The District 2 Council seat has five candidates that are running: Anthony Archie (36), Aaron L. Bisogno (37), W.R, Casey Jr. (58), Stephanie Reisdorph (37) and Rhene D Ritter (54). This is an open seat with Jeannie Cue the incumbent leaving to run for Tulsa County Commissioner.
Archie came to Tulsa to attend ORU and stayed. He has worked as a youth pastor, an elementary school teacher and now owns the Oklahoma Toffee Company with his wife, Chelsea. They have three children.
He believes that “District 2 is a diamond in the rough just waiting to be shined.”
According to his website, archie4d2.com, he has six main areas to concentrate on.
- Economic Development: Pass city policies that spur economic growth, streamline regulations, energize local business owners, and attract job-creating employers to our city.
- Public Safety: Work to restore funding for programs that reduce crime in our hardest-hit neighborhoods. Safety sets the stage for economic revitalization. Strengthen connections between neighborhood associations, law enforcement, businesses and residents.
- District Infrastructure: Fund infrastructure projects that make our streets wider, brighter, and safer to travel. Leverage public-private partnerships to maintain city amenities, address flood plains and keep our utility costs low.
- Transportation: Work to reduce fares for those who rely on transportation for work, increase ridership, restore needed bus routes, and fund the expansion of Tulsa’s Micro-Transit System.
- Housing: As Tulsa’s population grows so does the need for various housing options. Support housing developments with an eye toward homeownership, and
- Homelessness: Support the work of “A Way Home For Tulsa” and the partner organizations that provide care to those at every stage of housing insecurity.
Aaron L. Bisogno, is an Assistant Manager at Mariner Finance in Sapulpa. He has previously run against Jeannie Cue in 2014, 2016 and 2022 for this seat. In past elections he was concerned with:
- Your rights are fully protected by the Constitution
- Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness is paramount and
- Transparency is vital: We need be able to see every red cent before it’s spent!
W.R. Casey, Jr. is involved in the Tulsa Christian Ministerial Alliance and the Christian Minister Alliance Youth Center whose major goal is the saving of kids by establishing a youth center in North Tulsa.
Stephanie Reisdorph has worked for the Tulsa Housing authority and has many volunteer activities. This is her first foray into the political arena. Her website is stephsd24u.com
She has three planks in her platform: Public safety, economic growth and homelessness. In public safety there is a need to fill the shortage of officers in TPD along with the need for and benefits of community policing programs.
In the area of economic development making Tulsa more attractive to tourism and a more desirable place to live and work. Consider a 3 day weekend schedule for the City of Tulsa, promote programs such as Tulsa Remote and the Greenwood Women’s business center and encourage more courses in schools to promote entrepreneurship.
As a mental health therapist she knows how mental illness plays into homelessness along with addiction disorders. The city needs to do more in the way of housing and programs to get people off the streets.
Rhene D. Ritter believes the function of a city councilor should be to serve the citizens, to ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and to collaborate with local partners in other key sectors. This is her first political campaign.
She is a life long resident of Tulsa, has a degree in Sociology from OSU-Tulsa and has worked for the City of Tulsa in the Finance Department. She now works in the nonprofit sector providing financial management and oversight for federal grants and assisting with community-wide strategic planning for Tulsa’s housing and homelessness.
According to her website, rheneritter.com, she has three key issues: public safety, economic opportunity and affordable housing.
Public Safety
Public safety initiatives are an integral part of having a thriving city. Public policy for law enforcement, fire fighters and emergency responders can have a lifelong impact on all involved, making it imperative to get right. Rhené envisions an approach to public safety that supports a collaborative, multidisciplinary response by professionals equipped to address the real issue at-hand. The city’s increased efforts for recruiting more cadets that reflect the community they serve is commendable.
Economic Opportunity
Revitalization and strengthening of the local economy, with an acute focus on supporting and nurturing small businesses. This strategy will look at finding ways to provide assistance to startups, foster robust networks among business leaders, and find incentives to encourage entrepreneurship. The emphasis is on creating a fertile environment for business growth, job creation, and fostering a climate of innovation within the community. This involves strategic partnerships with educational institutions and vocational training centers, aimed at equipping the workforce with skills pertinent to the evolving job market.
Affordable Housing
The recent independent study on Tulsa’s housing crisis highlights a daunting $2.45 billion shortfall, indicating the need for a substantial annual investment of $245 million per year for the next decade. The commitment to this challenge is evident in the ‘Improve Our Tulsa 3’ package, which has earmarked $75 million for housing, demonstrating the city’s resolve to tackle the housing shortage. Additionally, the increase in federal funds for housing in Tulsa presents a crucial opportunity for effective resource allocation. It’s essential that city councilors, particularly from District 2, play a pivotal role in ensuring that these taxpayer dollars are used efficiently and focused on meaningful housing solutions.
In the District 3 council race there are two contenders: Jackie Dutton (64) and Susan Frederick (62). Christa Patrick the current city councilor for the district has chosen not to run.
Dutton spent 20 years as a small business owner, and was involved in her neighborhood. She thinks that, “ District 3 is the Gateway to Tulsa, home to Tulsa’s international airport and the eastern stretch of Tulsa’s Historic Route 66. As such, it presents an opportunity for immense, community-driven economy development.”
Her three key issues are economic development, safety and livability, and quality of life, listed on her website JackieforTulsa.com.
Economic development
Improving the quality of our neighborhoods improves the economic opportunities within them and increases the economic activity taking place here in District 3, improving lives across our community.
By finding partnerships with organizations and entities inside and outside of District 3, new developments can emphasize District 3 as the Gateway into Tulsa, bringing new jobs, new destinations, and new opportunities.
Safety and Livability
Because this district is so underinvested in, even small strategic investments will make an incredible difference in the everyday lives of the community. Simple investments in better sidewalks and curbs, street lighting, and improved ADA accessible infrastructure, including for the visually and hearing impaired and those with alternative mobilities, will create opportunities for further growth, better lives, and richer cultural expression.
Local Quality of Life Services
Secure housing is key to financial stability, particularly for renters. Leveraging programs across city departments including the City’s respective commissions and service programs as well as Tulsa community non-profits to ensure that homeowners and renters alike have access to the resources needed to stay in their homes.
Frederick is a lifelong Tulsan and has lived in District 3 for 39 years. According to her website, susanfortulsa2024.com, she is a strong supporter of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence as well as a strong Christian faith. She also supports the 2nd Ammendment.
Her campaign rests on Faith+Family+Freedom. Her website states “Susan cares about the Constitutions, both federal and State, that ought to be followed. She knows how this de facto government is operating to undermine our freedoms. She will do the courageous things needed to push back on those who want to take away our freedom.”
The District 4 race will determine if Incumbent Laura Bellis (35) will retain her seat or if Aaron Griffith will become the new District 4 city councilor (49).
Bellis has been the District 4 city councilor since December 5, 2022 where she gained 50.6 percent of the vote from a field of 6 candidates. She was a teacher in middle school for 5 years and according to her website laurafortulsa.com, “ the Executive Director of the Take Control Initiative (TCI), the longest-running local contraceptive access program in the nation, Laura has worked to expand access to quality care in coalition with over 200 clinic and community partners. Under her leadership, TCI has developed and scaled strategies to ensure reproductive health access in a restrictive environment…” Her three key issues are housing, accessibility, and public safety.
In housing she thinks Tulsa needs more high-quality affordable housing at all income levels.
Accessibility means all Tulsans should have access to every resource, opportunity and public accommodation. She proposes doing this by investing in multi-modal transit, infrastructure, fair and stable housing and career training.
In public safety she wants the city, first responders and community organizations to work on the problems of homelessness, mental health, and crime. Budgeting the first responders to receive raises is important.
According to what her website says she is working on is “Human Rights policies to improve local protections, especially for the 2SLGBTQ+ and Veterans communities “ and “Spearheaded the Welcoming & Inclusive City Resolution which passed unanimously” which included language that included sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Griffith does not have a website or much of any information to be found. Michael Bates of Batesline.com says of him, “He’s to my left politically, but he has a thick skin and is willing to endure the slings and arrows to stand up for what he believes is right. Aaron is strongly pro-neighborhood, has been a vocal critic of administrative shenanigans at Tulsa Public Schools, and he supports enforcing our immigration laws.”
IF he attends the Council candidate meet and greet at TU Thursday the Beacon will try to get an interview with him.