Each year, across the state of Oklahoma and throughout the U.S., women are continuing to play a larger and more relevant role in governing their cities and towns. Recent studies have shown that the role women play in municipal leadership creates a diversity that improves an organization’s effectiveness, which is reflected by having a variance in opinions, perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that help to make a community a comprehensive representation of its citizens.

Currently, Oklahoma municipalities have approximately 3,000 women employed or serving in various roles, including Mayors, City Administrators, Clerks, Treasurers and more. In addition, approximately 25% of all Oklahoma cities and towns have women serving in the roles of Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Administrators, and City Managers.

This month, we are honoring the service of women by featuring 4 of our states’ municipal women leaders. They are clearly representative of thousands of other women throughout the state that serve with professionalism, confidence, and with a sense of service to their fellow Oklahoma residents.

Kristy Yager, a 25-year employee of the City of Oklahoma City has served as the Public Information Officer for the Park & Recreations as well as the Director of Public Information and Marketing for the past 12 years. Yager, a life-long resident of Oklahoma, grew up in Duncan and attended East Central University. She, along with her husband and son live in Oklahoma City.

Yager assumed her current position during the time the city was promoting Maps II and a few years later, she helped to launch Maps III. She currently oversees a team of 17 people who direct and execute the marketing and communication plan for the city. “I couldn’t be happier working for the city. Former City Manager Jim Couch, along with current City Manager Craig Freeman both have the talent of hiring smart and ethical people. I have the privilege of getting to work alongside people who have great leadership skills along with great vision for the city. That makes my job so enjoyable and gives my entire department a sense that we are making a difference in the community,” Yager said.

Yager lists her proudest moments while working for the city as the recent opening of both Scissortail Park and the new Oklahoma City Convention Center. “The destinations are both world-class and offer our residents and visitors alike such an enjoyable experience,” she said. As one of her biggest goals for her department, Yager mentions striving to develop better communication streams with the Hispanic community. “The Hispanic community represents 14% of the Oklahoma City population and we think it is very important to find effective ways to communicate with them.” One of her biggest concerns in Oklahoma City is the lack of engagement of residents voting in municipal elections.

As a working wife and Mother, Yager is constantly seeking ways to strike the perfect balance. Yager says that without the help of her husband, parents and parent’s in-laws, she would not be able to do the job that she does. “My job is often more than an 8 – 5 job. Crisis doesn’t know what day it is or what time is it. In the communication department, we have to be ready to get information out to our citizens at any time, day or night. That’s often when my family steps in to assist with our son to make sure his life is as uninterrupted as possible.”

“I love what I do and would encourage other women to consider working for their municipalities. It is very rewarding and allows you to be a part of something that is benefiting thousands of others,” Yager said.

Brenda Hall has been an employee of the City of Norman for 32 years. She is currently the City Clerk, after first serving in various roles throughout the clerk’s office. Hall said that working in municipal government has been a wonderful opportunity and has allowed her to feel a sense of pride and ownership that she and her staff are making a difference in the lives of residents.

Hall moved to Norman during college and continues to live there with her family close by. “While working for the city, I was able to complete my college degree, which allowed me to be an example to my children that education was so important,” she said.

As in all of our municipalities, the recent pandemic created many challenges in Hall’s role as City Clerk. “We, like so many others had to deal with staff working remotely at the beginning of the pandemic, as well as figuring out how to adjust to virtual city council meetings, along with other city department meetings, all the while not missing out on other opportunities to keep our residents informed,” she said.

During Hall’s tenure with the city, she has worked with sixty-six city council members, eight Mayor’s and five City Manager’s. Hall said that as City Clerk, it has been imperative to learn how to work with not only a lot of different people, but people with diverse opinions and approaches to running a city.

Jennifer Swezey, Communications and Media Relations Manager in Broken Arrow, has worked for the city for 7 years. She grew up in Bartlesville, then moved to North Carolina for a few years and had been trying to return to Oklahoma when she accepted a position with Broken Arrow in 2014.

“My time working for the City of Broken Arrow has been wonderful. I love the staff and the opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of our residents. You just feel like you are helping others and that’s what I enjoy the most,” Swezey said.

During her tenure, Swezey has been an integral part of updating both the city’s digital and video services. She said that the city has focused a lot of resources to make sure that they are up to date on technology that will help to effectively communicate with their residents. “We have a strong emphasis on following communication trends that keep us moving in a way that our residents wish to receive their information from the city. This also helps the citizens feel that we are open and transparent with the information we provide to them,” she said.

Swezey said that the biggest responsibilities she has in her position are to keep the citizens informed about things going on in municipal government, running the city’s newsroom, keeping up with technology, and assisting the 15-municipal departments with their public communication needs.

As in any position, there are always things that you would like to improve upon. Swezey said the one big challenge in her role is social media. “For me, figuring out ways to handle negative and inaccurate social media posts is the most challenging, as well as balancing content and responses to issues in a non-conflicting nature.”

During the writing of this story, Swezey has announced that she will be leaving Broken Arrow to take the position of Assistant City Manager in Muskogee. Michael Spurgeon, Broken Arrow City Manager said during his announcement about Swezey’s departure that there isn’t a director in this city (BA) regardless of position that couldn’t step into any leadership role in any other city in this state and not excel. That’s the type of folks we have working for our community.”

“My self-actualization goal as a city manager was to help ten people become city managers before I retire, and Jennifer makes number seven. I know she’s going to do great, and I look forward to hearing all the great things she is going to be doing in the next few years in the City of Muskogee,” Spurgeon said.

Carole Free, Mayor of Town of Langley

An Oklahoma resident since 2000, Carole Free is serving a 4-year term as mayor of Langley. She began her public service 8 years ago when she began working for the town in the water department. She remained in that position until she decided that she wanted to do more for her adopted town.

“My goal was to help the town grow and prosper, so I ran for a council seat. From this position, I felt that I could help cause change and make improvements within the town,” Free said. From the council position, she ran for and won the mayor’s seat.

During her time as a volunteer, council member and mayor, she has been very involved in organizing events and activities. In 2014, she helped to organize the town’s 75th anniversary. “We had cook off’s, kid’s activities, food vendors, etc. It was a great way for the community to come together and show civic pride, plus give our kids things to do,” Free said.

In addition to helping to coordinate community events, Free is very involved in recruiting businesses to town. “Even though we are only a town of 819 people, we live in a very beautiful area of the state. We are often referred to as the “Gateway to Grand Lake” and have wonderful recreational areas, fishing and water sports,” she added. “Because of Grand Lake and the huge number of visitors it draws to our town, we are a prime area for certain businesses to locate here.”

Free’s primary goal as mayor is to continue focusing on kids and families. “It is so important to our community that we develop things for them to enjoy while growing up. We want to help create good memories of their childhoods as they get older,” Free said. A couple of the goals that she is currently working on is the building of a water splash pad and installing lights on the walking trails.

A new and exciting development in the Langley area is South Shore at Grand on the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. It is the largest development of single-family homes on the lake in a dozen years and is located just ½ miles from the intersection of Highways 28/82 in Langley. Free hopes that additional developments will follow, which will mean greater opportunity for more businesses to locate in her community.

Free recently joined the Oklahoma Municipal League’s Mayors Council of Oklahoma (MCO). As a mayor, she hopes that the networking and educational opportunities offered by the MCO will benefit her and the town of Langley. “I am very excited about our potential in Langley and eager to work hard to help create a bright future for our citizens and businesses,” Free concluded.

Municipal Messenger

Oklahoma Women Serving in Municipal Government…Making a Difference!