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Mayor Monroe Nichols held his first news conference this afternoon introducing new positions within his administration following his swearing in as Tulsa’s 41st mayor earlier today.

During his election bid, Mayor-Elect Nichols focused on several key areas that he plans to prioritize over the next four years, including ending homelessness, improving student outcomes, expanding economic opportunity, making Tulsa the safest big city in America, increasing affordable housing and improving relations and co-governance with tribal governments.

“This administration is made up of people who, like me, want to make Tulsa the best city in America,” Mayor Nichols said. “I am grateful for everyone who has agreed to help serve Tulsa in the months and years ahead, and I’m eager to get to work alongside these incredible public servants. We've set hefty goals for ourselves as a community and now it's time for us to come together and get to work."

While Mayor Nichols was already working on a short transition timeframe, he has already identified six key positions within his Administration to lay the groundwork for initiatives set for the Administration, including:
Dana Walton, Deputy Chief of Staff
Laurel Roberts, Commissioner of Public Safety
Gene Bulmash, Senior Advisor - Housing
Emily Hall, Senior Advisor – Homelessness
Shane Stone, Government Affairs Director
Aron York, Executive Scheduler

Additional announcements regarding Mayor Nichols’ administrative staff, including his hires for Deputy Mayor, City Administrator, Chief of Staff, and other key staff to fulfill priorities, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dana Walton, Deputy Chief of Staff
Dana Walton most recently served as Mayor Nichols’ campaign manager for his 2024 mayoral campaign. Walton has a background in government and communications and holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Wyoming.

About the Role: As Deputy Chief of Staff, Walton will be responsible for assisting the Chief of Staff in the strategic and project management direction for the Nichols Administration.

Laurel Roberts, Commissioner of Public Safety
Laurel Roberts comes from the Tulsa Police Department. Roberts began her career as a patrol officer in the Gilcrease division; and was the first female selected to the gang unit. Roberts was promoted to current rank of major in 2016. As a Major, she has worked in four of the nine divisions and has served citizens in every corner of the city. Her last role in the Police Department was the division commander at the Riverside Patrol Division. Roberts attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice. After beginning work with the Tulsa Police Department, Roberts went back to school and obtained her master’s degree in criminal justice.

About the Role: As Commissioner of Public Safety, Roberts will play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of Tulsa’s residents by overseeing law enforcement, fire protection, and will play a direct role with the City of Tulsa’s partnership with EMSA. This position will focus on fostering accountability, improving response times, and working with the Chiefs of both the Police and Fire Departments to implement modern strategies and cultivate a positive, solutions-driven department culture to address crime and public safety challenges.

Gene Bulmash, Senior Advisor - Housing
Gene Bulmash comes from Washington D.C. having recently served as the Housing Preservation Officer for the DC Department of Housing and Community Development. Bulmash also has a background as an attorney and inclusionary zoning manager for the District of Columbia. Bulmash has a law degree from the Illinois Chicago School of Law.
About the Role: As Senior Advisor-Housing, Bulmash will focus on expanding affordable housing options, addressing homelessness, and fostering equitable development to meet the diverse needs of Tulsa residents. By working closely with city departments, community organizations, and private sector partners, Bulmash will ensure that these policies translate into actionable programs that improve housing access and affordability.

Emily Hall, Senior Advisor - Homelessness
Emily Hall comes from Housing Solutions Tulsa where she serves as Board President. Hall most recently worked as a legal intern in the Federal Probation Office. Hall has worked two years as vice president of strategy and innovation at the YMCA of Greater Tulsa and six years in multiple leadership and advocacy roles at Tulsa Public Schools. Hall has a law degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law.
About the Role: As Senior Advisor - Homelessness, Hall will focus on developing comprehensive strategies to achieve zero functional homelessness by 2030. Hall's work will include enhancing access to services and create pathways to stability and long-term housing: changing outcomes for families across Tulsa. Working in collaboration with City agencies, nonprofits, and community stakeholders, Hall will drive initiatives that prioritize housing first solutions, mental health services, and job training programs.

Shane Stone, Government Affairs Director
Shane Stone has served in several municipal government roles, most notably in Scottsdale and Maricopa, Arizona. Stone’s most recent positions include assistant to the city manager of Maricopa and police executive administrator. Before moving to Arizona, Stone represented south Oklahoma City's House District 89 in the state Legislature from 2014 to 2020.
About the Role: As Government Affairs Director, Stone will serve as a strategic leader responsible for representing Tulsa's interests at the local, state, and federal levels of government. Stone will serve as a vital liaison, working to build and maintain productive relationships with policymakers, agencies, and other stakeholders to advance legislation and secure resources that directly benefit the City and its residents.

Aron York, Executive Scheduler
Aron York is a campaign professional and most recently worked alongside Mayor Nichols.
About the Role: York will be responsible for scheduling activities for Mayor Nichols. Scheduling can oftentimes be the most demanding aspect of any mayor’s schedule, and York will help manage the flow of commitments and operations for the Nichols Administration.