County Commissioner candidates square off at forum

By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon

OKLAHOMA CITY – Candidates for Oklahoma County Commissioner District 1 shared their views on the county jail, infrastructure, economic development and other topics last Thursday during a candidate forum hosted by the Foundation for Liberating Minds.

They focused on the jail, criminal justice, infrastructure, economic development and other issues during the nearly 1 ½ hour long event.

Midwest City councilmember Sara Bana, State Rep. Jason Lowe and former State Sen. Anastasia Pittman are seeking the Democratic nomination in the Feb. 11 primary. The winner will move on to the April 1 general election.

Candidates are running in a special election to fill a vacant seat on the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners for District 1. The district includes the central portion of Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Del City, Spencer, and Nicoma Park.

Former District 1 Commissioner Carrie Blumert resigned in October to take a position with a non-profit organization that focuses on mental health issues in the state.

Candidates were first asked why they are running.

Lowe, who is a defense attorney, said he is running because of the Oklahoma County Jail. He said he goes to jail often and understands the issues it faces.

“It is a mess, and it is a place where people are actually going to die,” he said.

Bana said she’s running to save lives at the county jail. She argued that construction of a new jail will indebt future generations and not solve issues of criminal justice. Bana also wants to uplift District 1 and the east part of the County.

“They take our money and build nice things and then dump what they don’t want in our community,” she said.

Pittman touted her experience in politics, finance, transportation and economic development. She said she understands the problems with the jail, but said there are also issues with housing and infrastructure.

“I’m running because this is what I do. This is not my first rodeo,” she said.

Candidates were later asked what infrastructure improvements they would advocate for.

Pittman said she would focus on housing and economic development.

Lowe said roads, bridges, and the county jail would be his priorities. He also said they need to increase diversion programs, especially for veterans.

Bana agreed that many people in the jail are suffering mental health issues. She said wants to see a mental healthcare facility in every municipality in the county. She also said they should seek more federal grants for infrastructure projects.

Pittman responded saying that the county doesn’t have a tax revenue stream to fund many of the items discussed.

Candidates were asked about how they would address housing insecurity, displacement and homelessness.

Lowe said they need to educate people about county and federal programs that are available to repair credit and pursue home ownership. He also said they need to expand the diversion program to make sure everyone gets the “treatment and help they need.”

Bana said she has 15 years of experience helping people who have been “systematically failed and neglected by our government.” She said helping people who are unhoused has been a focus of her efforts. She would like to see more tiny homes across the county.

Pittman said there are rules and regulations that limit their ability to address issues. She said as county commissioner, she could promote public-private partnerships to work with developers and non-profit organizations to create affordable housing, projects that help low-income residents and veterans. She pointed to programs that help people find affordable housing.

“One thing we have found is we are building homes, but we are pricing people out of their communities,” she said.

Candidates were asked about concerns about the connection of mental healthcare and policing.

Bana criticized the county’s plan to build a behavioral health center as part of the jail. She said people are receiving mental healthcare only once they enter the criminal justice center. She said they should build a standalone mental healthcare facility for the community.

“We’re saying if you are a poor American, who cannot get access to care, you need to go to the county jail first and then we’ll give you access to care,” Bana said.

Lowe said he was part of a super minority but was able to pass a bill that requires law enforcement officer to have de-escalation training.

Pittman says the new behavioral health center and new jail are necessary. She said ARPA funds will pay for construction of the mental health facility, but they will need to find ways to build the rest.

The candidates were asked how to curb problems at the current jail until a new facility can be built.

Pittman mentioned the recent resignation of Brandi Garner, CEO of the Oklahoma County Detention Center, which shows systemic issues that are not being addressed. She says the county can provide better oversight of the jail and adopt models for operations.

Lowe said the first thing they need to do is make the jail safe and allow families to visit inmates again.

Bana challenged attorneys like Lowe to sue the county and asked for more accountability from police and officers of the court. She cites her history of filing complaints with the health department.

“How many of them, like Rep. Lowe, are willing to attest publicly to the conditions that they have seen,” Bana said.

Bana argues that defense attorneys profit off the criminal justice system.

Lowe challenged Bana’s comments and said his law firm helps the community and mentors young people.

Another debate will take place at 7:10 p.m. Thursday at Metro Technology Center, 1900 N. Spring Lake Drive in Oklahoma City. The event is hosted by the Black Chronicle newspaper.