Lonnie Sims
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Lonnie Sims
|image = Lonnie_Sims.jpg
|caption =
|office = Tulsa County Commissioner for the 2nd district
|term_start = January 1, 2025
|term_end =
|predecessor = Karen Keith
|successor =
|state_house2 = Oklahoma
|district2 = 68th
|term_start2 = November 15, 2018
|term_end2 = November 20, 2024
|predecessor2 = Glen Mulready
|successor2 = Mike Lay
|office3 = Mayor of Jenks, Oklahoma
|term_start3 = 2013
|term_end3 = 2015
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|4|21}}
|birth_place =
|party = Republican
}}
Lonnie Sims (born April 21, 1970) is an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 68th district from 2018 to 2024 and who has served as the Tulsa County Commissioner for the 2nd district since 2025.
Early life and Jenks politics
Lonnie Sims is from Allen, Oklahoma, and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1994 before moving to Jenks in 1999. Sims was appointed to the Jenks Planning Commission in 2003 and served until he was elected to the Jenks City Council in 2010.{{cite news |last1=Loveless |first1=Tristan |title=Tulsa County District 2 Republican runoff: Rep. Lonnie Sims, Melissa Myers talk turnpike, juvenile center |url=https://nondoc.com/2024/08/24/tulsa-county-district-2-republican-runoff-rep-lonnie-sims-melissa-myers-talk-turnpike-juvenile-center/ |access-date=November 9, 2024 |work=NonDoc |date=August 24, 2024}} From 2013 to 2015, he served as the Mayor of Jenks elected by his fellow city councilors.{{cite news |last1=Loveless |first1=Tristan |title=Double runoffs for Tulsa County Commission District 2 |url=https://nondoc.com/2024/06/19/tulsa-county-commissioner-results-district-2-double-runoffs/ |access-date=November 9, 2024 |work=NonDoc |date=June 19, 2024}}
House of Representatives
Sims ran to represent the Oklahoma House of Representatives 68th district in 2018.{{cite web|author=Randy Krehbiel |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/government-and-politics/its-a-nine-person-race-for-house-district-68-and-four-in-the-primary-are/article_bf3398f6-4176-596b-8ddb-dbb07a42ee79.html |title=It's a nine-person race for House District 68, and four in the primary are teachers |publisher=Tulsaworld.com |date=2018-05-27 |access-date=2020-08-27}} In 2023, Sims voted to pass anti-drag legislation, HB 2186, out of committee, though questioned the language of the bill.{{Cite web |last=May |first=Payton |date=2023-02-22 |title=LGBTQ+ community voices outage as bill restricting drag performances passes in committee |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-bill-restricting-drag-performances-passes-through-committee-queen-lgbtq-politics-oklahoma-story-time-trans-transgender-show |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=KOKH |language=en}} Sims retired in 2024 to run for Tulsa County commissioner for the 2nd district.{{cite news |last1=Loveless |first1=Tristan |title=Tulsa County: 7 seek commissioner post, Don Newberry and Vic Regalado unopposed |url=https://nondoc.com/2024/04/05/tulsa-county-7-seek-commissioner-post-don-newberry-and-vic-regalado-unopposed/ |access-date=9 November 2024 |work=NonDoc |date=6 April 2024}}
Tulsa County Commissioner
Sims ran to succeed retiring Tulsa County commissioner Karen Keith in a Republican primary against Tulsa City Councilor Jeannie Cue and Melissa Meyers. He advanced to a runoff alongside Meyers. Sims won the runoff election and defeated Democrat Sarah Gray in the general election.{{cite news |last1=Krehbiel-Burton |first1=Lenzy |title=Republican Lonnie Sims wins Tulsa County Commission seat |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/elections/republican-lonnie-sims-wins-tulsa-county-commission-seat/article_75a03464-97a0-11ef-b372-f38246f5975a.html |access-date=November 9, 2024 |work=Tulsa World |date=November 5, 2024 |language=en}} He assumed office on January 1, 2025, and appointed Mark Vancuren as his deputy county commissioner.{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Tres |title=Rep. Mark Vancuren to join Sims at Tulsa County, trigger another special election |url=https://nondoc.com/2024/12/18/rep-mark-vancuren-joining-lonnie-sims-at-tulsa-county/ |access-date=December 20, 2024 |work=NonDoc |date=December 18, 2024}}
References
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Category:Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature
Category:Tulsa County commissioners
Category:Oklahoma city council members
Category:Mayors of places in Oklahoma