Tulsa Welcomes New Mayor, Auditor, City Councilors to City Hall

12/2/2024

Watch the Inauguration | Read Mayor Nichols speech

Monroe Nichols IV took his oath of office today and was sworn in as Tulsa’s 41st mayor during an inauguration ceremony at the Cox Business Convention Center.

Mayor Nichols was sworn in alongside newly elected City Auditor Nathan Pickard and Tulsa City Councilors Vanessa Hall-Harper, Anthony Archie, Jackie Dutton, Laura Bellis, Karen Gilbert, Christian Bengel, Lori Decter Wright, Phil Lakin, Jr., and Carol Bush.

Mayor Nichols, who will take his post immediately and has a term of four years, becomes Tulsa’s first African American mayor. During his Administration, Mayor Nichols will prioritize several key areas 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.

“Tulsa is a place where big things are possible and where all Tulsans can make an impact bigger than themselves,” Mayor Nichols said. “Today is a new day for Tulsa – a day that offers our city a fresh perspective and a new way of getting things done. I am honored and humbled to be the next mayor of Tulsa, and I am eager to work with the community and an incredible group of city employees to achieve our goals and vision for this city."

Tulsa City Councilors will immediately begin their service following the inauguration and will each have a term of two years. Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin, the longest-serving sitting City Councilor who served as the Vice Chair this past year, had this to say on behalf of the Tulsa City Council.

"I am honored, humbled, and truly blessed to be a part of the team that residents have selected to serve Tulsa," Council Vice Chair Phil Lakin, said. "Collectively we will build on our past successes by continuing to make people-centered, collaborative, and fiscally responsible decisions that best meet the needs of our great city. Thank you to the community for entrusting us with this responsibility as we work with you, our neighbors, to explore and achieve endless possibilities."

The City of Tulsa’s new and incoming auditor Nathan Pickard, who will also begin his service following the inauguration and will have a term of two years, had this to say about his swearing in:

“With almost two decades of experience as a Certified Internal Auditor using data to identify issues for local governments, I look forward to providing accountability and transparency of our government to Tulsans in this new role,” Auditor Pickard said. “As we build upon the successes of my predecessor, Auditor Carter, my focus will be to continue her great work through the review of the City’s internal controls and increase community involvement in our government, as everyone has a part to play in what our community becomes.”

To keep up to date with the Mayor’s Office, visit http://www.cityoftulsa.org/mayor. For the latest information on the Tulsa City Council, visithttp://www.tulsacouncil.org./" title="www.tulsacouncil.org.> And for the latest information on the City Auditor, visit http://www.cityoftulsa.org/cityauditor.

ABOUT CITY OF TULSA GOVERNMENT:

The City of Tulsa has a strong mayor form of government. The mayor is elected by the entire population and each of the nine Councilors are elected from districts based on population. The mayor serves as chief executive of the City, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations. The Tulsa City Council is the legislative and policy development body of the City. The City of Tulsa also has an elected City Auditor. Tulsa City government is housed in Tulsa City Hall in One Technology Center, 175 E. 2nd St.