A longtime Tulsan, Jeannie McDaniel has worked to better her city for more than twenty-five years. She worked at the Citizens Crime Commission from 1981 to 1991, serving as director from 1986 through 1991, coordinating programs like Alert Neighbors and Crime Stoppers with the Tulsa Police Department.

In 1991 McDaniel created the full-time position of Mayor’s Office for Neighborhoods, working for more than 10 years to empower neighborhoods to grow strong, safe, healthy and vibrant. She registered hundreds of neighborhood associations and built the annual Neighborhood Block Party program.

Before retiring from the City of Tulsa in 2004, Jeannie returned to the college classroom at nights and on weekends to complete an Associate’s Degree from Tulsa Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from the University of Oklahoma. In early 2004, McDaniel continued to work with law enforcement in community policing efforts through instruction/consultation with VIPs (Volunteers in Policing Program), coordinated with Oklahoma Regional Community Policing Institute (ORCPI).

Jeannie is married to Joe McDaniel. Joe is retired from Occidental Petroleum and as statistics editor for Oklahoma Runner magazine. (Joe continues to keep Oklahoma running records for USATF.) They have five grown children, educated in Tulsa Public Schools, now with post graduate degrees, and six grandchildren. She has lived in midtown Tulsa District 78 for 21 years! She is a member of First United Methodist Church.

Elected to the House of Representatives in 2004, McDaniel works on initiatives that make life better in District 78. A member of the Health Committee, she hosted an interim study on mental health in 2005 which resulted in funding Tulsa’s Mental Health Court. She’s carried legislation that resulted in public school students being permitted to carry medicine for allergies. Jeannie understands that access to healthcare (OEPIC) is imperative to move Oklahoma ahead and with that goal she supports legislation providing Oklahomans affordable coverage and health clinics. She has been a voice to resolve the OSU Medical School funding for Tulsa and believes this is an important element to serving our citizens and training outstanding physicians right here at home. As a member of the Education Committee she has continued to focus on high quality standards for students, supported college tuition assistance (OHLAP) for our young people, better compensation for our teachers, and fought against unfunded mandates.

This year Jeannie helped address long-overdue road and bridge maintenance with the recent bond issue. Going forward much more must be done to ensure safety on Oklahoma roads. Working with Lucky Lamons and other legislators, Jeannie helped overcome opposition and passed an ethic reform bill; however, house leadership blocked other badly needed legislation, legislation like the bill requiring insurance companies to offer healthcare coverage for families dealing with devastating issues like children with autism, family members with colon cancer and some other difficult health issues. Looking forward to next year’s legislative session, Jeannie McDaniel is committed to and will continue to support common sense solutions to problems impacting the residents of District 78. Her commitment and “voice of reason” is even more important as we face the difficulties presented by rising prices in a slowing economy.

A Review of Associated Activities…

Awarded the Oklahoma Social Worker’s Legislator of the Year, 2006

Jeannie was recognized as one of Tulsa Community College’s Outstanding Alumni in 2006!

Jeannie is a member of the Will Rogers Rotary Club. She believes in the Rotarian’s 4-Way Test and supports the many service projects the club sponsors – from ringing the Salvation Army Bell during the holidays, the Medical Supply Network to working with Will Rogers High School. The best part of Rotary, which honors “service above self,” is meeting weekly with wonderful, business people that understand the importance of volunteerism within our own community.

House Committees:
Education Committee, Health Committee,Children and Families – subcommittee,
Public Health - subcommittee

Civic Groups and Community Activities include:
Will Rogers Rotary Club – member
PlaniTulsa – member 2008
Leadership Oklahoma, Class XIX
The Oklahoma Academy for State Goals - member
East Tulsa Prevention Coalition
Youth Services of Tulsa County – Safe Place volunteer
League of Women Voters - member
Walk a Mile – Oklahoma –TCAP, Walking in the shoes of poverty.
Step Up Tulsa - participant
Tulsa Talks – participant – Tulsa Public Schools
Tulsa Interfaith Alliance - member
Keep Tulsa Beautiful Board - 2006
Southern Regional Education Board’s Legislative Advisory Council (SREB) (appointed by Governor Brad Henry)
Sooner Start - Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention (ICC, appointed by Governor Brad Henry)
Tulsa Partners – Advisory Board
Habitat for Humanity – Board of Advocates
Metropolitan Tulsa YMCA – Advisory Board