M. Susan Savage
Encyclopedia
M. Susan Savage is an American
Democratic politician
who served as the 29th Secretary of State of Oklahoma
.
Savage graduated from Edison High School
in Tulsa and in 1974 earned a B.A.
degree from 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 winning the seat herself in a 1992 special election to fill Randle’s unexpired term.
Savage was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
as Secretary of State of Oklahoma
and served from 2003 to 2011. She currently lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
and has two daughters.
Savage served as the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma
from 1992 to 2002, becoming the first woman to ever hold that office.
As mayor, Savage served as Tulsa’s chief executive officer, 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 feature Savage as one of the nation’s 25 “mayors to watch” in 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the 29th Secretary of State of Oklahoma
Secretary of State of Oklahoma
The Secretary of State of the State of Oklahoma is the chief clerical officer of Oklahoma and a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary of State is only appointed constitutional member of the executive branch of the Oklahoma state government...
.
Savage graduated from Edison High School
Edison Preparatory School
Thomas Edison Preparatory School is a public school located in midtown Tulsa, Oklahoma serving students from the sixth grade to the twelfth grade.-Overview:...
in Tulsa and in 1974 earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Arcadia University
Arcadia University
Arcadia University is a private university located in Glenside, Pennsylvania, on the outskirts of Philadelphia. A master's university by Carnegie Classification, the university has a co-educational student population of more than 4,000. The university was ranked 25th in the master's universities in...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. 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 winning the seat herself in a 1992 special election to fill Randle’s unexpired term.
Savage was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
as Secretary of State of Oklahoma
Secretary of State of Oklahoma
The Secretary of State of the State of Oklahoma is the chief clerical officer of Oklahoma and a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary of State is only appointed constitutional member of the executive branch of the Oklahoma state government...
and served from 2003 to 2011. She currently lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
and has two daughters.
Mayor of Tulsa
Before her appointment as Secretary of State of OklahomaSecretary of State of Oklahoma
The Secretary of State of the State of Oklahoma is the chief clerical officer of Oklahoma and a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary of State is only appointed constitutional member of the executive branch of the Oklahoma state government...
Savage served as the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
from 1992 to 2002, becoming the first woman to ever hold that office.
As mayor, Savage served as Tulsa’s chief executive officer, 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 feature Savage as one of the nation’s 25 “mayors to watch” in 1996.
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 FameOklahoma Women's Hall of FameOklahoma Women's Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by Oklahoma Governor George Nigh "to honor Oklahoma women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma; who have made a significant contribution to the State of Oklahoma; who serve or have served as role models to other...
Boards, Committees and Commissions
- National Advisory Board of the Riley Institute for Urban Affairs at the College of CharlestonCollege of CharlestonThe College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
- 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.