G. T. Bynum

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G. T. Bynum
GT Bynum.jpg
40th Mayor of Tulsa
Assumed office
December 5, 2016
Preceded byDewey Bartlett
Personal details
Born
George Theron Bynum IV

(1977-08-28) August 28, 1977 (age 44)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Susan
RelationsRobert LaFortune (grandfather)
Bill LaFortune (uncle)
Children2
EducationVillanova University (BS)

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]

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. Bynum ran for reelection in 2020 and won outright, again avoiding a runoff election.[8][9] He is the third-youngest person to serve as mayor of Tulsa.[10] Bynum has said that he will not run for a third term for mayor in 2024.[11]

In addition to his work as a staffer and politician, Bynum is the founder of The Greater Tulsa PAC; a political action committee created to support nonpartisan, "pro-Tulsa candidates" for the Tulsa City Council. Jacob Heisten, a registered Republican and former aide to Senator Jim Inhofe, is listed as the PAC's chairman.[12]

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]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Murphy, Sean (August 22, 2020). "Moderate Tulsa mayor faces fierce political crosscurrents". Associated Press. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Wade, Jarrel (June 28, 2016). "Voters elect G.T. Bynum as next mayor". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "GT Bynum Defeats Incumbent Bartlett For Tulsa Mayor". NewsOn6.com. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  8. ^ "Mayor G.T. Bynum wins re-election as Tulsa mayor". KJRH.com. September 28, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "OK Election Results". results.okelections.us. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Matt Trotter, "Bynum, Councilors, Auditor Sworn in at City Inauguration", KWGS, December 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Mayor G.T. Bynum's 'GT PAC' has some city councilors wondering what he's up to, and what's his beef | Local News | tulsaworld.com". web.archive.org. September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Bynum's new political action committee to support 'Pro-Tulsa Candidates' in 2022 City Council races | Politics | tulsaworld.com". web.archive.org. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Tulsa
2016–present 		Incumbent
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