The Mayors Council of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Municipal League are excited to partner with the Potts Family Foundation on the annual “If I Were Mayor” statewide essay contest. Eight graders from home, public, and private schools throughout Oklahoma are invited to participate to tell others what they would do as Mayor to make their city or town a better place to live. The Potts Family Foundation has generously agreed to award a $250 stipend to the teacher of the winning student.
“Promoting effective municipal government is an important issue for cities and towns across Oklahoma, and this essay contest provides students the opportunity to reflect on the role of the key elected official in their community,” said Craig Parham, Mayor of Amber and President of the MCO Board of Directors. “By learning the importance of city government, students will become informed, educated citizens, and we hope that one day they will even think about running for Mayor.”
The contest gives students a chance to creatively use cognitive and grade-specific language arts skills and civics/social studies language. A change to this year’s contest is that we are asking each school to select a winner at the local level.
“This annual essay contest allows students to become introduced to municipal government and provides an opportunity to become involved with their own communities,” said Mike Fina, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League. “Students are looking for ways to give back and make a difference in their communities. No form of government has a more direct impact to citizens than municipal government, and we hope that students will become involved in their cities and towns.”
Entries will be judged based upon originality and appropriateness to the theme of what the writer would try to accomplish as mayor of their city or town, and what they would do to make it happen. Essays must display an understanding of the role of a Mayor. Grammar, legibility, and spelling will also be considered by the judges.
Three winners will be selected for the following prizes: 1stPlace– $250(witha $250 stipend going to the student’s teacher) 2nd Place – $150 3rdPlace– $100 Winners will be awarded at the Annual Congress of Mayors on February 7, 2024 at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
ESSAY CONTEST RULES Be creative with your ideas! The contest is open to all Oklahoma students enrolled in the 8th grade in home, public, and private schools during the 2024-2025 school year.
Essays must address the subject with the opening line beginning: “If I Were Mayor, I Would ...”
Essays may not exceed 250 words.
Only the winning essay may be submitted from each school.
Essays will be judged in the following areas: Knowledge about municipal government and the role of a Mayor, Proper grammar, legibility, spelling, and creativity.
Students must include their first and last names, school and teacher or parent’s name at the top of their essays.
Essays must be received no later than January 10, 2025.
For more information, please visit https://www.oml.org/if-iwere- mayor