Incumbent Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler and Colleen McCarty are squaring off in the District 14 race in Tulsa County. As only two Republicans filed, the primary will decide that race. There are two other county races that will be decided by the Republican primary as well.
Incumbent Tulsa County D.A. Kunzweiler has 28 years of prosecutor experience, he has worked as the Tulsa County District Attorney since 2015. He oversees 50 assistant district attorneys in his office which prosecutes several thousand cases each year. He has implemented digital case management which helps to streamline the process and cuts costs on printing and paper. He has restructured the office so that in each case one attorney works it from start to finish with the most experienced prosecutors tackling the most complicated and serious crimes. His office leads Oklahoma in putting more people into alternative sentencing than any other county in Oklahoma. Kunzweiler states on his website, “Every single day, the DA makes decisions that are of vital importance to our community. I make those decisions based on the law and the facts and the evidence before me. I will not be swayed by politics or popularity. I will always focus on Finding Truth and Seeking Justice.”
Kunzweiler also admits that he has charged law enforcement officers and that each of them has been convicted but one. He said that he has to go with the law and bring them before a judge or a jury, that is the legal process.
McCarty graduated from TU law school in 2020. While in school she was an intern at both the Tulsa and Wagoner County DA’s offices for a total of about 3 months. That is the extent of her prosecutorial experience that can be found.
She has held two jobs as a lawyer, the first was with Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR). She was their Policy Counsel and Deputy Director where she managed a team of six employees. The OCJR pushed for SQ 780 which expanded petty larceny to include up to stealing $999 each day.
Her second job, McCarty also founded the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice in 2022. Her position was Executive Director. The Oklahoma Appleseed Center won an Anthem Award. Their website explains that “The Anthem Awards is the Webby Awards’ benchmark for social impact work, recognizing brands, nonprofits, and individuals who are setting the standard for good worldwide. Since 2021, we’ve received more than 10,000 entries from over 40 countries. Past winners include leaders like Planned Parenthood, Rare Beauty, ACLU, and World Central Kitchen, alongside Special Achievement honorees Gloria Steinem, Matt Damon, Billy Porter, and Megan Rapinoe.”
On her website she says “I’m Colleen McCarty. This is more than just a campaign. I’m running for District Attorney to launch a renaissance for justice in Tulsa County. This is a movement to modernize our justice system, …”
According to Batesline website, in 2020 she wrote “Voting Yes on 805 means doing justice. We are eliminating enhancements on nonviolent crimes which reflects the enhancements systems in other states and brings OK’s sentencing into the modern age. To continue to participate and architect a system that perpetuates cycles of harm on citizens of color and low income communities is not doing justice. It is immoral and cruel.” SQ 805 was about treating each crime as if the perpetrator was a first time offender, you could not look back at their criminal history in deciding sentencing, no matter how many convictions they had. Former Gov. Frank Keating characterized it as giving the career criminal the best gift ever.
On one of her mail push cards she says that some people were saying she changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican last year and that that is false and a lie. Although true, it is also true that she changed her party affiliation in 2024, not 2025.
There has been much said in this race, but what is reported here is what their experience is and what they have done or endorsed in their careers as lawyers.
The Tulsa County Treasurer’s race had only two filings: incumbent John M. Fothergill of Tulsa, and Brandon L. Shreffler of Owasso. Both are Republicans and the race will be decided in the primary election on June 16th.
Fothergill has been Tulsa County Treasurer since 2020, and was Chief Deputy Treasurer before that. He also worked in the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County before that. His priorities as Treasurer are:
- Protecting Taxpayer Dollars: Treating every taxpayer dollar like it’s his own, zero tolerance for waste, fraud, or abuse, accurately accounting of every dollar collected.
- Smaller, Smarter Government: Government should work better, not get bigger. To achieve this he has modernized outdated systems to improve security and reliability and expanded online and credit-card payment options. Aims for faster service and fewer errors — without expanding bureaucracy
- Transparency & Accountability through clear processes and reporting, strong internal controls, and focusing on accuracy, compliance, and public access. Transparency isn’t optional — it’s essential.
- Accessible, Citizen-Focused Service with improved customer access and service with fair, respectful treatment for every taxpayer. If you have a problem with your taxes, John wants to hear from you and will take your call.
The County Treasurer’s office oversees more than $1 billion annually.
Shreffler served in the U.S. Navy from 2000-2005. He graduated from OSU in 2008 and later a MBA degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan in 2017. He has worked in telecommunications, the oil and gas industry and the lumber industry. He has worked as a general ledger accountant, property tax accountant, financial analyst, a budget analyst, a business manager, financial reporting, an auditor and project management. He also ran unsuccessfully for the Owasso Public School Board in 2024.
His top priorities if elected:
- Transparency & Public Accountability – Make county finances easy to understand and accessible to the public
- Efficient & Modernized Services – upgrade the Treasurer’s Office to better serve residents
- Responsible Fiscal Management & Cost Reduction – protect taxpayer dollars while actively reducing operating costs
- Taxpayer Support & Accessibility – make it easier for residents to understand their obligations
- Community Trust & Ethical Leadership – maintain confidence in the office
The District 1 County Commissioner’s race pits incumbent Stan Sallee against Idris Shelby.
Sallee has been a County Commissioner since 2018, and before that he was elected as a Collinsville City Councilor in 2002. He has a BA in Business and Finance. He is campaigning on his record of building a new $10 million modern public safety campus for Tulsa County deputies and first responders to improve response times and training, leading the construction of a new $9.5 million secure Election Board facility with enhanced security and accessibility, securing the largest county-level infrastructure investment in Oklahoma history—$75 million for roads and bridges—through targeted advocacy like “Bridge Tours” for state lawmakers and overseeing $30 million in repairs to restore the historic Tulsa County Courthouse using ARPA funds, addressing structural and safety issues with no tax increases.
Shelby has four degrees an Associate’s degree in professional Aeronautics, an Associate’s degree in occupational therapy, a Bachelor’s degree in healthcare management and informatics, an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Marketing and has done Doctoral work in Christian Education and leadership. He was in the U.S. Air Force from 200-2011, and has worked as an Occupational Therapist, and adjunct instructor, a Director of Rehabilitation, a clinical liason and as an entrepreneur of Rocket Transportation LLC.
His priorities if elected are:
- Parent Rights and Protection of Oklahoma Families-Protection of life – MAHA
- An Immediate focus on infrastructure –
Roadways and bridges, Rural transportation access, water infrastructure, Traffic safety, Emergency preparedness and Long-term infrastructure funding to keep up with repairs-maintenance of community parks and places of community gatherings
- Governmental Transparency and Accountability with County Finances- Open meetings and public input, Fair Contracting practices, Frequent communication with county residents to discuss concerns, and or frustrations, Government efficiency, Waste, Fraud, and Corruption accountability and oversight, Property Taxes-Advocate for the cessation of property taxes for those of retirement age whose homes are paid for
- . Economic Growth while keeping taxes low-Job Creation-Industrial Growth-Continued Broadband access-Agriculture and small business-Considering elements of economic growth that produce a net positive for taxpayers, not a burden.