City Council re-elects Wimpee for 2nd term as mayor

Source: City of Broken Arrow

The City of Broken Arrow maintains continuity with the re-election of Mayor Debra Wimpee (Ward 1) and Vice Mayor Christi Gillespie (Ward 3) following a vote by the Broken Arrow City Council on April 18.

Mayor Wimpee was elected to the City Council in 2017 and elected by city councilors as mayor in 2021. Vice Mayor Gillespie has served on the City Council since 2019 and was elected by the council as vice mayor in 2021. Both are serving consecutive terms as mayor and vice mayor.

“It’s been a great two years and I’m honored to serve,” Mayor Wimpee said. “To serve as Mayor of your own hometown is a pretty unique thing, and it’s an honor and I look forward to continuing for the next two years, thank you.”

Councilor Lisa Ford (Ward 2) nominated Christi Gillespie to continue as vice mayor.

“I love this city and I’m so honored to get to serve again as a City Councilor and as the vice mayor,” Gillespie said.

Vice Mayor Gillespie, Johnnie Parks (At Large), and Joe Franco (Ward 4) began their terms at noon on Monday, April 17. They were officially sworn into office at the City Council meeting held on April 18 at City Hall. Councilor Lisa Ford (Ward 2) was elected in 2021 and her term doesn’t expire until 2025.

The City of Broken Arrow operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with the City Council electing a mayor and vice mayor from among its members. Comprised of four wards, Broken Arrow citizens are represented by one unpaid elected official from each of those wards and an At-Large member on the City Council.

Council members must live within the ward in which they are elected to represent, and all registered voters in the city are eligible to vote on each Ward seat. Each Councilor is eligible to serve four years, with elections held every two years. Elections are staggered with Wards 1 and 2, then two years later, Wards 3, 4 and the At-Large seats up for election. To learn more about the City of Broken Arrow’s form of government and operations, please visit the city’s website.

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