Mayor Debra Wimpee named 2026 Mayor of the Year

Debra Wimpee, Mayor of Broken Arrow was presented with the 2026 Mayors Council of Oklahoma Mayor of the Year Award for communities with a population greater than 5,000 at the Oklahoma Municipal League Annual Conference Thursday evening.

The Mayor of the Year award was first established in 1992 recognizing outstanding mayors who have made significant contributions to their community as well as their profession through personal growth and involvement.

"I am thrilled to name Debra Wimpee as the Mayor of the Year," said Joyce Calvert, President of MCO. "Mayor Wimpee is a dedicated public servant and does so much for her municipality. We are grateful for her leadership and all that she does to support her community."

Mike Fina, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Municipal League said "Oklahoma is fortunate to have so many dedicated leaders willing to give back to their communities and serve as Mayor. Mayor Wimpee has shown outstanding leadership at both the state and national level, and we are pleased to recognize her with this award."

Mayor Wimpee was elected as the Mayor of Broken Arrow in 2021 following her election to the City Council representing Ward 1 in 2017. She is serving her third term as councilor, second term as mayor, and is the second female Mayor in Broken Arrow's history, 90 years after the first.

Her leadership spans public, private, and nonprofit sectors, marked by a lifelong commitment to community service, economic development, and veteran advocacy. Her dedication has been widely honored, most notably through her 2025 induction into the Oklahoma Military History Hall of Fame, along with receiving the Military Order of the Purple Heart's Most Patriotic Mayor Award. Additionally, Mayor Wimpee is an inductee of the Broken Arrow High School Great Graduate program which honors exceptional alumni, and she received the 2023 The Journal Record's Beacon Award for Philanthropy and Volunteerism.

Along with her mayoral duties, Debra serves as Director of Alliance Engagement for the Christian Employers Alliance, where she works to support and connect business leaders committed to faith-based values. The organization focuses on defending Christian employers, advocating for policies that protect religious freedom and businesses, and empowering members with resources and community.

The Mayor of the Year award recognizes the dedication and commitment brought to the highest elected post in municipal government. Criteria for consideration requires nominees to be a MCO member and in elected municipal office at the time of the presentation. Additionally, nominees must complete a minimum of three years of service in an elected municipal office and their municipality must be an OML member.

The Oklahoma Municipal League is the authoritative source for information, training, and resources on effective local government for member organizations and is recognized as the unified voice of Oklahoma cities and towns.