Who am I?

My name is Scott Grizzle, and I'm a candidate for Tulsa City Council - District 8. I am a well-rounded Tulsan who grew up in District 6, took classes in District 1, got my first apartment in District 2, works in District 4 and moved to District 8 six years ago. My wife and I chose to live in District 8 when we got married because we felt it embodied all of the high quality of life elements for which Tulsa is famous.

Since 1998 I have worked in the IT department of American Electric Power ---- where I quickly moved up from an hourly temp to a role that involves 24-hour support, project management, regulatory compliance, and information security.

While I grew up in Tulsa, my wife is from Louisiana, and together we have dedicated ourselves to improving the city we call home. We started out as volunteers at The Oklahoma Aquarium when they were first opening and have been avid volunteers since. You can find out more about my family here.

Here are some highlights of my civic commitments:

TulsaNow - Executive Board President: I currently lead this large grassroots organization focused on implementing new ideas and best practices in Tulsa's future growth while preserving its historical heritage. We regularly organize extensive in-person and online community forums with a focus on connecting the general public with the development and political issues that affect the city's future. TulsaNow is proud to host Tulsa's most visited online message board focused on all things Tulsa.

Mayfest - Tech Committee Chair: My focus with Mayfest is to help connect the public with the festival using online social media such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.

Land Legacy – Advisor: Land Legacy is a land preservation and green-space organization with whom I have been working to increase urban green space (parks), particularly in the City of Tulsa.

Leadership Tulsa - Class 40 Graduate: I participated in a nine-month program learning more about the social and economic issues and services in Tulsa, as well as connecting with other civic-focused individuals and non-profits from all over Tulsa.

New Freedom Fellowship Church - Church Elder: Along with other Elders, I manage the day-to-day welfare of the church members and business. My focus has been directed towards the areas of administration and policy including co-writing the bylaws.

Valley South Neighborhood Association - Original Vice President: I helped found the neighborhood association with my focus being on administration and policy as well as crafting the bylaws based on examples of neighboring associations.

Tulsa Community College - Adjunct Instructor: For five great years I taught college-level courses with the majority of my students being adults in career retraining programs. Education has always been a passion of mine.

I have also performed similar duties for other nonprofits and small businesses including MET Recycling and Riverparks. While this may seem like an exhaustive list, it has only served to make me more interested in civic service. After months of coaxing from my coworkers, friends, and associates, I declared my candidacy for City Council District 8 because I want to give even more to the city I call home.