Sally Bell Brings Interesting Perspective to Campaign
Having had the county as a landlord for her family’s business for more than half a century has given Sally Bell extensive insight into Tulsa County policies and operations that few can claim to match. As vice president of Bell’s Amusement Park, which until recently held a lease with the county for more than 56 years, Bell brings this unique perspective to her campaign for the District Two County Commissioner seat.
Bell, who defeated incumbent Randi Miller in the primary election, says change is needed in District Two and believes that she is the candidate that can bring about that change. One area that Bell feels particularly confident in abilities is the management of the Tulsa County Fairgrounds. Through her dealings with the county as a tenant, Bell can claim the most experience in dealing with the Tulsa County Fairgrounds Trust Authority.
Bell feels strongly that oversight is needed when it comes to the fairgrounds and that the public should be well informed of the goings-on there. “I will ensure that the public will always know what is happening to this vitally important part of Tulsa’s economy,” Bell says. “I will work tirelessly to ensure that tax dollars are properly spent.”
Providing open and integrity-based representation for the district is another of Bell’s primary goals. “County government, like all levels of government, should be open and accessible to the people who live within the district,” Bell states. “There should be no special deals, no meetings without public discussion or scrutiny, and the door to the Commissioner’s office should always be open to any citizen who wishes to be heard.”
Bell believes that there has been some mismanagement within the county in the past. Because of this, one of her goals is to work to reduce spending waste so as to maximize what the public receives for the tax money already collected. “I believe that the only way for Tulsa to grow is not by raising our already high taxes, but through the repair and replacement of our existing infrastructure,” Bell notes. “I believe government spending at all levels should be minimal and used only for those projects deemed necessary and important for the community.”
Making Tulsa a business-friendly environment, Bell believes, is essential to promoting economic growth. “Real development will only take hold when businesses large and small actually believe that they will have the opportunity to prosper and grow,” Bell notes.
Another of Bell’s priorities is making sure the Sheriff’s department has the resources required to perform effectively. She feels that the department is under funded, understaffed, and overworked and wants to remedy the situation. “Our deputies go to work every day and do a job that demands their absolute best to protect and serve our community,” Bell says. “In return we need to provide them with the resources they need to maintain the department.”
Bell is a graduate of the University of Tulsa. She is married to Bob Bell and has three children.
Updated 10-21-2008
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