Monroe Nichols
Minority Caucus Vice Chair of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office
January 2017 – January 2023
Succeeded byJohn Waldron
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 72nd district
Assumed office
November 17, 2016
Preceded bySeneca Scott
Personal details
Born (1983-09-24) September 24, 1983
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
EducationUniversity of Tulsa (B.A.)
University of Oklahoma (M.P.A.)
College football career
University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
PositionWide receiver (2002-2005)
Class2005
MajorPolitical Science
Career history
High schoolBishop Louis Reicher Catholic School

Monroe Nichols IV (born September 24, 1983) is an American politician and former college football player who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 72nd district since 2016. He is the first African-American to represent the district. In July 2023, he announced he would not seek re-election to the Oklahoma House in order to run in the 2024 Tulsa mayoral election.

Early life

Monroe Nichols IV was born September 24, 1983, to Ramona Curtis and Monroe Nichols III.[1] His father and uncle were both police officers.[2] His mother was a parole officer and his grandfather was a pastor and United States Air Force veteran.[3] He later graduated high school from Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School in Waco, Texas, where he played on his high school's football team as a quarterback.[4][5] He attended the University of Tulsa where in 2002 he walked-on the football team as receiver.[4] When interviewed about pursuing an NFL career in 2005, Nichols told the Tulsa World he instead wanted to focus on politics and hoped to one day become Governor of his home state of Texas.[6] He graduated with a degree in political science and economics.[7]

Early career

In 2006, shortly after graduating from college Nichols was hired by Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor to work on a crime initiative to prevent gang activity.[8] He worked again for Taylor as her campaign manager for the 2013 Tulsa mayoral election.[9]

Nichols also worked as the chief of staff for former OU-Tulsa president Gerry Clancy, as an economic development manager at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and as a director of business retention and expansion programs for the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, he cofounded the nonprofit ImpactTulsa.[2] From 2014 to 2016 he served on the Tulsa Technology Center Board of Education.[10]

2008 campaign

Nichols first campaigned for the 72nd district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2008 while working in Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor's office. Incumbent Darrell Gilbert was term limited from seeking re-election.[11] He received 9% of the vote while Seneca Scott and Christie Breedlove advanced to a runoff.[12]

Oklahoma House of Representatives

2016 election and first term

Nichols was listed as one of over 30 individuals who filed for office with ties to education in 2016.[13] During the 2016 election, no Libertarian or independent candidate filed to run in district 72.[5] One Republican, Whitney Cole, filed to run in the district. However, Nichols filed a challenge to their candidacy and the Election Board removed them from the ballot, making the Democratic primary election the de facto election for the seat.[14] Maria Barnes, a former Tulsa city councilor, and Nichols were the only two candidates.[5] The Tulsa World endorsed Nichols in the 2016 Democratic primary election calling him a voice "for the future."[15] Nichols was also endorsed by Kathy Taylor. He narrowly defeated Maria Barnes in the primary election.[16] On November 17, 2016, Monroe Nichols became the first African-American elected to represent Oklahoma House District 72.[2] On May 1, 2017, Nichols co-hosted the first Hispanic Cultural Day at the state Capitol.[17]

First re-election campaign and second term

In 2018, A.C. Forst challenged Nichols in the Democratic primary. Forst campaigned on being more politically moderate than Nichols.[18] Nichols was endorsed by the Tulsa World and Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce.[19][20] Nichols won the Democratic primary and faced no general election opponent.[21]

In January 2020, Nichols was one of over 200 signatories asking Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum to not bring Live PD to Tulsa.[22] Later that month he was one of a group of lawmakers who criticized Governor Kevin Stitt for appointing members to the University of Oklahoma board of regents who live outside of the state. All three members of the board appointed by Stitt had recently missed an eight hour board meeting.[23] In June, he called the creation of a state level independent monitor to investigate police shootings and an Oklahoma law enforcement database to alert departments if an applicant has previously resigned other employment during an internal investigation and prior to being fired for cause.[24][25]

2020 re-election campaign and third term

In 2020, Maria Barnes challenged Nichols in the Democratic primary for a second time.[26] The Tulsa World endorsed Nichols again for the 2020 election.[27] Nichols defeated Barnes with 69% of the vote in the Democratic primary. Republican Ismail A. Shan had been removed from the ballot after a challenge to his candidacy for living outside the district.[28] Therefore, Nichols was re-elected without a general election.[29]

During the 2020 election cycle Nichols also worked as a senior advisor for the Michael Bloomberg presidential campaign in Oklahoma.[30] He also endorsed Greg Robinson in the 2020 Tulsa mayoral election.[7]

In May 2021, Nichols stepped down from the Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission in protest of Governor Kevin Stitt's signing of HB 1775, calling the bill "a direct shot in the face for all of us who have been working hard on the commission, for all of us who have been working toward recognition, reconciliation. I would have to say it was the most disruptive thing that a governor could have done. And Kevin Stitt did it with a smile on his face."[31]

2022 re-election campaign and current term

While Nichols reportedly considered running in the 2022 Oklahoma gubernatorial election, he declined after both Connie Johnson and Joy Hofmeister announced their campaigns.[32] Nichols was re-elected to his house seat without opposition in 2022.[33] During the 59th Oklahoma Legislature, Nichols authored one successful bill which allowed police officers to issue warnings to people with outstanding warrants, instead of requiring an arrest.[2]

Nichols also works as the Director of Policy and Partnerships for StriveTogether, a nonprofit.[2]

2024 Tulsa Mayoral election

On July 13, 2023, Nichols announced he would not seek re-election and would instead be a candidate in the 2024 Tulsa mayoral election.[2] If elected, he would be Tulsa's first Black mayor.[3]

Electoral history

Oklahoma's 72nd state house district election, June 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Seneca Scott 559 42%
Democratic Christie Breedlove 377 29%
Democratic Elverez Allen 157 12%
Democratic Monroe Nichols 122 9%
Democratic John Slater 102 8%
Total votes 1,317 100.00
Oklahoma's 72nd state house district election, June 28, 2016[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monroe Nichols 927 51.99
Democratic Maria Barnes 856 48.01
Total votes 1,783 100.00
Oklahoma's 72nd state house district election, June 26, 2018[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monroe Nichols 2,347 75.08
Democratic A. C. Forst 779 24.92
Total votes 3,126 100.00
Oklahoma's 72nd state house district election, June 30, 2020[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Monroe Nichols 1,655 68.93
Democratic Maria Barnes 746 31.07
Total votes 2,401 100.00

Nichols was re-elected without opposition in 2022.[33]

Publications

  • Four things I learned in the 2017 Legislature, column in the Tulsa World. 25 June 2017.[37]
  • Oklahoma Democrats offer state budget alternative that is truly business friendly, column in the Tulsa World. May 9, 2019.[38]
  • Gun safety reform is a call for citizen action, column in the Tulsa World. June 9, 2022.[39]

References

  1. ↑ "2005 Football Roster: Monroe Nichols". tulsahurricane.com. University of Tulsa. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Canfield, Kevin (July 13, 2023). "Monroe Nichols announces he's running for Tulsa mayor". Tulsa World. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Monroe Nichols wants to be Tulsa's next mayor" (Podcast). readfrontier.com. The Frontier. August 24, 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 Tramel, Jimmie (6 August 2002). "Newcomers report to TU camp". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Barbara Hoberock (2016-06-17). "Two Democrats vie to claim post vacated by state Rep. Seneca Scott". Tulsaworld.com. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  6. ↑ Bailey, Eric (18 October 2005). "A governing passion". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. 1 2 Morris, Nate (July 13, 2023). "Monroe Nichols runs for Mayor to move Tulsa forward for everyone". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Lassek, P.J. (4 June 2006). "Mayor's staff taking shape". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Stoycoff, Zack (15 September 2013). "Workers in Tulsa mayoral campaigns see candidates' other sides". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. ↑ "REPRESENTATIVE MONROE NICHOLS DISTRICT 72 - DEMOCRAT". okhouse.gov. Oklahoma House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  11. ↑ Hinton, Mick (13 June 2008). "5 Democrats in HD 72 race". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  12. 1 2 "State races". Tulsa World. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  13. ↑ Eger, Andrea (13 April 2016). "'The Teacher Caucus': Pro-public education candidates to file Wednesday for state legislative races". Tulsa World. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Hoberock, Barbara (26 April 2021). "Knox to stay on the ballot in race for Senate District 11". Tulsa World. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Tulsa World Editorial endorsement: For Monroe Nichols in House District 72". Tulsa World. 16 June 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (29 June 2016). "Four elected to Legislature; incumbent Walker ousted". Tulsa World. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  17. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (23 April 2017). "Political notebook: Hispanic Cultural Day set for May 1 at state Capitol". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  18. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (17 June 2018). "House District 72 to be decided in June 26 primary". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "Tulsa World editorial: In House District 72, Monroe Nichols has shown leadership and deserves re-election". Tulsa World. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  20. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (13 June 2018). "Tulsa Regional Chamber endorses primary candidates". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  21. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (27 June 2018). "Six incumbent Republicans beaten in primaries; many others forced into runoffs". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  22. ↑ Canfield, Kevin (13 January 2020). "As critics urge against 'Live PD' in Tulsa, mayor stands behind participating in the show". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  23. ↑ Savage, Tres (29 January 2020). "With Stitt appointees absent, OU regents hold 8-hour executive session". NonDoc. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  24. ↑ Trotter, Matt (10 June 2020). "Tulsa Lawmaker Proposes Slate of Police Reforms". Public Radio Tulsa. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  25. ↑ Savage, Tres (10 June 2020). "Rep. Monroe Nichols pitches policing reforms … again". NonDoc. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (21 June 2020). "Nichols, Barnes again square off for House seat in decisive Democratic primary". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "Tulsa World editorial: COVID-19 changes almost everything, but it doesn't change the importance of voting". Tulsa World. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  28. ↑ Hoberock, Barbara (22 April 2020). "Candidate challenges: McDugle stays on ballot, Luttrell re-elected". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  29. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy; Hoberock, Bar (1 July 2020). "Dossett, Rogers win state Senate primaries; four legislative incumbents beaten". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  30. ↑ Cuccia, Annemarie (23 June 2020). "House District 72: A rematch of 2016 for Democrats". NonDoc. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  31. ↑ Halbleib, Brady (12 May 2021). "State Rep. Monroe Nichols resigns from Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission". 2 News Oklahoma. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  32. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy (13 November 2021). "Brad Henry, Oklahoma's last Democratic governor, feels a kinship with Hofmeister". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  33. 1 2 Krehbiel, Randy (24 April 2022). "'New' legislator wins state House seat just by filing". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  34. ↑ "OK Election Results Jun 28 2016". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  35. ↑ "OK Election Results Jun 26 2018". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  36. ↑ "OK Election Results Jun 30 2020". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  37. ↑ Nichols, Monroe (25 June 2017). "Monroe Nichols: Four things I learned in the 2017 Legislature". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  38. ↑ Nichols, Monroe (9 May 2019). "Rep. Monroe Nichols: Oklahoma Democrats offer state budget alternative that is truly business friendly". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  39. ↑ Nichols, Monroe (9 June 2022). "Column: Gun safety reform is a call for citizen action". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
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