Anthony Archie will continue representing District 2 following his second victory over challenger Aaron Bisogno. Archie received nearly 74% of the vote with more than half of precincts reporting as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the election board.
Archie is a business owner, former pastor and social studies teacher who ran on continuing his economic efforts across west and southwest Tulsa. His main priorities going into his second term, he said, will be addressing issues in the 61st and Peoria area and developing a revitalization plan for the Riverwood neighborhood.
“It’s been an honor to be a leader and to learn so much and serve our district,” he said during a campaign event Tuesday. “We look forward to restored sidewalks in the next two years. We look forward to the reopening of a renovated Johnson Park in the next two years.”
Originally from Chicago, Archie moved to Tulsa in 2006. He opened Oklahoma Toffee Company with his wife in 2017. The business donates 20% of its profits to local teachers for school supplies.
This was his second time defeating Bisogno, who campaigned on transparent government spending and reorganizing the city’s approach to solving homelessness. The defeat marked his fifth time losing a city council race.
He told The Eagle the reason he keeps running is because he’s concerned with how the government spends taxpayer money.
Prior to Election Day, he said whether he wins or loses, things will remain the same unless voters begin to believe that their representatives always have their interest in mind.
“(Unless) more people start to stand up for themselves, and start to realize that the government never has their No. 1 priority as their best intention, things are always going to say the same,” Bisogno said.
When asked if he’ll run again in 2028, Archie told The Eagle that he’ll decide what the future holds further down the road, but for now he is focused on being the best councilor he can be.
Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.
