Tuesday, November 5th 2024, 6:32 pm
State Representative Monroe Nichols and Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith are running for Tulsa mayor, the biggest local race this election.
Both Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith have represented Oklahoma in different roles.
Representative Nichols was elected in 2016 to serve in the Oklahoma House.
When News On 6 hosted a debate between the candidates, Nichols said he had a plan to end homelessness within six years.
A watch party for his supporters is being held at the Greenwood Cultural Center in downtown Tulsa.
Commissioner Karen Keith said the number one issue in Tulsa right now is homelessness. She said she plans to get at least 200 families off the street in one year.
Keith has been a Tulsa County Commissioner since 2008.
Her watch party is at the Stokely Event Center this evening.
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Representative Nichols received the most votes in the primary mayor race and now he hopes his policy-focused message has resonated with voters enough to become the city's next mayor.
Rep. Nichols made it clear it's necessary to work closely with tribal partners. He said we must work with the tribes when it comes to everything from public safety to entrepreneurship.
He also plans on creating a mayor’s office for children, youth and families to help on the education front.
He also says no matter what a child is facing at home, every single student in Tulsa deserves a chance to have a good education.
This also goes with his other priorities of adding more affordable housing and ending homelessness
His watch party is at the Greenwood Cultural Center and is open to the public.
Karen Keith came in second place in the August primary, less than 300 votes behind Nichols.
Keith has been a Tulsa county commissioner since 2008.
She has said that during her whole campaign, she feels her 16 years serving as a Tulsa county commissioner has prepared her to lead the city of Tulsa.
Keith voted bright and early at the Philbrook Museum with her family on Tuesday.
Before becoming a county commissioner in 2008, she worked under previous Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune and has had a close relationship with Mayor GT Bynum.
She says the biggest issue the city faces is homelessness and she wants to tackle that with a combination of affordable housing, shelters and treatment options.
Keith is a Democrat but prides herself as a nonpartisan leader, and she believes the city needs someone who can work across party lines.
She says she wants to address crime in the city, she supports police and she wants to find ways to get city projects done faster.
Keith says running for mayor isn't a stepping stone for her, it's a chance to continue giving back.
"I've enjoyed it and what I think has been my favorite thing is just meeting so many Tulsans all across the city, in some areas that I hadn't done a whole lot because my district as a county commissioner was downtown, and Jenks and all the way west," Keith said.
Keith will be having a watch party at the Stokely Event Center with family, friends and supporters.
November 5th, 2024
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November 5th, 2024