Ex-reporter seeks county post

by Kevin Canfield

Karen Keith wants to bring unity to the region if elected.

After years of reporting the news, Karen Keith is hoping to make a little.

The former longtime television broadcaster said she plans to seek the Democratic nomination for the District 2 County Commission seat held by Republican Randi Miller.

"I truly care about what happens in this city and in this region," Keith said.

Keith, 54, has not run for public office before, but she is accustomed to being in the public eye.

She worked as a news anchor and reporter for KJRH, Channel 2, for 21 years and is perhaps best known from the show "Oklahoma Living."

She also served as former Mayor Bill LaFortune's director of community relations and Vision 2025 implementation.

It was then, she said, that friends -- both Democrats and Republicans -- first encouraged her to run for office.

"I said no," she said.

But that was then.

"Everything I have done is helping prepare me for this, so I want to do this," Keith said.

Her work on Vision 2025 and the relationships she built would serve her well if she is elected, Keith said.

"I really would like to see us bring back the cohesiveness that we had before, during Vision 2025, with the surrounding areas," she said.

"Things have gotten a little fractured, and I would like to be a part of bringing everybody back together."

A unified front is exactly what's needed to deal with the state Legislature, she said.

"Pushing as a unified body with our Legislature to seek other sources of funding (would) make some pretty dramatic changes in how that's done," Keith said.

She chose to run for a county office because of its potential to be a "big-picture position."

"Its scope is very different from the city," she said.

More than anything, however, Keith's campaign seems rooted in a passion to do the job and do it well.

"I want this job," she said.

For now, Keith is the only person challenging Miller, a former city councilor who has held the District 2 County Commission seat since 2002.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for July 29, with the general election to follow Nov. 4.

Keith will formally announce her candidacy at a press conference scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Sunday at the German American Society, 1429 Terrace Drive.

Karen Keith

Age: 54

Birthplace: Miami, Okla.

Family: Married to Patrick Malloy

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Oklahoma State University, Radio/TV News and Public Affairs

Work history: Director of Partnership Development, Metro Tulsa Chamber of Commerce (August 2006-February 2008); Director of Community Relations and Vision 2025 Implementation for Mayor Bill LaFortune (2002-06); television broadcaster for 26 years, the last 21 at KJRH Channel 2.

Activities: Co-founder, TulsaNow; vice president of the Brookside Business Association; member of the state 4-H Foundation; on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Tulsa; participant in Leadership Oklahoma; appointee to the Oklahoma Judicial Nominating Commission.