Tulsa Tuesday Election Mashup
Mayor, Council, County District 2, and OK Senate District 33
Tuesday, August 27 Tulsa voters will decide on several critical elections. These are the writer’s endorsements, some long, others brief and brutal.
Strong Mayor Selection
The City of Tulsa’s Strong Mayor form of government should be changed to a city manager form, but sadly, that is not on the ballot next Tuesday. Voters will, at the least, likely narrow the field of candidates to manage a $1 billion organization (annual) with 3,500 employees. Only Brent VanNorman has experience worthy of the role.
At the June Women for Tulsa forum, VanNorman said, “I was a CPA and worked for a firm for about nine years then had my first midlife crisis and went to seminary and pastored for about ten years. I had my second midlife crisis and went to law school. I then went to work for an international law firm and became a patent attorney engaged in patent litigation work. In addition, I helped run three businesses: a title insurance company, an impact investment fund, and a software company.”
VanNorman continued, “I think the next mayor needs to be someone who has managed employees before, knows how to look at a budget, and knows how to cut fat from a budget and there is plenty of fat in the Tulsa budget. I have studied the budget for the next year and there are places we can cut.”
The other two prominent candidates are previously elected Democrats with backgrounds primarily in government. Current-Tulsa County Commissioner, District 2, Karen Keith has significant opposition from constituents that have suffered her leadership for over a decade. Keith, surprisingly, refused an interview with this writer. Substack readers may find the story here.
Former-Oklahoma House Representative, District 72, Monroe Nichols served four-terms and was selected as chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus during those years. Substack readers may find the story here.
Both Democrats support massive increases in taxpayer funded public housing to address the critical issue of homelessness in Tulsa.
VanNorman declares, “We must address the homeless situation. Everybody sees it. It is all over the place. What we must realize is that homelessness is not a housing issue – it is a drug addiction and mental health issue. We must address the whole person. I suggest ministries like John 3:16 do a fabulous job and there are others, but there are some in Tulsa that, while well-intended, enable homelessness enough so that people remain homeless. They are not doing anyone a favor by doing that.”
While another candidate has gathered endorsement from public safety unions, VanNorman has assured officers that, as mayor, he will be their biggest supporter. In every public presentation, VanNorman says, “Public Safety is the number one obvious issue in Tulsa. In that, we are hundreds of police officers short. My idea right now is to go to those areas that are de-funding police and recruit their best and brightest officers. We can do the same where teachers are at risk and invite them to relocate to Tulsa. We can tell them, ‘In Tulsa, we will have your back.”
VanNorman has been attacked for suggesting that the current 4-year college degree requirement is not necessary prior to employment as a Tulsa Police Officer. He suggests this requirement is limiting those with experience in law-enforcement and Tulsa could provide a path to continuing education during employment to quickly increase the number of officers on patrol.
“The next thing is that we must be business friendly,” VanNorman said. “The permitting process is broken. If it takes eighteen months to two years to get a permit, that’s too long. Tulsa cannot say it is open for business if you can’t open a business.
“We are going to do what a business would do with accounts receivable in aging permits. Saying this is 0 to 30, then 31-60 and so on. At some point, those age up to the supervisors desk. Then, if not resolved, it will hit the mayor’s desk with the question of why has that permit not been issued. We can resolve permit issues, if we give them visibility,” VanNorman declared.
This writer strongly endorses Brent VanNorman. Tulsa needs a skilled leader not an inexperienced tool of others.
While recent independent polling suggests VanNorman may achieve over fifty-percent of the vote, it is a close contest. If no one reaches over fifty-percent, the contest will be finally decided November 11, 2024.
City Council and Proposition Votes
Designed to be a part-time weak council, Tulsa’s group approved a ballot proposition to increase their salaries to $34,000-yr with automatic cost-of-living increases. The second proposition Tuesday will raise the auditor’s pay to $142,500 annually. Both should be refused by voters. This is the council that, contrary to state directives, imposed mask mandates and lockdowns. Until city officials make right with those harmed by the now proven unscientific, harmful, and unconstitutional policies – no increase is justified.
District 1: Angela Chambers is somewhat moderate. Incumbent Vanessa Hall-Harper is hard left.
District 2: Aaron L. Bisogno is the most based right candidate in this race with no incumbent. Anthony Archie claims to be a moderate Republican, but some question his glittering generalities.
District 3: Susan Frederick is based right. Jackie Dutton is hard left.
District 4: Aaron Griffith is based right. Laural Bellies is further left than Bernie Sanders.
District 5: Karen Gilbert is a moderate Republican. Alicia Andrews is the Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman and proud “woke.”
District 6: Incumbent Christian Bengel is polite to Republicans. Ultra-liberal Uriah Davis makes Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appear sane.
District 7: Eddie Huff is a conservative podcast host. Lori Dector Wright is hard left.
District 8: Chris Cone is based right. Elitist tool Phil Lakin voted for mask mandates and business closings during COVID. Lakin also opposes political signs as First Amendment expression.
District 9: Jayme Fowler is the incumbent mostly conservative. Carol Bush is a liberal Republican and Julie Dunbar is the based right newcomer to the local political scene.
Tulsa’s ruling elite pushed nonpartisan municipal elections on Tulsa years ago despite Tulsa County GOP’s objections. Now in office, much is partisan so what is the point of nonpartisan elections beyond deception of the voters?
Lonnie Sims for Tulsa County Commissioner, District 2
With a proven record of results, Lonnie Sims has been a dedicated public servant for Tulsa, Jenks, Glenpool, Berryhill, Sand Springs, and NE Oklahoma. Prior to his election to the Oklahoma House, Lonnie served 14 years with the City of Jenks volunteering as a planning commissioner, city councilman, and Mayor from 2013-2015. During this time, Lonnie also served as his neighborhood HOA president for 13 years and often refers to it as the toughest public office he ever held.
This writer endorses Lonnie Sims from years of observation and conversations.
A District 2 advocate recently endorsed a candidate for this office that has never been elected to any office saying that innovation only comes from those never elected. After forty some very odd years as a public policy reporter, I think that is poppycock.
It takes time to build knowledge and relationships to advance constituent services. Tulsa County is the local administrative arm of the State of Oklahoma. They can only act as State Law provides. The knowledge Lonnie Sims has gathered in the Oklahoma House and the relationships he has built over time will be a great asset to constituents of Tulsa County District 2.
Shelley Gwartney for Senate Dist. 33
This writer endorses Shelley Gwartney for District 33, a Conservative Republican with an accomplished background as a businesswoman in organizational management, infrastructure, and communications. She’s a woman of faith, devoted mother, and trusted community leader.
This south and west Broken Arrow and some east Tulsa district is 55% Republican and less than 30% Democrat and the elected will replace term-limited Senator Nathan Dahm.
Gwartney has long been active in education issues with Moms for Liberty, Oklahomans for Health and Parental Rights, Tulsa Classical Academy, and has previously run for the Union School Board. She has been long opposed by the educational establishment who think the low status-quo in Oklahoma is just fine for our children. Gwartney’s faith, critical thinking, and heart for doing good earns great respect.
This hotly contested race has seen inaccurate if not nasty campaigning, but Gwartney has campaigned by an honorable standard befitting her faith and history of service.
Opponent Christi Gillespie has used hysterical partisan surrogates in attack.
This reporter interviewed Gillespie but found her to be superficial and more personally ambitious than policy driven. As Vice Mayor of Broken Arrow during a public meeting, Gillespie once tried to deny proper payment to a vendor because he had offended her on social media. That type of thin-skinned retaliation is too petty for a city council office to say nothing of an Oklahoma Senate seat.
Further, when told by the BA Council Attorney that to deny payment for that reason was a violation of First Amendment Liberty, Gillespie attempted to argue the First Amendment didn’t matter and can be violated at will. That public pontification was idiocy.
Current Senator Dahm, also Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party would have had a conniption fit if he would have been in that meeting. Senator Dahm’s entire career representing the good people of District 33 and the State of Oklahoma have been focused on aligning Oklahoma Law with the original intent of the framers of the U.S. Constitution and protecting individual Liberty.
Shelley Gwartney comes from a family rooted in public service. Her web site notes, Gwartney’s “mom, her extended siblings, and herself, have taught and coached in public, private, and charter schools. Her sister-in-law, Kelsee, was Broken Arrow’s Teacher of The Year in 2022! Her brothers serve on the Tulsa Police and Tulsa Fire Department, giving her insight into what our brave officers go through every day! Her husband, Lynden, and brother, Ryan, both served in the Marine Corps. Lynden also served in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Shelley’s extended family members include missionaries, church planters, and a special needs therapist. Her family is an asset to Oklahoma and Shelley would carry their respected legacy with her to the Capitol.”
Further, Shelley Gwartney has served in local nonprofit organizations such as:
Member of the Republican Women’s Club, OK2A, and Women for Tulsa
Senate District Captain for OKHPR
Served as a board member on local and district level PTAs
Board Member of Moms for Liberty – Tulsa County
Volunteer Coordinator and Founding Family at Tulsa Classical Academy
Served on the BA ReZoning Committee- 2022
Current Tulsa GOP State Committee Member
The number and wide range of endorsements are significant and purposeful. Selected endorsements follow.
To see more endorsements of Shelley Gwartney click here.
I love the way these candidates are identified. Very cut and dry! This can be used as a great voter guide to get into the hands of all of your conservative friends and family members so that they can turn out and vote in some needed sanity into Tulsa political positions! Thank-you, Mr. Arnett!
Disappointed with the mayoral results. Republicans apparently outnumber Democrats 48% to 30% county-wide per July figures; presumably they're at least at parity with Democrats within city limits. How does it happen that the main Republican can't even obtain second place? Was never particularly impressed with Van Norman given the dearth of concrete policy positions and don't see the point of running if the candidate isn't even going to send mailers. Don't know whether it's true but Van Norman campaign apparently lacked money for mailers per phone conversation with a campaign volunteer.