Martinez-Brooks to seek OKC council seat
Jessica Martinez-Brooks, who serves as a volunteer on several city boards and as interim diversity officer at Oklahoma City University, said Thursday she would run for city council.
Martinez-Brooks plans to seek the Ward 3 seat occupied Larry McAtee, the longest-serving current council member. He has said he will not seek reelection in 2021.
In her announcement, Martinez-Brooks said it was important to “ensure our tax dollars are reaching our most inner and outer city limits.” Ward 3 reaches the outer southwest suburban limits of Oklahoma City, extending into Canadian County and the Mustang Public School District.
Martinez- Brooks said in an interview that Ward 3 has “many components,” some very urban, some very suburban with lots of land and room for development.
“Every single neighborhood matters — yet too often certain areas have been overlooked,” she said.
Were she to win, Martinez-Brooks would inherit constituents who have publicly expressed concerns about development, the condition of roads and oil- and- gas activity.
She said her family moved to the area near SW 29 and Morgan Road in 2005, when there was plenty of room to grow.
Now, houses are going up every month, she said.
Manufacturing and distribution contributes truck traffic to roads such as SW 29, Council and Sara, and residents contend with congestion and maintenance issues.
She said it appears the westside John Kilpatrick Turnpike extension, which partially opened last week, will provide some relief.
“We need to make sure we're keeping up with the infrastructure,” she said.
Mayor David Holt appointed Martinez-Brooks in 2018 to the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust. She also is a member of the School Bond Advisory Board.
Martinez- Brooks, 42, has been interim diversity and inclusion advocate at Oklahoma City University since October.
She was director of diversity enrichment programs for three years at the University of Oklahoma.
She earned her master's degree in administrative leadership and bachelor's degree in journalism at OU.
Martinez-Brooks' husband Michael Brooks represents District 44 in the Oklahoma Senate.
They have two children and attend St. James the Greater Catholic Church, 4201 S McKinley Ave.
Ward 3 is primarily west of Interstate 44 and south of Reno Avenue, with pockets extending north of Reno to NW 36. It includes Will Rogers World Airport.
McAtee was appointed to a council vacancy on Jan. 30, 2001, and has been elected or re-elected four times, most recently in 2017.
He chairs the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust and the Airport Trust.