John Tyler Hammons
Encyclopedia
John Tyler Hammons is the 47th and current Mayor
of Muskogee
, a city of about 40,000 people in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. He was elected on May 13, 2008, as a 19-year old freshman at the University of Oklahoma
, after winning 70% of the vote in a runoff election against 70-year-old, three-time former Muskogee mayor Herschel McBride. Hammons was handily reelected as Mayor on April 6, 2010, in a four way race.
First elected at the age of 19, Hammons is among the youngest mayors in United States
history.
. Born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma
, he attended public schools and graduated from Muskogee Public Schools
in the Class of 2007. Before beginning his senior year, Hammons was a delegate to the Oklahoma Boys State where he lost his campaign for Governor of Boys State to Austin Slaymaker. During his senior year, Hammons was MHS student body president
and was president of both MHS Young Republicans
and MHS Young Democrats.
After graduating, Hammons attended the University of Oklahoma
for his freshman year of college. While there, he selected to major in political science
and public administration
. He transferred to Northeastern State University
in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
in the fall of 2008.
In 2010, Hammons enrolled at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa.
During the campaign and throughout the debates, Hammons cited more government accountability and transparency and an open dialogue between city leaders and citizens as his top priorities. The local newspaper in Muskogee, the Muskogee Phoenix
, though saying Hammons ran his "mayoral campaign as if it were a U.S. Senate race", endorsed Hammons's opponent Herschel McBride, a three-term former Muskogee mayor and twenty-year city councilor, in the mayoral race.
On election night on April 1, Hammons won the popular vote by coming in first place with 42% of the vote. Herschel McBride came in second place with 38% of the vote. The remaining 20% was divided among the four other candidates. With the general election failing to deliver a candidate with an absolute majority, the Muskogee City Charter required Hammons and McBride to face one another in a run-off election to determine who would serve as mayor. Vote tallies showed Hammons carried the east side of Muskogee while McBride carried the west side.
Hammons and McBride would debate each other three more times before the May 13 run-off election. McBride stressed his experience while Hammons campaigned on his ability to generate change for Muskogee. Two matters that began major campaign issues was how each candidate saw the role of the mayor in the Muskogee city government and each candidate's willingness to disclose their campaign finance
s. Of the fifteen candidates seeking office for the 2008 election cycle, Hammons was the only one to disclose who his donors were. Such disclosure was not required under Muskogee law, and was completely voluntary. Through the disclosure, it was revealed that Hammons's chief backers were physicians and teachers. The Muskogee Phoenix again endorsed McBride over Hammons in the run-off election.
On the day of the run-off election, May 13, 2008, both Hammons and McBride spent the day trying to convince all undecided voters. By night's end, Hammons had captured 70% of the vote. Hammons's election is memorable for other reasons in addition to his age. He was the first candidate to carry all precincts; he won the largest popular vote of any candidate in Muskogee history; and he was elected by the largest margin of victory in Muskogee County
history. In other races, only one incumbent
retained his seat with three new city councilors also winning their races. Former Muskogee City Manager Clay Harrell said he hadn't seen such a shakeup in the city government since 1952.
, Hammons announced that he would seek a second term as mayor of Muskogee. Hammons drew three opponents: local businessman and cousin of sitting US Senator Tom Coburn
Bob Coburn, local travel agent Chris James, and local volunteer Teresa Garris.
On election day, April 6, 2010, Hammons received just over 51% of the vote, defeating his nearest opponent by 20 percentage points, and was reelected to a second full two year term. In the election, Hammons carried 17 of the City's 18 voting precincts.
. In response to Hammons call for Muskogee to join Sister Cities International, in June 2008, eleven Indonesian students representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
traveled to Muskogee to visit Mayor Hammons.
The Mayor gave his first State of the City Address
on September 25, 2008. The annual address was a joint-effort between the Mayor's Office and the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce. In the address, "A New Beginning", Hammons spoke of public safety
, economic development
and promoting tourism as the major goals of his first year in office. Hammons described the state of the city as "strong" and "hopeful" and laid out plans to establish a capital improvement plan to address Muskogee's infrastructural needs (particularly permanent funding for street and sewer improvements) and to pass a countywide
enhanced 911
telephone system. On election day, November 4, 2008, the voters of Muskogee County approved the two measures to necessary to establish the E911 system. At a special election on June 9, 2009, Hammons successfully campaigned to have the voters of the City of Muskogee approve three sales tax
propositions to provided permanent funding from road repairs and to allow the purchase of new capital equipment for City departments.
Much of Hammons' first year in office was focused on improving the City's quality of life. In an effort to promote and expand literacy, Hammons, by working with the Muskogee Public Library and Muskogee Public Schools
, issued the Mayor's Reading Challenge by asking Muskogee residents "Are You as Well Read as a High Schooler?". Hammons also established the Mayor's Taskforce on Public Health and charged it with finding ways to improve the public health
of Muskogee. The Taskforce launched the Muskogee Wellness Initiative, a program of the Mayor's Office designed to partner with governmental health agencies and the private medical community to improve nutrition, promote physical exercise and reduce tobacco use throughout the City.
Fulfilling one of his campaign promises, in January 2009, Hammons proposed the "Muskogee Campaign Transparency Act", an ordinance which would have establish campaign finance
rules for Muskogee. Hammons' proposal would have required all candidates for city offices to file disclosures with the city clerk reporting any campaign contributions of $200 or more beginning with the 2010 general City election. Muskogee adopted campaign finance laws in 2001 but those laws were repealed in 2003. Since then, any disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures has been completely voluntary. During his 2008 mayoral campaign, Hammons voluntarily disclosed contributions to his campaign. However, the Act failed in the City Council in a 6-3 vote, with Hammons and only two other members of the council voting for it.
In early February 2009, Hammons formed the Mayors' Veterans Affairs Committee to meet regularly with him and advise him on local issues of concern to the Muskogee veterans community and to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
in Muskogee, which has a substantial presence in Muskogee due to the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center. The Committee is composed of local members of the American Legion
, Veterans of Foreign Wars
, and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Following the Committee's June 2009 meeting, Hammons held a town hall meeting
with the American Legion
to formally request the City Council authorize the display of the National League of Families
POW/MIA flag
at the Muskogee Civic Center. The City Council was hesitant to display the POW flag over fears it constituted promoting a special interest group. After initially rejecting the proposal, the Council reversed itself and voted to fly the flag year-round.
Hammons gave his second State of the City Address
on October 1, 2009. The address, which was entitled "A Shining City on a Hill", called for the City to focus on more environmentally friendly
policies, such as increased recycling and the purchase of vehicle that operate on alternative energy
such as compressed natural gas
. Hammons' set his two major goals for the remainder of his term as improving Muskogee's housing stock and promoting education. The Mayor called for the establishment of a program to assist renters in Muskogee with down payment
costs to help them secure their own home. He also encouraged the City government to work with Muskogee County
officials to establish a county-wide program to allow all county high school graduates to attend Connors State College
or Indian Capital Technology Center
tuition
free.
teams into a single joint City-County Special Operations Team.
In an effort to deregulate the local taxicab industry and promote free market
ideas, Hammons proposed that the City Council repeal the law establishing a barrier to entry for new taxicab
companies. Under the existing law, new taxicab companies had to first receive approval from the City Council before beginning operations. Hammons proposal was unanimously approved by the City Council.
Hammons delivered his third State of the City Address
in October 2010. The Address, reusing his theme from the previous year, was entitled "Growing Our Shining City" and focused on Hammons proposals to grow the City's economy and create jobs. Hammons called on the City government to increases its tourism development and event marketing budget in order to attract more tourists to the City. He called on the City Council to reduce "burdensome" regulations on local businesses. Hammons also called for tougher sanctions against local businesses who fail to remit their taxes, particularly be increased enforcement and by denying tax delinquent businesses from bidding on City contracts.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
early in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries
. When Giuliani withdrew from the race, Hammons endorsed Arizona Senator John McCain
. Hammons was also Oklahoma's youngest at-large delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention
. While at the RNC, on his 20th birthday and the final day of the RNC, Hammons had the opportunity to meet Giuliani.
In January 2009, Hammons attended the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States
in conjunction with the winter session of the United States Conference of Mayors
.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Muskogee
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, a city of about 40,000 people in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He was elected on May 13, 2008, as a 19-year old freshman at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, after winning 70% of the vote in a runoff election against 70-year-old, three-time former Muskogee mayor Herschel McBride. Hammons was handily reelected as Mayor on April 6, 2010, in a four way race.
First elected at the age of 19, Hammons is among the youngest mayors in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history.
Life and education
Hammons is a fourth generation Oklahoman and a member of the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
. Born and raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, he attended public schools and graduated from Muskogee Public Schools
Muskogee Public Schools
The Muskogee Public School district is a the primary public school district in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Their mascot is the Rougher. The district is governed by a five member Muskogee Board of Education, with members being elected to serve staggered five year terms...
in the Class of 2007. Before beginning his senior year, Hammons was a delegate to the Oklahoma Boys State where he lost his campaign for Governor of Boys State to Austin Slaymaker. During his senior year, Hammons was MHS student body president
Student body president
The President of the Student Government is the highest ranking officer of a student government or student union association on the high school, college, or university level...
and was president of both MHS Young Republicans
Young Republicans
The Young Republicans is an organization for members of the Republican Party of the United States between the ages of 18 and 40. It has both a national organization and chapters in individual states....
and MHS Young Democrats.
After graduating, Hammons attended the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
for his freshman year of college. While there, he selected to major in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and public administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
. He transferred to Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University
Northeastern State University is a public university with its main campus located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States, at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Northeastern's home, Tahlequah, is also the capital of the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma...
in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. It was founded as a capital of the original Cherokee Nation in 1838 to welcome those Cherokee forced west on the Trail of Tears. The city's population was 15,753 at the 2010 census. It...
in the fall of 2008.
In 2010, Hammons enrolled at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa.
2008
Hammons publicly declared his intent to run for mayor of Muskogee on January 29 and officially filed for office on February 5. By the end of the filing date, Hammons was one of six candidates vying to be mayor, including a former Muskogee mayor and a former Muskogee city councilor. Hammons was the first mayoral candidate to challenge his opponents to public debates.During the campaign and throughout the debates, Hammons cited more government accountability and transparency and an open dialogue between city leaders and citizens as his top priorities. The local newspaper in Muskogee, the Muskogee Phoenix
Muskogee Phoenix
The Muskogee Phoenix is a seven-day morning daily newspaper published in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA, covering several counties of northeastern Oklahoma. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
, though saying Hammons ran his "mayoral campaign as if it were a U.S. Senate race", endorsed Hammons's opponent Herschel McBride, a three-term former Muskogee mayor and twenty-year city councilor, in the mayoral race.
On election night on April 1, Hammons won the popular vote by coming in first place with 42% of the vote. Herschel McBride came in second place with 38% of the vote. The remaining 20% was divided among the four other candidates. With the general election failing to deliver a candidate with an absolute majority, the Muskogee City Charter required Hammons and McBride to face one another in a run-off election to determine who would serve as mayor. Vote tallies showed Hammons carried the east side of Muskogee while McBride carried the west side.
Hammons and McBride would debate each other three more times before the May 13 run-off election. McBride stressed his experience while Hammons campaigned on his ability to generate change for Muskogee. Two matters that began major campaign issues was how each candidate saw the role of the mayor in the Muskogee city government and each candidate's willingness to disclose their campaign finance
Campaign finance
Campaign finance refers to all funds that are raised and spent in order to promote candidates, parties or policies in some sort of electoral contest. In modern democracies such funds are not necessarily devoted to election campaigns. Issue campaigns in referendums, party activities and party...
s. Of the fifteen candidates seeking office for the 2008 election cycle, Hammons was the only one to disclose who his donors were. Such disclosure was not required under Muskogee law, and was completely voluntary. Through the disclosure, it was revealed that Hammons's chief backers were physicians and teachers. The Muskogee Phoenix again endorsed McBride over Hammons in the run-off election.
On the day of the run-off election, May 13, 2008, both Hammons and McBride spent the day trying to convince all undecided voters. By night's end, Hammons had captured 70% of the vote. Hammons's election is memorable for other reasons in addition to his age. He was the first candidate to carry all precincts; he won the largest popular vote of any candidate in Muskogee history; and he was elected by the largest margin of victory in Muskogee County
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 70,990. Its county seat is Muskogee.-Government:...
history. In other races, only one incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
retained his seat with three new city councilors also winning their races. Former Muskogee City Manager Clay Harrell said he hadn't seen such a shakeup in the city government since 1952.
2010
At a press conference held on November 30, 2009, at the Oklahoma Music Hall of FameOklahoma Music Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, honors Oklahoma musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. The induction ceremony and concert is held each year in Muskogee...
, Hammons announced that he would seek a second term as mayor of Muskogee. Hammons drew three opponents: local businessman and cousin of sitting US Senator Tom Coburn
Tom Coburn
Thomas Allen "Tom" Coburn, M.D. , is an American politician, medical doctor, and Southern Baptist deacon. A member of the Republican Party, he currently serves as the junior U.S. Senator from Oklahoma. In the Senate, he is known as "Dr. No" for his tendency to place holds on and vote against bills...
Bob Coburn, local travel agent Chris James, and local volunteer Teresa Garris.
On election day, April 6, 2010, Hammons received just over 51% of the vote, defeating his nearest opponent by 20 percentage points, and was reelected to a second full two year term. In the election, Hammons carried 17 of the City's 18 voting precincts.
First Term
On May 19, 2008, Hammons was officially sworn in as 47th (and youngest) Mayor of the City of Muskogee. Mayor Hammons' first official act was to sponsor a successful resolution expressing the City's desire to join Sister Cities InternationalSister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...
. In response to Hammons call for Muskogee to join Sister Cities International, in June 2008, eleven Indonesian students representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated ASEAN rarely ), is a geo-political and economic organization of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has...
traveled to Muskogee to visit Mayor Hammons.
The Mayor gave his first State of the City Address
State of the City Address
The State of the City Address - or State of the City Speech - is a speech customarily given once each year by the mayors of many cities in the United States and Canada. Other international cities have also adopted the tradition; for example, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg has delivered a State...
on September 25, 2008. The annual address was a joint-effort between the Mayor's Office and the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce. In the address, "A New Beginning", Hammons spoke of public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
, economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and promoting tourism as the major goals of his first year in office. Hammons described the state of the city as "strong" and "hopeful" and laid out plans to establish a capital improvement plan to address Muskogee's infrastructural needs (particularly permanent funding for street and sewer improvements) and to pass a countywide
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 70,990. Its county seat is Muskogee.-Government:...
enhanced 911
Enhanced 911
Enhanced 911, E-911 or E911 in North America is one example of the modern evolution of telecommunications based system meant as an easy way to link people experiencing an emergency with the public resources that can help. The dial-three-digits concept first originated in the United Kingdom in 1937....
telephone system. On election day, November 4, 2008, the voters of Muskogee County approved the two measures to necessary to establish the E911 system. At a special election on June 9, 2009, Hammons successfully campaigned to have the voters of the City of Muskogee approve three sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
propositions to provided permanent funding from road repairs and to allow the purchase of new capital equipment for City departments.
Much of Hammons' first year in office was focused on improving the City's quality of life. In an effort to promote and expand literacy, Hammons, by working with the Muskogee Public Library and Muskogee Public Schools
Muskogee Public Schools
The Muskogee Public School district is a the primary public school district in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Their mascot is the Rougher. The district is governed by a five member Muskogee Board of Education, with members being elected to serve staggered five year terms...
, issued the Mayor's Reading Challenge by asking Muskogee residents "Are You as Well Read as a High Schooler?". Hammons also established the Mayor's Taskforce on Public Health and charged it with finding ways to improve the public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
of Muskogee. The Taskforce launched the Muskogee Wellness Initiative, a program of the Mayor's Office designed to partner with governmental health agencies and the private medical community to improve nutrition, promote physical exercise and reduce tobacco use throughout the City.
Fulfilling one of his campaign promises, in January 2009, Hammons proposed the "Muskogee Campaign Transparency Act", an ordinance which would have establish campaign finance
Campaign finance
Campaign finance refers to all funds that are raised and spent in order to promote candidates, parties or policies in some sort of electoral contest. In modern democracies such funds are not necessarily devoted to election campaigns. Issue campaigns in referendums, party activities and party...
rules for Muskogee. Hammons' proposal would have required all candidates for city offices to file disclosures with the city clerk reporting any campaign contributions of $200 or more beginning with the 2010 general City election. Muskogee adopted campaign finance laws in 2001 but those laws were repealed in 2003. Since then, any disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures has been completely voluntary. During his 2008 mayoral campaign, Hammons voluntarily disclosed contributions to his campaign. However, the Act failed in the City Council in a 6-3 vote, with Hammons and only two other members of the council voting for it.
In early February 2009, Hammons formed the Mayors' Veterans Affairs Committee to meet regularly with him and advise him on local issues of concern to the Muskogee veterans community and to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
in Muskogee, which has a substantial presence in Muskogee due to the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center. The Committee is composed of local members of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a congressionally chartered war veterans organization in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, VFW currently has 1.5 million members belonging to 7,644 posts, and is the largest American organization of combat...
, and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Following the Committee's June 2009 meeting, Hammons held a town hall meeting
Town hall meeting
A town hall meeting is an American English term given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest. Attendees rarely voted...
with the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
to formally request the City Council authorize the display of the National League of Families
National League of Families
The National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia is an American 501 non-profit organization that is concerned with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue...
POW/MIA flag
POW/MIA flag
The POW/MIA flag is an American flag designed as a symbol of citizen concern about United States military personnel taken as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action ....
at the Muskogee Civic Center. The City Council was hesitant to display the POW flag over fears it constituted promoting a special interest group. After initially rejecting the proposal, the Council reversed itself and voted to fly the flag year-round.
Hammons gave his second State of the City Address
State of the City Address
The State of the City Address - or State of the City Speech - is a speech customarily given once each year by the mayors of many cities in the United States and Canada. Other international cities have also adopted the tradition; for example, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg has delivered a State...
on October 1, 2009. The address, which was entitled "A Shining City on a Hill", called for the City to focus on more environmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly
Environmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
policies, such as increased recycling and the purchase of vehicle that operate on alternative energy
Alternative energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels....
such as compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
. Hammons' set his two major goals for the remainder of his term as improving Muskogee's housing stock and promoting education. The Mayor called for the establishment of a program to assist renters in Muskogee with down payment
Down payment
Down payment is a payment used in the context of the purchase of expensive items such as a car and a house, whereby the payment is the initial upfront portion of the total amount due and it is usually given in cash at the time of finalizing the transaction.A loan is then required to make the full...
costs to help them secure their own home. He also encouraged the City government to work with Muskogee County
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 70,990. Its county seat is Muskogee.-Government:...
officials to establish a county-wide program to allow all county high school graduates to attend Connors State College
Connors State College
Connors State College is public college located in Warner and Muskogee, Oklahoma. Founded as an agricultural high school in 1908, it was soon converted to a school of agriculture. In 1958, the Oklahoma State Legislature once again changed its designation: this time to junior college. The school...
or Indian Capital Technology Center
Indian Capital Technology Center
Indian Capital Technology Center is a technical school affiliated with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Indian Capital is headquartered in Muskogee, Oklahoma....
tuition
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
free.
Second Term
Hammons' second term began on April 12, 2010. In the days leading up to his inauguration, on April 10, Muskogee's Arrowhead Mall was the site of a violent shooting. The event resulted in one fatality and five injuries. In his inaugural address, Hammons called for increased funding for the Muskogee Police Department's crime prevention fund and for consolidating the City and Muskogee County Sheriff's Office's SWATSWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
teams into a single joint City-County Special Operations Team.
In an effort to deregulate the local taxicab industry and promote free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
ideas, Hammons proposed that the City Council repeal the law establishing a barrier to entry for new taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
companies. Under the existing law, new taxicab companies had to first receive approval from the City Council before beginning operations. Hammons proposal was unanimously approved by the City Council.
Hammons delivered his third State of the City Address
State of the City Address
The State of the City Address - or State of the City Speech - is a speech customarily given once each year by the mayors of many cities in the United States and Canada. Other international cities have also adopted the tradition; for example, the Executive Mayor of Johannesburg has delivered a State...
in October 2010. The Address, reusing his theme from the previous year, was entitled "Growing Our Shining City" and focused on Hammons proposals to grow the City's economy and create jobs. Hammons called on the City government to increases its tourism development and event marketing budget in order to attract more tourists to the City. He called on the City Council to reduce "burdensome" regulations on local businesses. Hammons also called for tougher sanctions against local businesses who fail to remit their taxes, particularly be increased enforcement and by denying tax delinquent businesses from bidding on City contracts.
Election history
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Tyler Hammons | Nonpartisan | 1,849 | 42.38% | ||
| Herschel McBride | Nonpartisan | 1,697 | 38.90% | ||
| Ron Ventors, Sr. | Nonpartisan | 553 | 12.67% | ||
| Glyenda Oliver | Nonpartisan | 132 | 3.03% | ||
| Barney Taylor | Nonpartisan | 80 | 1.83% | ||
| Robert Thomas | Nonpartisan | 52 | 1.19% | ||
| Total | 4,363 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2008 Muskogee General Election Results | |||||
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Tyler Hammons (incumbent) | Nonpartisan | 2,531 | 51.43% | ||
| Bob Coburn | Nonpartisan | 1,447 | 29.40% | ||
| Chris James | Nonpartisan | 887 | 17.82% | ||
| Teresa Garris | Nonpartisan | 67 | 1.36% | ||
| Total | 4,932 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2010 Muskogee General Election Results | |||||
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Tyler Hammons | Nonpartisan | 3,703 | 69.62% | ||
| Herschel McBride | Nonpartisan | 1,616 | 30.38% | ||
| Total | 5,319 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2008 Muskogee Runoff Election Results | |||||
2008 Presidential Election
Hammons endorsed former New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
early in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries
Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008
The 2008 Republican presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Republican Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 U.S. presidential election...
. When Giuliani withdrew from the race, Hammons endorsed Arizona Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
. Hammons was also Oklahoma's youngest at-large delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
The United States 2008 Republican National Convention took place at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from September 1, through September 4, 2008...
. While at the RNC, on his 20th birthday and the final day of the RNC, Hammons had the opportunity to meet Giuliani.
In January 2009, Hammons attended the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in conjunction with the winter session of the United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors
United States Conference of Mayors, sometimes referred to as the United States Council of Mayors, is the official non-partisan organization for cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The cities are each represented by their mayor or other chief elected official...
.
Popular culture
- Hammons appeared on Fox TV's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is a television game show format based on asking grade-school level questions to adults, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy...
, hosted by Jeff FoxworthyJeff FoxworthyJeffrey Marshall "Jeff" Foxworthy is an American comedian, television and radio personality and author. He is a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe which also comprises Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. Known for his "you might be a redneck" one-liners, Foxworthy...
, on October 24, 2008, winning $25,000 for his charity after missing the question "What's the name of the first American woman to travel to outer spaceSally RideSally Kristen Ride is an American physicist and a former NASA astronaut. Ride joined NASA in 1978, and in 1983 became the first American woman—and then-youngest American, at 32—to enter space...
?". Unsure of the correct answer, he "copied" the 5th grader's answer, which was wrong.
- Hammons was the opening joke for Bill EngvallBill EngvallWilliam Ray "Bill" Engvall, Jr. is an American comedian and actor best known for his work as a stand-up comic and as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy group.-Early life:Bill Engvall was born in Galveston, Texas...
's 2009 album "Aged and Confused".
- The magazine CosmopolitanCosmopolitan (magazine)Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
named Hammons as one of seven sexy young politicians in January, 2010.