On April 1st there will be several local elections: two school board, 2 special elections for Oklahoma House seats, and 4 municipal city council elections, one each in Glenpool and Jenks and two seats in Skiatook. the school board and District 71 special election will be covered in this week’s paper, with the remaining municipal elections and the Special Election for District 74 will be covered in the March 27 edition.
There are two candidates for the District 3 Tulsa Public Schools seat after the primary narrowed the field of four candidates.
Dorie Simmons, 50, who is a former TPS graduate is a real estate agent at McGraw realtors. She raised her children in District 3 as a single parent and says she has a good perspective on the schools there. Her platform includes:
- Prioritizing what matters most: the success of our students. She understands that improving student outcomes requires a comprehensive approach, including evidence-based teaching practices, robust academic support, and addressing disparities that impact student achievement. By working collaboratively with educators, families, and the community, Dorie aims to ensure that every student in the district receives the resources and opportunities they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
- Making board meetings accessible and transparent for all Tulsa Public Schools families, providing clear and timely information on key decisions and policies.
- Build a district where teachers, students, and families can all thrive together ensuring that every student, regardless of their background or needs, has access to an exceptional education in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Kyra Carby, 39, is from Muscogee where she was previously a Muscogee educator and community organizer. She also has worked as a community engagement manager at Tulsa Gathering Place and Guthrie Green. She currently works as an administrator for a federal grant to fund genealogical research into the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Her positions include:
Stability and Transparency
- Building a strong and thriving school district requires our entire community working together. But we can’t get there if we aren’t committed to ensuring that our district is transparent and accountable to all Tulsans.
Strong School Communities
- Schools are places where all children should be safe, feel welcomed, and know they belong.
Transformational Education
- Every student who attends at TPS school should have access to the very best education possible.
The election for District 2 Tulsa Public Schools was cancelled as Khadija Goz withdrew from the race early on. Calvin Michael Moniz, 39, who won the special election for the seat last year is the only candidate left and therefore has won the election.
The other School Board election in Tulsa County is for the Tulsa Tech Center office no. 2.
Todd Blackburn, 51, of Tulsa will vie with the incumbent Rick Kibbe, 66, of Catoosa.
Blackburn is the CEO and President of a Tulsa tech company, Techsico. He has run for office previously in 2018 against Jon Waldron for House District 77 and lost.
Kibbe, has been in education for over 35 years – he was the former superintendant of Catoosa Public Schools from 2007 -2017. He has bachelors and masters and certifications in secondary administration. He served 29 years in administration of schools. He also ran for the House against Rep Tom Gann in 2016, District 8 (Inola).
Both Blackburn and Kibbe ran as Republicans.
There are two special elections in Tulsa County because two Oklahoma House representatives elected in November have decided to take jobs in the Tulsa area (Democrat Amanda Swope (District 71) with the City of Tulsa for Mayor Monroe Nichols office and Republican Mark Vancuren (District 74) as a Deputy County Commissioner for Tulsa County Commissioner Lonnie Sims.
District 71 in Tulsa has drawn four Democrats and three Republicans.
On the Democrat side in this primary election Dennis Baker, Amanda Clinton, Hudson Harder and Ben Riggs have filed.
Baker is a former policeman, FBI Agent and a lawyer and a native Oklahoman. He ran against Kevin Hern for Congress in 2024.
Clinton is a former journalist, worked in the Cherokee Nation government, a small business owner, an adjunct professor at OSU teaching Native American issues. She is on the Board of Planned Parenthood, as well as several other board.
Harder is a teacher at Webster High School in history and economics. He also teaches English at the YWCA, is a cashier at a grocery store, and volunteered for Mayor Monroe Nichols’ campaign. He is a member of All Souls Unitarian Church.
Riggs is a teacher and a coach, he graduated from OU with a political science degree. He has also served as a volunteer fire fighter.
On the Republican side there are three candidates in this primary: Beverly Atteberry, 57, Heidemarie Fuentes, 73, and Tania Garza, 35.
Atteberry is a Tulsa attorney, a life long Republican and a member of the Tulsa County Republican Mens Club and Republican Women’s Club. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and her law degree from TU. She has been a small business owner. She does not support the Jungle Primary (California primary system).
Fuentes, was a Democrat, then an Independent and now a Republican. She has lived in many states as an adult and was a military brat growing up. She has worked as a real estate broker, in insurance (mainly medical), a pharmacy tech, and as an energy auditor for FHA. She has a master’s degree in organizational management. Her focus in on lowering crime, a better economy, and lower taxes.
Garza moved to Tulsa in 2013 from Texas, she has been a Republican since then. Her work experience is as an insurance broker and in economic development. She is a small business owner. Her skills are in small business, and evaluating housing, workforce and educational needs. She served on the Tulsa Regional Chamber task force on economic development, energy and environment. She works on the Tulsa Remote as a cultural connector and positive change maker.