On the eve of early voting in a runoff election for District 1, Tulsa City Councilwoman Vanessa Hall-Harper is addressing political attacks she says are funded by unknown parties trying to influence the election.
Hall-Harper held a press conference Tuesday outside her campaign headquarters, calling out A Strong Oklahoma — an organization she said is behind TV advertisements, mailers and a website attacking her and supporting her opponent Corinice Wilson.
Voters deserve to know “who is behind this spending, who is funding it and why are they spending money to influence a local grassroots campaign in north Tulsa,” Hall-Harper said.
“If you want to influence this election, be honest about who you are and whose interests you represent,” she continued.
The incumbent said she first heard about the advertisements from a local faith leader and was shocked to see snippets of a political attack campaign. Hall-Harper presented two mailers at the press conference.
One reads: “Tulsans are working to make ends meet and Vanessa Hall-Harper is making life more expensive” while blaming her for “higher utility bills because of the new data center” claiming she “voted to raise your utility rates.”
The other reads: “Dr. Corinice Wilson is the leader northwest Tulsa needs now.”
Hall-Harper, who has held the seat since 2016, said she has never experienced political attacks of this nature.
“I’m just hoping that the citizens and the voters in Tulsa realize that this is something that’s unique and that there has to be something behind it,” she said.
Wilson denied any connection to the attack ads and told The Eagle she doesn’t know who is behind it.
“I have been clear that I do not support dark money or negative outside attacks in this race,” Wilson’s campaign said in a statement. “It’s unfortunate that negative mailers and ads have entered this race. I do not believe in tearing someone down to lift myself up.”
The two candidates say they have not talked about the ads.
State Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, joined Hall-Harper Tuesday, asking voters to question what might be motivating the attacks.
“You have to ask yourself why at this hour — in this race — when there’s a runoff that you now find folks coming to the rescue of something,” Goodwin said. “It is not just, it’s not right and it does not benefit this community.”
Ultimately, both candidates say voters should do the work themselves before deciding who they vote for.
Wilson said her “approach has always been to look for the source, check the facts and make my own judgment. I encourage District 1 voters to do the same.”
As for Hall-Harper, she’s requesting the same.
“I am asking the people behind these attacks to tell voters who is funding them and provide factual evidence for their claims,” she said. “And I’m asking the people of District 1 to look at my record, ask questions, check the facts and make your own decision.”
Early voting runs from Oct. 28-31 at four locations across Tulsa County. Election Day is Nov. 3.
