Thomas Moore is the last of five candidates seeking to be the next city councilor for District 1. He joins three other challengers — Corinice Wilson, Reggie Williams Jr. and Mareo Johnson — aiming to unseat incumbent Vanessa Hall-Harper.
Hall-Harper has held the seat since 2016 and said she’s running for reelection this year “because the work is not finished.”
The district covers a large swath of north Tulsa. You can confirm which district you live in here.
Ahead of The Eagle’s free candidate forum set for Aug. 11 and Election Day Aug. 25, we asked Moore his plans for the district if elected.
Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Why are you running for office?
Moore: The people of District 1 pay the highest tax rate out of their income, work the hardest for their money, drive the furthest across the worst roads to get to work and get told a bunch of empty promises about a better future that will not arrive until someone gets creative and works around our broken tax system. Tulsa is prosperous but the tax disparity leaves the lowest income earners paying the highest tax rates by double and even triple that of other districts and creates an untenable future that kills economic development prospects before they can even get off the ground because no one has money to spend on anything other than the cheapest possible option no matter what part of town they can find it.
List your top three priorities for the district.
Moore: 1. Fix our taxation and utility bill situation. We have people spending $1 for every $11 they earn just on city sales tax while other areas are spending only $1 for every $31 in earnings.
2. Economic Development at the local level requires the locals to be able to get the help they need to get their businesses rolling and also requires their neighbors to have enough of their paychecks left over to be able to shop there. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well all over District 1, but there is not enough being done to keep money in the pockets of those we need to be able to shop at the new businesses and keep them open. We will also be hard pressed to attract consumers from other parts of town to come shop in our area of town if it means they have to buy a new tire because they hit a chuck hole every time they cross Archer.
3. The housing in-fill situation has been lingering for as long as I can remember. We should not be spending millions of dollars on housing solutions without dedicating a significant portion of that doing whatever it takes to get the board-ups, abandoned houses and trap houses back under control and occupied by neighbors looking to put down roots or at least keep the property up. It is a safety issue, an aesthetics issue and long overdue.
What community organizations are you involved with?
Moore: I am currently working with Oklahoma Harm Reduction Alliance to help address the avoidable harms coming from drug addiction and lifestyle choices. I have spent much of the last 15 years working with recently incarcerated, recovering or formerly homeless population helping them get valuable work experience, a solid job reference and in many cases helping them to launch businesses and get a fresh start on a path that will serve them and their families. I have also been involved with my tribe, youth outreach through a faith based non-profit as well as local disc golf course development.
How long have you lived in the district?
Moore: Two years, plus a bunch of time in the ’80s when my grandma was still living in town.
What do you see as positives about the district?
Moore: There are endless possibilities in District 1 and a climate ripe for success. Twenty-five years ago my company managed several multi-family apartment complexes in the district and there was a strong will to get things going back then and it just baffles me that there hasn’t been a stronger effort to take advantage of all the human capital and drive that stays relentless in wanting more for their respective neighborhoods. My hope is to help bolster the seeds of action in the youth and get more incubators for small businesses kicked off so that we can see some of these old neglected commercial properties occupied and keep our local dollars turning over in the local economy. There is also a huge music scene ready to pop, if we can help get more places for that creativity to flourish.
What are the places you believe define north Tulsa?
Moore: The Freeze has always been a favorite as has Oklahoma Style BBQ. Morning Star Baptist Church is imprinted in my mind as are the McLain and Booker T. Washington football fields and I miss the way Mohawk Boulevard was when I was a kid. I think right now the places defining North Tulsa are the empty spaces that should have thriving businesses in them and can have thriving businesses in them. There should also be 10 more music groups or more out of Tulsa with a street named after them since the GAP Band hit. There are at least eight people I know in north Tulsa that cook better than any restaurant you can get anywhere and our economy has got them doing cleaning and maintenance jobs instead of cooking and bringing love and joy.
Where is your favorite place to eat in Tulsa?
Moore: My best buddy Frankie P’s house, whether it was fish we caught, BBQ, greens, chicken, whatever, that man could cook anything and make it melt-your-face dynamite! I hope some day he will be able to get back in the kitchen … but believe me when I say that racial injustice in our area has to stay on our minds and get rooted out at every level. Ignorance is still alive and well in too many hearts and that requires action and vigilance.
