Tulsa city councilors took the oath of office today in a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center.
There are two new faces on the nine-person council. One of those is District Six Councilor Connie Dodson. She said one of her top priorities will be helping along a planned east Tulsa outlet mall.
"They're wanting to break ground early in the year, and I want to do everything I can to facilitate that," Dodson said. "That will help other economic development in the area continue to grow and prosper."
Anna America replaces Arianna Moore as district seven’s councilor. America said helping local businesses is one of her goals.
"How do we support and strengthen the businesses, especially those key retail corridors we've got in my district?" America said. "We need those businesses to be strong to be producing the sales tax revenue that supports this entire city."
Tulsa Municipal Court Judge Mitchell McCune administered the oath of office.
Immediately after they were sworn in, the city councilors attended to their first piece of business. They unanimously elected Phil Lakin as chair and Jeannie Cue as vice chair.
Lakin said the council’s big job will be presenting voters with reasons to renew the expiring Vision sales tax.
"We have six-tenths of a cent that's currently at work right now," Lakin said. "What projects do we put back in front the voters that they want and that they need and they think will promote and strengthen Tulsa?"
Cue hinted city employee pay may be on the council’s 2015 agenda.
"Without them, our city couldn't run as functional as it does, so I appreciate all the people that work for the City of Tulsa," Cue said. "I hope to show that appreciation."
Councilor Jack Henderson asked about alternating council leadership positions between Democrats and Republicans. No action or discussion took place. City council elections are nonpartisan.
