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Tulsa commission says six seats remain open as members prepare nominations
Summary
At a meeting held without quorum, the Tulsa African American Affairs Commission discussed filling six vacant seats (four organization seats and two at-large), the mayor’s role in selecting nominees, residency requirements and a timeline for submissions.
At a meeting that opened without a quorum, the Tulsa African American Affairs Commission discussed filling six vacant seats on the panel, underscoring a short timeline for nominations and the mayor’s role in forwarding candidates to City Council.
The commission’s presiding officer (Speaker 3) said four organization seats and two at-large seats remain unfilled, and that the Black Wall Street Chamber and Greenwood Cultural Center already have nominees in process. “We have those who are in process,” the presiding officer said, noting other organization seats — including the Be Well CDC, Business Agents Network, Institute for Developing Communities and Tulsa Economic Development Center — need replacements or updated representatives.
Commissioners said the commission compiles recommendations but the mayor’s office ultimately selects which nominees to forward to City Council. “I’ll send my list to the mayor, and then they will pull from that list and send that to the city council,” the presiding officer said.
Members were urged to submit recommended nominees and supporting materials quickly: the presiding officer asked to receive suggestions by Thanksgiving, with a compiled list to be sent by Dec. 1 so individuals can be contacted and paperwork processed for possible appointments in January or February. The chair also said she prefers resumes accompany forwarded names so the mayor’s office and council have context about nominees’ qualifications.
The commission clarified a residency requirement: nominees must live in the City of Tulsa (not Broken Arrow or other municipalities) to be eligible. The group was also directed to the GTAC ordinance for formal qualifications; a staff member summarized that organizations holding a seat must primarily advance African American culture/heritage or provide services to Tulsa County’s African American community.
Because the meeting lacked quorum, commissioners did not vote on any appointments and no formal actions were taken. The presiding officer said the group may call a short special meeting in December to form a nominating committee; if not, the process will continue into January.
