Former District 5 Councilor Karen Gilbert to challenge incumbent Grant Miller

The district is currently represented by first-term Councilor Grant Miller, who has said he plans to seek re-election.

“I had no intention of putting my name on a ballot ever again,” Gilbert said. “I never stopped serving through my work and was content to leave the fights and political scene in the past because it’s getting pretty heated.

“However, over the last several months, I was repeatedly asked by neighbors to consider another run. So after meeting with many of them and hearing their concerns about the state of our district and the needs of our city overall, I was persuaded that my legislative experience and community-center focus is needed right now.”

Elections will be held this year for all of the city’s municipal offices. The filing period is June 10, 11 and 12. The general election is set for Aug. 27, followed by the runoff elections, if needed, on Nov. 5.

Gilbert, 55, served on the City Council from 2011 to 2018. She went on to become executive director of the Crime Prevention Network, also known as Tulsa Crime Stoppers.

Gilbert said there was one overriding concern she heard from the District 5 residents who encouraged her to run.

“It is very simple — just better communication,” Gilbert said. “Residents right now, they don’t feel like they have somebody that is listening to them, and especially not helping with their concerns.”

That won’t be a problem if she is elected, Gilbert said.

“The one thing that I really loved doing the most was having monthly meetings with residents,” Gilbert said.

If elected, Gilbert said she would focus on such issues as economic development, public safety and homelessness.

“We have too many empty buildings,” she said. “We have strip malls that are not in the best shape, so just working with the builders to see what we can do to improve on that and doing what is best not just for District 5 but for Tulsa as a whole.”

During her time on the City Council, Gilbert led the effort to establish the public safety tax, which was approved by voters in 2016, worked with the Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa Public Schools to create Project Trust, and was responsible for the Adopt A Spot beautification program.

“There is still good work for me to do to do better for our area and all of Tulsa down at City Hall,” Gilbert said.

Six of the city’s nine councilors plan to run for re-election. District 2 Councilor Jeannie Cue, District 3 Councilor Crista Patrick and District 9 Councilor Jayme Fowler are not seeking another term.

The other newly announced candidates for City Council are Julie Dunbar, a licensed mental health therapist running in District 9; Christopher Cone, a financial planner running in District 8; and Aaron Bisogno, a loan officer running in District 2.

Here are all of the candidates who have announced their intention to run:

District 1: Incumbent Vanessa Hall-Harper.

District 2: Anthony Archie, owner, Oklahoma Toffee Co.; Rhene Ritter, director of grants management, Housing Solutions; The Rev. W.R. Casey Jr.; and Aaron Bisogno, loan officer.

District 3: No announced candidates.

District 4: Incumbent Laura Bellis.

District 5: Incumbent Grant Miller; Karen Gilbert.

District 6: Incumbent Christian Bengel.

District 7: Incumbent Lori Decter Wright.

District 8: Incumbent Phil Lakin; Christopher Cone.

District 9: Carol Bush, former state representative and former executive director of the Crime Commission/Tulsa Crime Stoppers; Lee Ann Crosby, mental health services provider; Julie Dunbar, licensed mental health therapist.

A look at the 2024 Tulsa mayoral race.

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.