John,

This week, we’re celebrating Voter Registration Week and Hispanic Heritage Month at OKDEMS! That's why I sat down with Mayor Amanda Sandoval of Bethany, Oklahoma’s first elected Latina Mayor the other day.

I mentioned voter registration alongside Hispanic Heritage because we know that representation has a direct impact on voter participation. Mayor Sandoval is leading her city to better serve all its residents while inspiring a new generation of voters. In fact, one of her favorite municipal projects is the Youth City Council, where high school students in Bethany get to experience the role of City Councilor for a year. (Imagine the young leaders she will develop!)

Want to watch our interview? You can check it out here 👇

Many people counted then-City Councilor Sandoval out when she stepped up to run for Mayor. She knocked thousands of doors and won her election with 51% of the vote (in a heavily Republican community.) As Mayor, she’s continuing her commitment to listening with regular constituent coffee meet ups, and her first Town Hall is scheduled for November 5th @ 7pm- so stay tuned!

I hope you’ll find an opportunity to meet Mayor Sandoval at one of the many Hispanic Heritage Month events. My favorite is the Fiestas de las Americas Festival parade. You won’t want to miss its energy and beauty from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on September 27. Sign up to walk with me and the Oklahoma County Dems!

So often, we concentrate our attention on national politics. But, it’s our local leaders who directly impact our day to day lives. Mayor Sandoval is responsible for ensuring that Bethany residents are getting important city announcements in English and Spanish for the first time as well as improving the transparency and accountability of her city’s operations. And, she’s using her platform to elevate the voices of our Latino neighbors across the state.

Our Mayors are often the last line of defense against extreme policies or right-wing overreach. We can count on Mayor Sandoval to set an example for representative leadership that puts people first. 

I’m proud of Mayor Sandoval and all she represents. Would you join me in supporting representative government today by splitting a contribution to Mayor Sandoval’s campaign fund and to OKDems work to elect more municipal leaders? 

Thanks for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with us!

For a better Oklahoma,

Erin Brewer

OKDEMS Vice-Chair

We are Democratic strong, powered by grassroots efforts and activists of this Great State. Our mission is to fight for Oklahoma’s most vulnerable communities, protect working families and ensure that we live up to the promises of the Oklahoma dream.