‘I will be back’: Corinice Wilson vows return after District 1 defeat

Corinice Wilson’s bid to end Vanessa Hall-Harper’s decade-long run representing Tulsa City Council District 1 ended Tuesday night after losing by about 200 votes. 

But Wilson assured her supporters at the Big 10 Ballroom that this would not be the end of her political aspirations.

The Tulsa Community College professor established a large group of supporters after entering the race in June, prioritizing strengthening support for families, creating elderly living spaces and investing in neglected properties.

The Eagle sat down with her following her defeat to hear her thoughts about what’s next. 

Editor’s note: The answers have been edited for length and clarity. 

Ismael Lele: How are you feeling post-election? 

Corinice Wilson: I’m excited about what’s going to come, and I’m happy about what’s going to come because in two years I will be back. It is not the end. I want to say to Vanessa Hall-Harper, who has won this new re-election, I am hopeful that she is going to truly work to bring District 1 together and be a coalition builder.

Lele: Between now and your next election, what are you going to do to stay engaged in north Tulsa? 

Wilson: I am responsive in the space of education. I’m responsive in civic engagement with my neighborhood, with my community, with my school, so I will continue to lead in that way. My fire, my commitment to District 1 is not going to go. It hasn’t gone away in all the 50 years that I’ve lived in District 1. 

Lele: What is your current relationship with Hall-Harper? 

Wilson: I have always respected her as a civic leader, as a community member, and I will continue to do so. My relationship is going to be one as a community member and as a city councilor. When it comes to meeting the needs of the community, I’m going to continue to hold her accountable, but I’m going to continue to do it in a way that is not accusatory, that is not being punitive, but as a way of, let me share my gifts and my talents to help move the needle. 

Lele: What are some lessons you learned about District 1 and north Tulsa throughout your campaign? 

Wilson: Quality of life matters for everyone. It doesn’t matter your race, your ethnicity. It doesn’t matter your socioeconomic levels. It doesn’t matter your educational attainment. We all want to appreciate our family. We all want to go outside our doors and look at streets, sidewalks. We want to know that our city infrastructure is responsive if we give a call to our 311, our 211, our 911.  

Lele: During your speech, you made some comments about bringing another grocery store to north Tulsa and not just focusing on south Tulsa. Tell us more about that. 

Wilson: I don’t want someone to take credit for a grocery store on 61st and Peoria. I live on Mohawk. I live in north Tulsa. There’s a grocery store on Pine and Peoria that I can’t afford to go to, even at my salary. I want a grocery store that is further north for my community members, my neighbors. If it is on 46th Street, if it is on 56th Street, we need to have grocery stores. We need to have businesses that hire people who live in our community. That is what I want to see. 

You can read our conversation with Hall-Harper here.

Ismael Lele is a Report for America corps member and writes about business in Tulsa for The Oklahoma Eagle. Your donation to match our Report for America grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting this link.

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