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As a broadcast journalist for 26 years, I told the stories of people who weren’t out to grab headlines–they were just out to help people. These are the people who work to help their neighbors and improve their communities. I loved telling those stories and throughout my career I have been able to work side by side with the people who are out there really making a difference.
I grew up in Muskogee and after high school, graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1976. After a career in television broadcasting, I became Director of Community Relations and Vision Implementation for Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune, where I was able to focus on passing and implementing Tulsa’s Vision 2025 projects. Later, at the Chamber of Commerce, I was able to focus on recruiting quality shows to boost Tulsa’s tourism industry.
It took a lot of input from citizens and a lot of hard work for Tulsa area leaders to gain the trust of the voters who passed Vision 2025 in the fall of 2003. I worked with people from all over Tulsa County who came from all walks of life, Republicans and Democrats, who all shared a common goal to help our communities grow and thrive.
It was during this time of working on the over 50 projects that made up Vision 2025 that people started encouraging me to run for a seat on the Tulsa County Commission. My time in this role has had me working in Tulsa and also in small communities. What I’ve learned is that if people can put politics aside and work together, there is no limit to what can be accomplished!
Tulsa has come a long way in recent years! We’ve had committed, dynamic mayors who have moved this city forward in so many ways. And make no doubt about it, it is a hard job. But once again, people are encouraging me to run. This time for the hardest job in town. They know what I’ve been able to do and the experience I bring. They know I can work with everyone and not get caught up in petty politics. They know I don’t care to get the credit as long as it gets done.
I’m ready to put all I’ve learned to work for the City of Tulsa and I hope you will join me!
I can’t imagine a different life than being home in the heart of Tulsa!
Patrick and I love our dog Benny. And we are so proud to count among our family Gulnara Taragachova, a former exchange student, and her daughter Samaya who live in the Netherlands.