Teenager Wins Muskogee Mayoral Race

A 19-year-old freshman at the University of Oklahoma won the mayoral race Tuesday in this northeastern Oklahoma city, becoming one of the youngest mayors in the country.

With all 18 precincts reporting, John Tyler Hammons won with 70 percent of the vote over former Mayor Hershel Ray McBride, said Muskogee County Election Board Secretary Bill Bull.

"The public placing their trust in me is the greatest, humbling and most awesome experience I've ever had in my life," Hammons said Tuesday from a watch party at Cowboys Barbecue. "It's an experience that we'll never forget."

The two candidates squared off in a runoff election for the nonpartisan mayoral post after neither secured 50 percent of the vote in a six-person election on April 1. They were running to replace outgoing Mayor Wren Stratton, who decided not to seek re-election after one term in office.

Hammons will be sworn into office on Tuesday.

McBride, who was running on his record as a successful businessman, longtime city councilor and three-term mayor, said he was surprised by the margin of Hammon's victory.

"I kind of thought I had turned it around toward the end there," McBride said. "But I'm not bitter. I'm kind of disappointed. It was good race, a clean race."

Hammons said he plans to continue his college education, but expects to transfer to a university closer to Muskogee, a town of about 38,000 residents located about 50 miles southeast of Tulsa.

"Being elected does not change my desire to continue my education," he said. "We will schedule our time in an appropriate fashion so that I can be mayor and stay in school."

He said he's considering Northeastern State University, which has a branch campus in Muskogee.

The mayor in Muskogee chairs the city's nine-member city council and serves as a voting member.

Hammons said a key to his platform that resonated with voters was openness of city government and keeping citizens better informed of the operations of the city.

"I think that's been a detriment to the trust of the citizens of Muskogee," he said. "Once we have that trust, we can solve any other problem."

Hammons said he's already been contacted by representatives of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" about appearing on the late-night talk show.

[musicprofsuny]

This is a really encouraging story. A 21 year old man/student named Jason Corrigan is running for mayor in Oneonta NY. He has already taken a leading role in the community and has launched a website called www.unifyingoneonta.com

I hope he can get some support from the other young mayors around the US.

[cfin5]

Good for you young man. Don''t forget Merle Haggards great AMERICAN public boast of your new charge :)

[prinzowhales]

Some how I don''t think his whole appeal with the electorate was for his support of openness in government. I guess if I want to learn anything about this victory, I''ll have to go elsewhere than CBS.

By the way, Alex Jones has noted that Wayne Madsen is investigating the murder of a CIA agent in Houston by the Police.

[husein_pasha]

Be careful, they may cut their necks

[randynason]

This generation of young people is very involved and not afraid to stick out thier necks. Maybe there is some hope in this political wasteland, after all.

[klingon69]

We don''t smoke marijuana in Muskogee.
We don''t take our trips on LSD

[husein_pasha]

Is he from the democrats or the republicans?

[tomanyt]

He''s old enough to run a town, but he isn''t old enough to buy beer. Weird.

[stn_sage]

Take this guy and let him finish out Bush''s presidency, he absolutely COULDN''T do any worse than Bush has done!

[spursfan83]

I must say I''m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee even though I now live in Texas.
Way to go!