Tulsa City Leaders Sworn Into Office For New Term

Tulsa’s Mayor, City Auditor, and City Councilors took their oath of office Monday, in an abbreviated ceremony held – in the case of the Mayor – in private but relayed on YouTube. Four years ago at the last City inauguration, several hundred people watched the ceremony at Central Library.

Mayor Bynum, beginning a second term, spoke of many of the same themes from his first speech – uniting the City and ensuring public safety.

The City Councilors took their oath in a public setting, with few spectators, spaced far apart, and all wearing masks because of the pandemic.

The Councilors elected Vanessa Hall-Harper as chair for the next year. Seven of the nine councilors are returning for new two-year terms, while Mykey Arthrell and Jayme Fowler are taking office for the first time.

Harper said she hoped to improve North Tulsa specifically, saying the City’s own “Equality Indicators” show a lack of significant progress in areas like judicial reform and life expectancy. “ We should have the righteous indignation to revitalize Greenwood and Black Wall Street, and put it back in the hands of the people whose ancestors built it 100 years ago,” said Hall-Harper.