M. Susan Savage

M. Susan Savage (born March 30, 1952) is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. She was the 36th Mayor of Tulsa from 1992 to 2002, the first woman to hold that office. From 2003 to 2011, she was the 29th Secretary of State of Oklahoma.

Susan Savage
29th Secretary of State of Oklahoma
In office
January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011
GovernorBrad Henry
Preceded byKay Dudley
Succeeded byGlenn Coffee
36th Mayor of Tulsa
In office
July 13, 1992 – April 1, 2002
Preceded byRodger Randle
Succeeded byBill LaFortune
Personal details
Born (1952-03-30) March 30, 1952
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materArcadia University

Biography

Savage graduated from Edison High School in Tulsa and in 1974 earned a B.A. degree from Beaver College (now Arcadia University) in Pennsylvania. She returned to Tulsa in 1977 and became executive director of the Metropolitan Tulsa Citizens Crime Commission. Savage went on to become chief of staff to then-Tulsa Mayor Rodger Randle before eventually becoming elected mayor herself in a 1992 special election to complete the remainder of Randle's term.

Mayor of Tulsa

Savage served as mayor of Tulsa from 1992 to 2002, and was the first woman to hold that office.

As mayor, Savage was responsible for a $500 million budget and 4,000 employees. Her administration was marked by unprecedented job growth, neighborhood revitalization, public safety improvements and improved government efficiency. Savage focused on improving streets, parks, water, wastewater, stormwater, public safety, cultural and correctional facilities in Tulsa.

During Savage's administration, the Reason Public Policy Institute of Los Angeles ranked Tulsa 3rd among 44 U.S. cities for how well it delivered government services. Newsweek magazine featured Savage as one of the nation's 25 "mayors to watch" in 1996.

Secretary of State

Savage was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry as Secretary of State of Oklahoma and served from 2003 to 2011.

In July 2013 Savage became a consultant and senior director of philanthropic development for Morton Comprehensive Health Services, a nonprofit health services provider in northeastern Oklahoma.[1] In 2016, Savage became CEO of Morton.

She currently lives in Tulsa and has two daughters.

Awards and recognition
  • Oklahoma Municipal League Hall of Fame for City and Town Officials in 2005
  • 2002 National Conference for Community and Justice Honoree for leadership
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws from Arcadia University
  • Past recipient of the Oklahoma Human Rights Award
  • 2009 induction to the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Appointments
  • National Advisory Board of the Riley Institute for Urban Affairs at the College of Charleston
  • Executive Board member, Southern Regional Education Board
  • Advisory Board member, Oklahoma Academy for State Goals
  • Advisory Board member, Oklahoma City United Way
  • Trustee, Oklahoma Nature Conservancy Board of Directors
  • Trustee, Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence
  • Board member, Creative Oklahoma, Inc.

References
  1. "Former Tulsa Mayor Susan Savage chosen as Morton Health philanthropy consultant", Tulsa World, July 6, 2013.
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