Eighth Candidate Joins Race For Tulsa County Sheriff

A former Tulsa County deputy is joining the race for Tulsa County sheriff, becoming the eighth candidate in the race; all of the candidates are Republican.

Tom Helm became an agent for Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt after working for 20 years as a deputy, first as a detention officer in the Tulsa County Jail, later as supervisor of internal affairs.

“With all the turmoil that’s happened in the sheriff’s office…I’ve still been affected by what’s happened there and I’ve always had a longing to go back and try to fix what’s wrong,” Helm said.

Helm said he’s unique for the job because he has both the insider and outsider point of view.

“I think, lately, there’s been a lot of arrogance by the administration, by the office, and I think that’s led to a lot of fighting,” Helm said.

Helm said he would immediately try to heal animosity between the sheriff’s office and the community. He said he would start doing so by updating policies and procedures then following them. He also said he wouldn’t give certain deputies special treatment.

10/30/2015 Related Story: Republican Sheriff Candidates Debate In Tulsa

Luke Sherman, Erich Richter, John Fitzpatrick, Dan Miller, Jim Rice, Jason Jackson and Vic Regalado are also running.

The election is April 5th, 2016.