G. T. Bynum
George Theron Bynum IV (born August 28, 1977) is an American politician and lobbyist from the state of Oklahoma. A member of the Republican Party, Bynum is the 40th mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prior to becoming mayor, he served as a city councilor for Tulsa's ninth district. He is a political moderate.[1]
G. T. Bynum | |
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40th Mayor of Tulsa | |
Assumed office December 5, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Dewey Bartlett |
Personal details | |
Born | George Theron Bynum IV August 28, 1977 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Susan |
Relations | Robert LaFortune (grandfather) Bill LaFortune (uncle) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Villanova University (BS) |
Early life and education
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bynum attended Eliot Elementary School, Cascia Hall Preparatory School, and Villanova University. He served as student body president in his senior year at Villanova and founded a school club for Republicans.[2][3]
Career
Bynum worked as a staffer for United States Senators Don Nickles and Tom Coburn from 2000 through 2006. He returned to Tulsa to work for a real estate auction company, Williams & Williams. He was laid off in 2009, along with a third of the Williams & Williams employees. He and a partner, Stuart McCalman, opened a lobbying firm, Capitol Ventures Government Relations, working on behalf of municipalities and businesses.[4]
In 2008, Bynum won election to a two-year term representing District 9 on the Tulsa City Council. He was re-elected three times.[4] In 2011, his colleagues appointed him Council Chairman. He served as Chairman through 2012.[5] Bynum ran for mayor of Tulsa in 2016, and defeated Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., the incumbent mayor, in the June 2016 election by a 56 percent to 38 percent margin. By receiving over 50% of the vote, he avoided the August runoff election.[6][7] He was inaugurated as mayor on December 5, 2016. He is the third-youngest person to serve as mayor of Tulsa.[8]
Though the Tulsa Health Department urged Bynum to postpone Donald Trump's June 20, 2020 rally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bynum said that he would not use his emergency powers to stop the rally from happening.[9]
Personal life
Bynum and his wife, Susan, have two children. His second child was born two weeks before he was laid off in 2009.[4]
Robert J. LaFortune, the mayor of Tulsa from 1970 through 1978, is Bynum's grandfather. Bynum's uncle, Bill LaFortune, served as mayor from 2002 to 2006. Bynum is a great-great-grandson of Robert Newton Bynum, who served as mayor from 1899 to 1900.[4]
References
- Murphy, Sean (August 22, 2020). "Moderate Tulsa mayor faces fierce political crosscurrents". Associated Press. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
- Rothfeld, Michael (September 14, 1999). "School Board Candidate In Political Fray At 21 The Gop Tapped Eric Brown For The Coatesville Seat. It's A Natural Next Step For This Villanova Senior". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- Habib, Nour (October 18, 2015). "Midwest Augustinians celebrating 75th anniversary with Tulsa event: Special event will take place at their school, Cascia Hall". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- Wade, Jarrel (May 22, 2016). "Who is G.T. Bynum? A man with deep family roots in Tulsa politics". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- Barber, Brian (November 23, 2012). "Tulsa Council Chairman G.T. Bynum at end of his post: With his chairmanship winding down, he reflects on his record". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- Wade, Jarrel (June 28, 2016). "Voters elect G.T. Bynum as next mayor". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- "GT Bynum Defeats Incumbent Bartlett For Tulsa Mayor". NewsOn6.com. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
- Matt Trotter, "Bynum, Councilors, Auditor Sworn in at City Inauguration", KWGS, December 5, 2016.
- "Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum says he won't attempt to block Trump rally". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
External links
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Office of the Mayor, City of Tulsa
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Dewey Bartlett |
Mayor of Tulsa 2016–present |
Incumbent |