David Randolph for Jenks City Council

David Randolph is running to represent you on the Jenks City Council as the at-large member. David is a City of Jenks Planning Commissioner, co-founder of Keep Jenks Safe, husband, father, Eagle Scout, volunteer, and attorney. He is endorsed by Mayor Lee, and is an experienced professional who knows how to use tax dollars wisely. David brings integrity and would like the opportunity to serve you.

I’m honored to be running for Jenks City Council. 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Like other candidates, I support economic development and investing in infrastructure. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 (𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲), 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀. Ultimately, local government needs to serve its citizens, and we need the entire package. Let’s not go backwards.

Also, I’m running on a non-partisan basis. However, my opponent is casting this election as a hyper-partisan race. Like you, I’m tired of the political bickering and partisan dysfunction. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. I also want to serve the entire city, not just half of it. I have successfully worked with individuals across the political spectrum on the Jenks Planning Commission, Keep Jenks Safe, and on the management committee at my law firm, and I look forward to doing the same on the Jenks City Council.

Finally, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆. Last week, Kevin Short and Rodney Cline’s campaigns created a campaign ad masquerading as a newspaper called 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘑𝘦𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, which stoked partisan divides and was full of falsehoods. This was on top of a series of untruthful and misleading attack ad mailers and unsolicited text messages, all of which pushed the false narrative that I somehow support more lockdowns. Tactics like these violate my ethical standards, and Jenks deserves better. We shouldn’t support candidates who use cheap political tricks designed to deceive voters.

It’s been exciting to meet so many people by knocking on doors, at meet and greets, and in the community. I’m honored to be endorsed by Mayor Lee. Also, I support Dawn Dyke, who is running in the Ward 4 election, and I recommend that you support her as well. All Jenks voters can participate in both races.

𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻. I’m humbled by this opportunity to serve the city, and I would appreciate your support.

Vote Tuesday, April 6. THANK YOU! -David

Candidate for Jenks City Council, At-Large Member

While Jenks is a great city, we can make it even better. We need to make Jenks the destination city of Oklahoma, where citizens come to live, work, and play. I would appreciate your support.

Keep reading to see my vision and plan for Jenks, how I can serve the city, and about me.

The election is Tuesday, April 6.

For the latest updates, like or follow the campaign on Facebook at Facebook.com/David4Jenks. No Facebook account required!

Also, I was recently featured in the Jenks Tribune and by Channel 8. Check it out!

If you or your business would like a yard sign, you can make a request here and we'll deliver it to you.

You can also make a donation here. Thank you!

Setting the Record Straight

The Jenks Times, an entirely fake newspaper that is actually a campaign ad.

A false claim in an attack-ad mailer by Kevin Short

Last fall I diligently worked for a mask ordinance, leading a petition drive through Keep Jenks Safe that helped show the City Council that there was public support, garnering more than 500 signatures. I view the mask ordinance as pro-business, allowing us to go about our business in a safe way. I have not advocated for a lockdown.

But it gets worse. Besides the entirely fake newspaper, the last attack-ad mailer doctored a Facebook post by Keep Jenks Safe from April 23, 2020, hiding the date and removing the second paragraph, which pushed for re-opening safely. You deserve the whole truth. For your benefit, below is the missing paragraph (text and screenshot), which calls for re-opening in a safe manner:

We encourage the Jenks City Council to re-open safely, in a manner where social distancing can be maintained and infections prevented. The phased approach makes sense, but not this early when there are still a substantial number of new infections daily.

I have attempted to keep this campaign positive and focus on the issues. Instead, my opponent is pushing false and misleading information. Jenks deserves a City Councilor who is honest with you.

The fake newspaper, the attack-ad mailers, and the spam texts have also focused on political parties. I’m running on a non-partisan basis. No political party supports me, and the issues that Jenks faces are not Republican or Democrat. There are aspects that I like that reach across the political spectrum, including freedom of religion, liberty, self-determination, hard work, free markets, civil rights, and rule of law. What guides me instead of a political system are my values, which include responsibility, initiative, self-discipline, communication, integrity, generosity, and a positive attitude.

We need candidates who represent all of Jenks, not just half of it, especially for the at-large position. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲𝗿-𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. You don’t want a representative who serves party over city.

Finally, I’m much more involved in the community than just “various law associations.” In Jenks, I serve on the Jenks Planning Commission and helped develop a new Comprehensive Plan last year. I also co-founded Keep Jenks Safe in 2017, working with hundreds of residents on public safety issues. I have also served on United Way allocation boards and done pro bono legal work. I’m also involved in the Tulsa Global Alliance and volunteer at the school.

So do your homework and research the candidates. But don’t believe the fake newspaper, the attack-ad mailers, and the spam texts. I want to make sure you have all the facts straight to make an informed vote.

There are three candidates for the at-large seat for Jenks City Council. But how are we different?

Unfortunately, because of COVID, there is no regular meet and greet, or any debate. However, you need to be informed to make the best choice and move Jenks forward. You need to hear from all the candidates about the issues.

The Facebook group Jenks Parents and Alumni Seeking Answers asked all three at-large candidates five questions. Rather than just share my answers, I'm sharing the answers from all three candidates. You can find the answers in the Q&A section.

Thanks to everyone who attended the meet and greet with me and Dawn Dyke! It was a great discussion.

While our opponents are hosting fundraising events, we're hosting meet and greets. We want to meet voters, not donors.

David's Vision and Plan for Jenks

Infrastructure

Government needs to address its core responsibility of creating and maintaining proper infrastructure. I supported the Jenks 2020 Go Bond, but there are many more roads that need improvement (including in our neighborhood, pic above). Drainage and water pressure are problematic in Jenks, and lighting and sidewalks could be better. We also need reliable, high-speed internet.

We need a comprehensive review of our infrastructure and a plan to make it happen. Residents and businesses deserve a solid foundation.

An Advocate for Families

Jenks is filled with families, and we need to represent them. My wife and I have two children, one who attends Jenks Public Schools and another in daycare in Jenks. We have made Jenks our home, and plan to live here for the long haul.

Many families move to Jenks because of the strong school system, and there needs to be a better relationship between the City of Jenks and JPS.

We are aware of the benefits, difficulties, and needs of families. The City should represent and support the families who live here.

Business-Friendly Environment

Jenks needs to make itself even more attractive for businesses. This can be done through clear zoning, solid infrastructure, and better marketing of the city. Rather than sit and see who comes, we need to determine which types of industries we want and reach out with proposals. The city should also consider creative options, such as a business incubator.

Jenks has a qualified and hard-working workforce and customers with disposable cash, so we should be very attractive.

My vision, continued...

Public Health and Safety: Another core government responsibility is to keep its citizens safe. Because of this, I co-founded Keep Jenks Safe in 2017 and led a petition drive against the butane blending facility on Elwood, where safety issues were ignored. I also led a petition drive for a mask ordinance in November 2020 to reduce COVID, personally appearing at a contentious City Council meeting. We also need to support and adequately fund our police, fire, and emergency services to keep our citizens safe.

Parks and Green Space: Jenks could use additional and improved parks and green space. Families need space for active children, and parks and green space are calming and make the city a better place to live, also attracting residents and businesses. Jenks also needs to create bicycle and walking paths that integrate the entire city.

Transparency and Citizen Engagement: Through my involvement with Keep Jenks Safe, I pushed for posting on the Internet the same meeting packet that goes to City Councilors before each City Council meeting, not just a bare-bones agenda that was required by state law. This was a positive change, but we need more community involvement. I pledge to seek citizen input and advice, not to live in some ivory tower. Previous City Councils discouraged citizen input, but we need to actively seek it out.

Ethics: We need to eliminate the “good old boy” system in Jenks and professionalize our city for the future. In previous City Councils, ethics have been stretched, with odd reimbursements and obvious conflicts of interest. We need a clear policy that is consistently followed to best represent the citizens of Jenks. Let’s clean it up.

City-Wide View: I’m looking to represent all of the City of Jenks, not just a specific ward or area. For example, I supported expanding Elm to five lanes between 111th and 131st early on, which was later included in the Go Bonds that successfully passed in August 2020, even though I don’t travel on it daily. We also need to carefully consider a new bridge to Tulsa.

A Professional with a Strong Work Ethic and Proven Track Record

I’m a hard worker. I have held jobs since middle school including mowing, online stores, computer consulting, tutoring, language translation, Resident Assistant, IT intern with a Fortune 100 company, judicial intern, and more. In college, I was a triple-major in four years with a near-perfect GPA and served as president of several organizations. In law school, I graduated near the top of my class and was editor-in-chief of a law journal, managing 40 students, while clerking at a law firm. After graduation, I worked hard to become an equity partner at a large Tulsa-based law firm and the youngest member of the firm’s management team.

I have volunteered on the United Way allocation board and served as head of the Tulsa County Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section. I have also supported the Committee of 100, which provides scholarships to children of first responders.

In Jenks, I have served as on the Jenks Planning Commission since 2019 and helped implement the new Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in September 2020.

I would like to use this energy and management experience to serve Jenks on the City Council.

A Family Man

Jenks is home for our family, as we have lived here for 12 years and look forward to many more. We have two children, one in Jenks Public Schools and another who attends daycare in Jenks.

We shop for groceries in Jenks, go to parks in Jenks, and deal with the same construction projects that you do. We’re raising our family here, plan to stay, and want to make it even better.

There also needs to be a better link between the city and Jenks Public Schools. Many families choose Jenks because of the strong school system. However, some in city government have viewed the school system as taking away business opportunities. I don't agree and believe both compliment each other.

The City Council needs to have a representative for families. I hope to serve as that critical link.

An Advocate for Public Safety

We need a common-sense approach to public safety. For COVID, this means a mask ordinance to reduce spread and save lives in Jenks while COVID is prevalent and until vaccines are widely available. I believe in and support science.

This also means not approving dangerous uses that put the city and its citizens at risk, such as the butane blending facility on Elwood. This also unfairly puts our fire department at risk, which is not equipped to deal with a large chemical incident.

Also, the City of Jenks can improve neighborhood safety, especially to prevent home burglaries. An easy improvement would be to increase the number of police patrols driving through neighborhoods. The city could also better share crime data with HOAs and citizens, alerting them to nearby incidents and trends. We could also partner with Ring to capture footage, with consent. We could also add cameras at businesses and intersections to match license plates and catch criminals. We could also enable police to use DNA evidence, not just fingerprints.

We have a great police department, but let's make sure they have all the tools they need.

Non-Partisan and Values-Oriented

The issues Jenks faces are not Republican or Democrat, and the Jenks City Council is non-partisan. Many of the polarizing national issues are not decided at the local level, but instead are often everyday issues such as streets, schools, and sidewalks. We need to not drag in any political bias and approach each issue independently and with the best solution. However, there are aspects I like that reach across the political spectrum, including freedom of religion, liberty, self-determination, civil rights, and rule of law.

What guides me instead of a political system are my values, which include responsibility, initiative, self-discipline, communication, integrity, generosity, and a positive attitude.

Also, I’m glad to talk with anyone in a civil manner, even those who disagree. You may even change my mind. I want to be your conduit to the city, not an obstacle, and the city should represent you.

I'll point out that of the four City Councilors whose campaigns I have supported, all four are Republicans. Also, I have successfully worked successfully with individuals across the political spectrum on the Jenks Planning Commission and on the management team at work, and I hope to do the same on the Jenks City Council.

Committed to Jenks

I'm committed to the city. But how can I show you? Take a look.

This picture was taken in May 2019 as flood waters were rising. Jenks Public Works dumped large piles of sand in its parking lot and invited the public to fill sandbags. The sandbags were to be used to protect the aquarium, which was expected to be flooded otherwise. I headed over with my six-year-old son and a shovel.

It was hot and sweaty. But we filled a lot of sandbags, and it was also a good lesson about community service for my son.

My pledge—I'll do whatever it takes to serve and protect Jenks. Even if it means filling sandbags in the sun.

An attorney on your side

The other candidates have focused on my career as an attorney. Trust me—you want a good lawyer on your side.

First, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿. I put deals together and write contracts. However, I don’t personally sue companies or go to court. Our law firm is split 50/50 between transactions and litigation, and that’s the other half.

Second, I really enjoy being an attorney. Just to take you behind the scenes, in just a week earlier this month I drafted a contract for a local Minecraft developer, prepared loan documents and reviewed title work for a multi-million dollar acquisition financing for several nursing homes, started to put together a deal to sell millions of dollars of equipment for a tribe strategically exiting a business unit, and was engaged to to work on a lease and financing for a new distribution facility at the airport, among other things. I enjoy helping clients achieve goals, and when a transaction closes, it’s great to see a building get built, an entrepreneur get started, or a business successfully sold.

These skills would all be helpful on Jenks City Council. I can dig through documents but still keep the bigger picture in mind. Also, on the management team at work, and I’m good at building consensus and getting things done. Also, when business folks say they are problem solvers, who do they call to discuss options? Their business lawyer.

Third, we make a lot of money for our clients...𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵. When a city gets sued and has a judgment against it, who pays? The citizens through higher property taxes. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. I’ve seen plenty of non-lawyers get frustrated or not understand the legal system, making bad decisions leading to legal liability. I can help with that. In fact, it’s my job!

Finally, I respect everyone’s profession, and we all have something to learn from each other. In Jenks, we have a lot of experienced workers, including teachers, police, fire, realtors, IT professionals, healthcare, mechanics, retail workers, bankers, administrative assistants, doctors, waiters, insurance agents, and much more. 𝗠𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲—𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

P.S. - This pic is not me, of course. It’s Avery Tolar (Gene Hackman) and Mitch McDeere (Tom Cruise) from the 1993 film “The Firm”. Fortunately, real life at a law firm is less thrilling.

An advocate for transparency and citizen input

$62 for a building permit? Yikes.

This is my Open Records Act request for a copy of the Phillips 66 butane building permit. I asked for this because it wasn't available publicly otherwise, and the city wouldn't give it unless I submitted a request. Under state law, the city can charge for time and copies, which came out to $62.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.

I worked with Robert Lee, Mayor of Jenks so the same meeting packet that is sent to the City Council before each meeting is available for the public on city's website. Tulsa does this, so I knew Jenks could too. Before, only a bare-bones agenda was posted, which is all that state law requires.

But even more than transparency, posting this information allows citizens to be informed and hold public officials accountable. We need citizen input and participation, and posting this information allows it to happen.

I'm the only at-large candidate pushing for transparency. Let's not go backwards.

A bit more about me...

A bit more about me: I’ve always been interested in international issues and have traveled extensively. I speak Russian and Spanish, and bits of other languages. I’m a technology enthusiast (i.e., nerd) who builds my own computers. I love being outside and often go trail running. I like business news and follow the stock market closely. I’m really good at killing office plants, despite best efforts. I like power tools, axe throwing, and electric scooters. I’m a Dad who enjoys driving everyone in the minivan for a family outing.

Support the Campaign

More than financial support, I ask for your vote and support. Votes are what win an election.

If you would like to donate to the campaign (and only if you are financially able), it would also be much appreciated and will help make this vision for Jenks a reality. You can pay with the buttons below, or you can send a check payable to Friends of David Randolph to 745 W 99th St S, Jenks, OK 74037.

However, more than financial support, I need your vote.

If you are interested in volunteering or supporting in any other way, such as posting a sign, please contact me at david@david4jenks.org.

Thank you!