VOTE NO For Judge Anthony Bonner, District 7, Office 9 – He Ruled For Developer Property Rights Over Citizen Property Rights

For the last 10 years, property owners in Edmond, Oklahoma – specifically at and near the corner of Covell and Coltrane roads – have tried to prevent a WalMart Market from being built on the site.

A local developer, Jim Tapp, bought the 9.7 acre property for $2,636,500 in March of last year, but the previous developer had fought with the Edmond City Council over that same area for years previously.

At primary issue is the fact that the neighbors whose neighborhoods surround the proposed WalMart Market development, DON’T WANT IT. They have formed a group and addressed the Edmond City Council every time the development has been introduced at Council meetings.

There is also a planning document at issue. An early city planning document appears to allow the WalMart Market, whereas subsequent planning documents make that development harder. This article from Oklahoman writer Richard Mize last year, delves well into the backstory and issues surrounding the property development – including a court ruling 10 years ago allowing the then-developer to develop the property.

But here’s the bottom line…the Edmond City Council has quite apparently attempted to protect the EDMOND RESIDENTS WHO DON’T WANT THE WALMART MARKET IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. The Edmond residents vote for their City Council members – ostensibly to protect themselves and their property interests. Shouldn’t that be sufficient? Shouldn’t that be what ends the development of the WalMart Market? No. According to a NonDoc article from last year, Jim Tapp’s attorney, Todd McKinnis, had this to say to the Edmond City Council:

“If we have this kind of subjectivity, I just kind of wonder, where does it stop? Where does it stop when a private resident’s rights are greater than private commercial rights when it comes to property? We have rules for a reason.”

In the entirety of the world, can you believe the absolute unmitigated gall of Jim Tap’s attorney? Look, I get it – Tapp (who until recently lived on an enormous estate in my town) sunk a huge amount of dollars into the purchase of the property and expected to be able to develop it to make a return on his investment. But, the property had been fought over since 2015 – why would residents suddenly feel differently about a WalMart Market mucking up their neighborhood? So, I suppose, one should wonder what an investor was thinking purchasing such a contentious space in the first place. To make a point that developers have more interest in their property than private property owners via a lawsuit?

But wait, here’s another paragraph from the NonDoc article to turn your stomach:

Arguably subjective criteria like visual compatibility were part of what inspired a renewed push this year at the Oklahoma Legislature for Senate Bill 647, which remains property of the State Senate for 2026. Sen. Avery Frix (R-Muskogee) is the author of SB 647, saying earlier this year that it aims to limit “NIMBYism” and would require city planning commissions or councils to approve “plats for any project that meets zoning and code standards.”

WHAT? NIMBYism? So, we buy a property – sink our worldly goods into that property so we have no say over what happens to the property around us? What on the earth is the MATTER with people? Fortunately, the bill did not pass last year. It got stuck in a conference committee and never got out.

March 4th, 2026, Judge Anthony Bonner found in favor of developer Jim Tapp, shortcutting a trial by issuing a Summary Judgement in the case, allowing the WalMart Market to be built no matter what the residents around it want.

But then, are we surprised here?

The state of Oklahoma has prioritized business over INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY since Governor Kevin Stitt was elected. NOW you’re seeing the results of this “run the state like a business” mentality.

When legitimate individual citizen property owners can go before their elected officials, tell them they don’t want something with an unknown future in their back yard and their elected officials try to protect them only to have a judge look on them with disdain while prioritizing the pleadings of a businessman, we’ve finally officially supplanted the basis of the Constitution – We The People.

Anymore, it seems as though We The People can’t seem to do much to stop the tsunami of bad legislation and court rulings that are UNprotecting us and the right to the fruits of our labors, but we can do one thing – VOTE. And I advise you particularly, to VOTE AGAINST Judge Anthony Bonner, whose ruling in this case, essentially elevated the rights of a developer over the rights of the hundreds of property owners around the WalMart development who didn’t want it.