By Ian Nikkel, FOX23.com News Staff
OILTON, Okla. — The City of Oilton is making history as Julia Bagwell becomes the first female mayor in the city’s more than 110-year history.
Bagwell had been serving as interim mayor for just under two months following the resignation of former mayor Patrick Kennedy in January. She previously served on the city council and as vice mayor before stepping into the interim role.
When the filing deadline passed on February 27, Bagwell was the only candidate to submit paperwork for the position, officially making her the city’s next mayor. She is scheduled to be sworn in during the city council meeting on Tuesday night.
Despite the historic moment, Bagwell said she views the role as a responsibility to serve the community she calls home.
“It feels a bit heavy sometimes, but I’m super excited,” Bagwell said. “It shows that the young girls in our community—there’s no ceiling to what they can do. Leadership isn’t defined anymore. We have both males and females that have been in this role, so I’m just excited to represent them.”
While Oilton has a population of just under 900 residents, the city has faced several recent challenges, particularly within its police department. The department has lost two police chiefs in less than three months.
Bagwell said finding stable leadership for the department is one of her top priorities, but she intends to take a careful approach to the hiring process.
“One of the things that I feel like is our biggest issue is we’ve always just rushed to find the next chief instead of really taking our time and digging into their background and seeing why they want to be here,” Bagwell said. “So I’m taking my time. I’m going through the process. We’ve had several applicants, and all of them seem to be really great. We’re just really taking our time and digging in.”
City leaders are currently working through a shortlist of candidates and hope to begin interviews in April, with Bagwell planning to involve the city council in the final hiring decision.
Beyond the police chief search, Bagwell said her administration will focus on key infrastructure needs for the community. Those priorities include securing a second water source for the city, addressing sewer compliance issues, and pursuing grants to help fund both projects.
As she prepares to officially take office, Bagwell says her focus remains on strengthening the small community she has long called home while helping guide its future.
