Karen Gilbert successfully defended her seat Tuesday, securing another two years representing Tulsa City Council District 5.
“I just want to thank the residents of District 5 for having the confidence in me and letting me continue our efforts in building cohesiveness within the neighborhoods, with each other,” Gilbert said to her supporters at her election night watch party.
Gilbert fended off challenger Adam Burnett, an attorney at Frasier Frasier & Hickman, with 58% of the vote. District 5 covers parts of east, midtown and south Tulsa neighborhoods.
Gilbert first earned her council seat in 2011 and served until 2018. She returned in 2024 after a failed bid for the state House. She’s been the executive director of Tulsa Crime Stoppers since 2018.
Faces past and present joined Gilbert at her watch party at WeStreet Ice Center. Former Mayor G.T. Bynum, and District 8 City Councilor Phil Lakin attended to support her.
“There are 90 police officers on the street today, and dozens of firefighters that would not be there if it weren’t for her,” said Bynum, who also previously served as District 9 councilor. “She’s a real leader who is not partisan, that’s just focused on Tulsa and doing what’s right for Tulsa.”
Lakin called Gilbert one of his best friends.
“And best friends show up for best friends,” he said. “We have just found a way to work well with each other since 2011, so it’s my honor to get to be here to support her.”
The most pressing issues ahead of her reelection included vacant, abandoned properties, such as the OYO Hotel and Studio Star, Gilbert said at the Tulsa Flyer’s candidate forum July 27. Both properties are heading for demolition by the city.
She and Burnett agreed on increasing code enforcement staff to decrease backlog and get faster service for Tulsa’s blighted properties. The former Promenade Mall at 41st Street and Yale Avenue is one of the district’s biggest eyesores and a “magnet for crime” as Gilbert put it.
Here are some of Gilbert’s other stances on key issues:
- She supports using flock cameras to reduce crime.
- She wants to add law enforcement oversight by converting the Tulsa Police Advisory Board into a public safety board that oversees Tulsa police, 911, code enforcement and animal welfare.
- She supports raising the hotel/motel tax from 5% to 9.9%, which Tulsans vote on Nov. 3.
- She wants more funding for Safe Move Tulsa, which was launched last year to end homelessness by 2030.
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