Bartlesville Ward 3 election hopeful Brandon Wade wants to better the city for his son
Brandon Wade got into politics after his son expressed that he didn't know if Bartlesville would be where he wanted to grow up and raise a family after graduating. Wade has made it his mission to ensure everyone's children would like to live here.
"I'm definitely proud of my home, and I just don't want to hear somebody say they don't know if they want to live here," he said.
Wade is a third-generation oil and gas worker and has worked at Schlumberger for the last 23 years. He also serves as the business agent for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 351.
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He will face incumbent Vice Mayor Jim Curd for the Ward 3 seat in the Nov. 8 election.
Wade admits his campaign has been off to a slow start because he is heavily involved in the Madison Horn U.S. Senate campaign. Wade initially ran for the seat himself but lost in the primary.
Now he is ready to start knocking on doors and meeting with more of the community to help understand citizens' concerns.
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He sees a chance to use Bartlesville City Council to gain more political experience and as a jumping-off point for future endeavors.
"In no way I'm taking this lightly. It would definitely be a learning opportunity," Wade said. He said he is eager to serve as he has served his fellow union workers over the years as union committee chairman and chairman executive board member.
His main two areas of concern are roads and police.
Wade feels many of the downtown city streets are up-to-date but would like to focus on the residential and neighborhood roads that he feels get missed.
Wade also wants to make sure that the Bartlesville Police Department is fully staffed and ready to answer any call that comes their way.
Wade has spoken to officers who shared concerns that BPD is understaffed and overworked.
He said, "it's already a dangerous job. We need the staffing that they need and the funding that they need for anything that they might need: equipment or training wise."
Wade wants to see more events that celebrate diversity and equality.
He said, "I want the community to be safe for anybody, which we largely are, and not be concerned with how you identify."
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This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Bartlesville Ward 3 election: Wade wants to better city for son
