Tulsa City Council District 3 candidates answer voter questions about public safety, economic development and more

Getting the City of Tulsa out of running a jail and letting voters decide on a sales tax increase are where District 3 City Council incumbent Jackie Dutton and challenger Tanisha Bowen agree. They disagree on police officer credentials and offer different detail levels on their priorities. 

The only District 3 candidate forum was Thursday at the Air and Space Museum, which is located within the district. District 3 covers parts of midtown, east Tulsa and northeast Tulsa.

Dutton, a former business owner and 33-year resident of the district, is seeking a second term. Bowen, a real estate agent, has lived in the district for 22 years and been involved in public schools.

Press Club president Jason Collington moderated Thursday’s forum with Tulsa Flyer reporter Joe Tomlinson and Tulsa World reporter Kevin Canfield asking questions of the candidates submitted by Tulsans in attendance. Here are some takeaways from the discussion:

• On ideas for economic development, Dutton said she was pursuing Improve Our Tulsa funds to fix infrastructure for business expansion, leaning into possible aerospace industry projects and seeking partnerships with nonprofits and private companies for investment. Bowen said securing more housing would be a foundation for economic expansion.

• With Tulsa Police Chief Dennis Larsen’s upcoming retirement, Dutton said she is interested in a national and internal search for a replacement. Bowen said she is against candidates from outside Tulsa in case that municipality is trying to get rid of a poor performing chief.

• Both endorse some level of independent oversight of the Tulsa Police Department, citing rising costs from the city’s sinking fund that pays off lawsuits. Both want to close the municipal jail after reporting from The Frontier showed seven preventative deaths at the jail since 2023. 

• Bowen disagrees with the requirement for TPD officers to have a bachelor’s degree because it excludes people unable to afford college. Dutton supports keeping the requirement, saying it produces officers with a better understanding of social service and criminal justice approaches. The requirement was implemented in 1996. 

• Bowen said her work as a real estate agent and volunteer in schools gives her insight into working parenthood and balancing a busy schedule. Dutton said being a city councilor is her full-time job and only income at $32,000, putting her in the same economic bracket as many constituents and allowing her to focus on district needs. 

• Both support putting a potential sales tax increase on the ballot for voters to decide. Dutton said she is personally against it because costs are rising on everything from food to utilities. Bowen did not provide her personal opinion. Both support the hotel/motel tax increase, up to 9.9% from 5%, going before voters Nov. 3. 

• Bowen would like the city to assist landlords with inherited property to afford maintenance. Dutton said the Neighborhood Infill Overlay plan has a program to target abandoned and blighted properties for developers to improve for available housing. She said a district town hall is being held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Sequoyah Hill Baptist Church, 714 N. Harvard Ave. for an overview. 

• Both oppose expansion of the city’s surveillance cameras.

• In the city budget, Dutton said her wish would be to expand code enforcement officers, Animal Welfare Services and sidewalks in District 3. Bowen said he had not looked at specific budget items but agreed with Dutton. 

Have questions ahead of the Aug. 25 election? Email connect@tulsaflyer.org.

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