Browne wins Del City Ward 3 race
Claudia Browne celebrates election night victory.
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
Del City will have a new city council member.
Claudia Browne won the Ward 3 city council election last week.
Browne won with 54.35% of the vote, defeating incumbent Jacque Mooney. Browne received 150 votes and Mooney had 126.
On election night, Browne gathered with family and friends for a campaign watch party at #1 BBQ and Burger, a new restaurant that opened a week ago. Her brother and husband waited at the two polling locations for the results to be posted. The first precinct showed Mooney leading by three votes. But Browne won the second precinct by 28 votes.
“I was absolutely elated when I learned the results. It felt like a movie,” Browne said.
Browne has lived in the Mid-Del area much of her life. She grew up in Midwest City and moved to Del City eight years ago. She had worked as a manager of a dental office in Oklahoma City before stepping away in May. She has been active in the Del City Chamber of Commerce and Del City Rotary Club.
Mooney has served on the city council since September 2021 when she was appointed to fill a vacancy.
Browne believes her hard work and enthusiasm resonated with residents.
“I spoke with many residents who feel unheard, disconnected, and frustrated with the current leadership,” Browne said. “To many, I was a breath of fresh air and a glimmer of hope. Speaking face to face with residents is important, as we all believe in a better Del City and working together is the key.”
She said that will continue once in office.
“I look forward to working for my constituents,” she said. “They are my new bosses and I couldn’t be happier.”
Browne will be the fourth person to represent Ward 3 in the past four years. Ken Bartlett represented the ward for several years before he was term-limited in 2019. J.D. Hock was elected in 2019 and served until 2021 when he stepped down to accept a position with the city. Mooney was appointed in 2021 to serve the remainder of the four-year term.
Ward 3 includes much of the core of Del City. It is bordered by SE 15th St. on the north, Sunnylane Rd. to the west, Sooner Rd. to the east, and roughly SE 37th and SE 39th streets on the south.
