Fannie Bates, a local teacher and activist, has entered the race to become the County Commissioner for Oklahoma County District I.
Biographical highlights:
- Bates received her B.S. from OU in 1971 and her M.P.H. from OUHSC in 2001.
- She was one of the complainants who successfully attacked TABOR in the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
- Bates was one of eleven citizens who successfully attacked the English Only Initiative Petition in 2001.
- In the mid-90’s, Bates unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the state legislature from selling University and Children’s Hospitals to Columbia HCA, a company then owned by the family of Bill Frist.
- Bates is a fourth generation Oklahoman. Her Irish/Cherokee grandmother walked to Oklahoma from Alabama in 1896.
- Bates has one son, Jonathan Bates, who is on the President’s Honor Roll at OCCC. He is also the youth pastor at Apostolic Faith Church in Northwest Oklahoma City.
- Ms. Bates has done a great deal of volunteer work including tutoring, mentoring, and assisting students in college preparation.
- Ms. Bates is an amateur playwright and director. Her most recent play, “Indian by Blood”, tells the story of the struggle of a Black Indian cowboy to be accepted fully by his tribe. The play has been performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Edmond.
Some of the published articles describing Ms. Bates’ accomplishments:
Rena
Fannie Bates