Ingard Curtiss
Candidate for Bartlesville Ward 3
Bio
My name is Ingard Curtiss, and I am proud to call Bartlesville home. I have been married to my husband, David Curtiss, for 17 years, and I am blessed with three wonderful stepdaughters, Ashlee Callahan, Brigitte Jackson, and Brooke Rackiff.
I entered the corporate world right out of high school while attending Tulsa Junior College in the evenings, where I earned recognition on both the Dean’s List and President’s List for Art. For the past 30 years, I have worked at DSR, where I was honored as DSR Technician of the Year in 2000. I have loved my years there and consider DSR one of the greatest companies around. The Bonds and Rakes families and their commitment to our community have truly been a blessing to Bartlesville.
My experience also extends into healthcare and senior care. I have worked as a CNA and CMA, earned State of Oklahoma certification as a Social Services Director, and completed Activity Based Alzheimer’s Care (ABAC) training.
I am also a proud graduate of the Bartlesville Citizens Police Academy, an experience I highly recommend. It gave me an even greater appreciation for what the men and women of law enforcement face every day while protecting our community.
Most importantly, I love Bartlesville, its people, and the sense of community we share. And on a personal note, give me a hot Oklahoma summer and some time working in the yard, and I’m happy!1. Why are you running
Why are you running for Bartlesville City Council, and what experience or perspective do you believe you would bring to the council?
Having been born in Oklahoma and calling Bartlesville home for more than 30 years, I have a strong connection to this community and a real understanding of both its strengths and its challenges. My years working in the corporate world have given me practical experience in how businesses operate, how decisions affect people, and the importance of accountability and responsible use of resources.
As a longtime citizen of both city and rural life in Bartlesville, I also bring the everyday perspective of someone who lives, works, and cares deeply about Bartlesville.
I will bring common sense, a business-minded approach, and a commitment to listening to and representing the people of Ward 3.
2. Your top priorities
What are the three most important issues facing Bartlesville during the next five years? What specific actions should the City Council take to address them?
The three issues I believe deserve our attention over the next five years are fiscal responsibility, public safety, and a strong local economy.
We must be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, including paying close attention to how funds associated with the $45 million dollar school bond are spent and advocating for transparency and accountability. We must continue supporting our Police, Fire and Emergency Services so, Bartlesville remains a safe place to live and raise a family.
Finally, we need to strengthen our economy by supporting existing businesses, encouraging responsible new businesses, investment, and creating good jobs and opportunities that will keep Bartlesville strong for generations to come.
3. Endeavor 2045
Bartlesville adopted the Endeavor 2045 comprehensive plan following a community planning process. Which parts of the plan should receive the highest priority during your term, and are there portions you believe should be changed, delayed or reconsidered?
I believe all aspects of ENDEAVOR 2045 are important and work together to build a stronger future for Bartlesville. Growth, a strong economy, healthy neighborhoods, quality of life, and environmental sustainability should all remain priorities. Rather than focusing on one area at the expense of another, I believe the Council should make balanced, responsible decisions that move Bartlesville forward while protecting what makes our community a great place to live, work and raise a family.
4. Jobs and economic development
Bartlesville has long depended on major employers including Phillips 66 and ConocoPhillips. What should the city do to diversify the local economy, attract employers and create or retain well-paying jobs? What role should the Bartlesville Development Authority and Chamber of Commerce play?
The Chamber of Commerce and Bartlesville Development Authority should continue working closely with our schools and Tri County Tech to develop courses and training that match the needs of today's employers and prepare our workforce for tomorrow's jobs. We also need to aggressively promote Bartlesville, Oklahoma s a great place to invest- centrally located in the United States, with available land and a diverse economic base that includes technology, agriculture, aerospace, healthcare and energy production. By connecting education with workforce needs and actively promoting what Bartlesville has to offer, we can attract new employers support existing businesses, and create and retain good-paying jobs for future generations.
5. City spending and taxes
When balancing the city budget, where do you believe Bartlesville should spend more, spend less or maintain current spending? Are there city services or programs you would eliminate or significantly reduce?
If elected, I believe all areas of the city budget should be carefully reviewed and continually updated according to Bartlesville's needs, priorities, and shortfalls. I would not make promises today to eliminate or significantly reduce a service without first understanding its impact on our citizens. My priority would be responsible spending - maintaining essential services, addressing areas where additional resources are truly needed, and looking for opportunities to reduce unnecessary costs. Every taxpayer dollar should be spent wisely, transparently and with Bartlesville's best interests in mind.
6. Public safety cameras and privacy
What is your position on Bartlesville's use of automated license plate reader cameras? How should the city balance law enforcement benefits with residents' concerns about privacy, data retention and government surveillance?
Automated license plate readers can be a valuable tool for law enforcement and anything that helps our officers do their jobs more effectively while improving their safety and the safety of our community is a benefit. At the same time, I understand citizens' concerns about who has access to the information, how long it is retained and where it is stored. I would support greater transparency, including a public demonstration showing how the system works, what information is collected, who can access it, and how it is protected. Having law enforcement and representative from the companies that provide the technology available to answer citizens' questions directly could help build trust while ensuring we maintain the proper balance between public safety and individual privacy.
7. City manager and council roles
What do you believe is the proper relationship between the City Council and city manager? Where should council oversight end and the city manager's authority over day-to-day operations begin?
I believe the City Council and City Manager should have a professional, respectful, and clearly defined working relationship. The Council's responsibility is to represent the citizens, establish policy, set priorities, approve the budget, and hold the City Manager accountable for carrying out those priorities. The City Manager and staff should have the authority and flexibility to manage the day-to-day operations of the city without unnecessary interference. Good government requires communication, transparency, accountability, and respect for each role. As a Council member, my job would be to ask questions, listen to citizens, make informed policy decisions, and ensure Bartlesville is being managed responsibly and in the best interests of the people we serve.
Editor’s Note: The Wiley Post provided every candidate with the same questions, deadline and opportunity to participate. Candidate responses are published exactly as submitted and have not been edited for spelling, grammar, clarity, length or content.
To ensure fairness, once the voter guide is published, no late responses, revisions or additional candidate statements will be accepted. This ensures no candidate can change an answer or submit responses after reviewing another candidate's published answers.