Commissioner Karen Keith, District #2  (Chairman)

Email: kkeith@tulsacounty.org

For scheduling please call or email:
Ella McKenzie Assistant to County Commissioner District 2
Email: emckenzie@tulsacounty.org
Phone: 918 596-5016

Karen Keith was elected County Commissioner for District 2 in November 2008. For 2010, she is serving as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. Karen's top priorities for Tulsa County are focused on getting a new Juvenile Justice Center, working with a broad coalition to secure funding and completion of the Gilcrease Expressway, advocating for federal funds to repair the Sand Springs Levee, and working to find efficiencies between governments in Tulsa County. 

Karen grew up in Muskogee. She was active in 4-H and graduated from Muskogee High School in 1972. She put herself through college with scholarships, and a variety of jobs. A 1976 graduate of Oklahoma State University, Karen’s degree is in Radio, TV-News and Public Affairs. Karen worked 26 years in broadcasting, with 21 years at KJRH as an anchor, reporter, as well as executive producer and host of “Oklahoma Living.” Karen is proudest of her work on documentaries that took her to Vietnam, Israel, Germany, Russia and Mexico.

In 2002, Karen became the Mayor’s Director of Community Relations and Vision implementation. Serving as part of the team focused on Vision 2025, she helped form the Vision 2025 Oversight Committee. She also worked on the Arena and Convention Center Design Committee and the Vision 2025 Downtown Housing Fund Committee.

Following her service at City Hall, Karen worked for the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Partnership Development for the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau.

As an entrepreneur Karen launched two businesses: Silver Label (clothing design company designed to meet the needs of the elderly) and the Lantern Inn, a small bed and breakfast in Brookside.

Active in civic affairs, Karen founded “TulsaNow,” with fellow advocate Marilyn Inhofe Tucker. Karen has been involved in the Brookside Business Association for many years and was instrumental in creating Tulsa’s Halloween parade, “BooHaHa.” She has served on the Board of the Rotary Club of Tulsa and is a Paul Harris Fellow; is a member of Leadership Oklahoma Class XX; is a member of The Oklahoma Academy; is a member of the State 4-H Foundation and member of the Chambers of Commerce in Tulsa, Jenks, Sand Springs, Glenpool and South West Tulsa.

Karen and her husband, Patrick Malloy, a Tulsa attorney, are fortunate to share their lives with Gulnara Taragachova, a foreign exchange student from Baku, Azerbaijan. Gulnara attended one year of high school in Tulsa followed by classes at Tulsa Community College and graduation from OSU/Tulsa with a degree in International Business. Gulnara now lives in Baku with her daughter Samaya and works for Parker Drilling.

Karen’s Accomplishments:

• 2008 served on the Governor’s Judicial Nominating Committee
• Outstanding 4-H Alumnae Award - 1990.
• “Five Outstanding Young Oklahomans” - 1990. Oklahoma Jaycees.
• “Ten Outstanding Young Americans” - 1993. United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees).
• Advocate of the Year - 1994. Karen Keith's Success Stories - Journal Record Publishing.
• Star Award - 1994. Outstanding Individual in Television - National Honor by American Women in Radio & TV
• Best of Broadcast Television Broadcasting - 2001. American Women in Radio in Tulsa.

• Outstanding Television Personality-Reporter of the Year - 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1999. Tulsa Chapter of American Women in Radio and Television.

• Meritorious Service in the Fight Against Heart Disease - 1992. American Heart Association.
• OSU Distinguished Alumnus Award - 1991.
• Outstanding Achievement - Large Market TV Newscast - 1984. Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.