A little more than three years ago, the citizens of Bristow voted for me to serve as their Mayor. It has been an honor to get to serve the public in the capacity of city leader. At times, it can feel like a real chore, but when things come together and our city gets a win, it is beyond rewarding. That said, nothing in life is accomplished alone, and so I have to also give credit to the council, our city workers, and our active citizens for anything that has been accomplished during my time in office.
While I was running for Mayor, some of you may remember, that one of my main goals and running points was the objective to turn the hostility into hospitality. It seemed like so many citizens felt like the politics of our town and the division of different city factions, along with the loss of many of our community events, had driven residents to a point of frustration and distrust. While I understood where some of that frustration came from, my goal was to restore an open door policy at city hall and work on bringing back community events that would unify our city and remind citizens that we are family, friends, and neighbors that can work together to grow our town. That is still my goal. Despite what you may hear around town, or read on social media, Bristow has grown! We've brought back important community events, and many of our city branches have started to work together in ways that can move us forward. Now, I will be the first to admit
Now, I will be the first to admit that there are still plenty of things that we can improve to make Bristow better. At the very top of my list is getting the hospital back up and running. That has been a source of many, many sleepless nights for me. Currently, Carrus is operating an urgent care center that is open at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and provides most of the services previously provided through the hospital. While they operate the urgent care, they are still working overtime to meet all the requirements to get a fully functioning hospital back up and running for our citizens. While Carrus does their part, I have left no stone unturned in doing my part to reach out to state leaders and state department heads to get the hospital open as soon as possible. Bristow City Council, along with Bristow Hospital Authority Board, Senator James Leewright, State Representative Kyle Hilbert and many others are working to get the hospital situation corrected and I am beyond grateful for their help. I know this is a very important matter for Bristow citizens and I appreciate your understanding and patience while we navigate through this tough transitional period.
Recently, the City Council voted to ask citizens to decide, by vote of the people, if they would prefer to move Bristow to a citymanager/weak mayor form of government. When I ran for Mayor in 2019, I was asked if I would support a change in government if that is what voters decided they wanted. As a true believer in democracy and the citizen's right to choose, of course my answer was yes, I would support that decision. I still stand by that statement as I will always do my best to give the citizens what they feel serves the best. That should be the goal of everyone that serves the people. That said, I personally don't feel that a city-manager form of government is what is truly best for the citizens of Bristow. I support a citizen's right to vote for the person that will be in charge of the day to day operations of our city. I believe that the form of government we have in Bristow allows for a balanced and fair way so that ALL citizens can have a voice should they choose. I believe it's important for Bristow to be served by a citizen that has an invested interest in the town that goes beyond a salary. To truly serve a city and its citizens in a way that goes beyond a financial report is both a calling and a curse that is best performed by a person that can approach it as not just a profession, but also as a protector and that is something I strive to do. Honestly, there are many reasons I can give for my belief that our current system of government works best to serve the community, but it is your vote on April 5th that will decide what Bristow's future holds. It saddens me to see and hear so much discord among citizens concerning the matter when I have prayed so hard for harmony and peace.
Whatever happens, please, let's all stay focused on moving forward and working together to make Bristow the best lil' town in the state. I've prayed about our town's future and I am confident that god has us in his hands. I will be as forthcoming as possible in saying that I truly hope and pray that Bristow citizens vote NO on the measure to change our government. Below, I have listed some of the many improvements and gains Bristow has made in my three years as Mayor. Again, I have to give credit to our Council, our staff at City Hall, our City Workers, and so many Citizens that give their time freely, so our city thrives, it is beyond a blessing to serve you all. Thank you for your time and support. God bless us all.
• Updating the Treatment Plant.
• Hospital
• Water tower repairs-2 done, 3 more to go
• Swimming Pool Destination
• Brought in PAS/MRO
• Created several committees, example Economic Development Committee
• Strategic Plan
• The Sam Varner Fireworks Celebration
• Handicap ramp at Depot after 14 years of waiting for it
• Numerous road & sewer line repairs
• New Electric Water Meters
• Saved the Amphitheater
• Working with Turnpike Authority to bring in new interchange
• Working with a Developer to bring in new Development into town
• Airport-helping to complete and finish airport project
• Clean up City hall to make more welcoming with the Buffalo and the Eagle Catcher statue