap to make up in terms of name and face ID, but I wanted people to be able to observe the work that we have been doing for years up close and personal. I needed people to be able to ask about the work that we do through Peace of Mind Pediatrics (and) through Clara Community Health Center," Haqq said.
"I currently sit on the Okl.
