Beyond family ties, what does Kingfisher offer as a community that made you want to live here?

Covalt: Kingfisher has many things to offer that my family desired when we discussed looking for a community. First, the community rallies around the school activities and sports teams. This builds relational bonds among people who would never cross paths otherwise and we were drawn to the community support of the schools. In addition, the community support of Kingfisher Winter Nights, the Kingfisher Education Foundation, local businesses, chamber events, and many other events and activities, helped motivate us to move to Kingfisher. We spent 20 years in Oklahoma City and were involved in many things but there was never that all-encompassing community support system. There was localized support for this event or that event but there was not the interconnectedness to allow for the greater good of all. We saw in Kingfisher and continue to experience the awareness of the churches, municipal government, Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, the Kingfisher Times & Free Press, among many other organizations and people the interest in adding value to people’s lives through sponsorships, community involvement, church activities, school activities, and more.

Farrar: People want to work in cities that offer a competitive market and room for advancement, but people want to live where there is safety and opportunity for their children and their grandchildren. Luckily, Kingfisher checks both of those boxes. We are blessed to be able to employ so many of our citizens through local businesses and I love how Kingfisher caters to the family dynamic. Our youth have access to some of the nicest parks and recreational facilities, an exceptional school system and athletic division, and family-centered events are never in short supply. I get the best of both worlds here, as a professional and as a parent.

As a resident, what do you see as the city’s best assets?

Farrar: The people, the people make the place. Our leadership, first responders, clergy, and business owners are exceptional. We have some really amazing hearts and some truly brilliant minds in this city, and we owe every ounce of success and prosperity we come by to the people who live in Kingfisher.

Covalt: The people of Kingfisher. Kingfisher is a welcoming community but even more, many of Kingfishers’ citizens go to great extents to help fellow neighbors. I am reminded of an article published in your paper Aug. 25, 2019, where an effort spearheaded by members of the Federated Church and many other community volunteers constructed a new house for residents whose home had been condemned. There are so many stories like the one above and so many Kingfisher citizens contribute to the quality of life and connectedness in Kingfisher. So many people volunteer and contribute in different ways to make this a great place to live. The police, fire, and emergency personnel ensuring the safety and well-being of Kingfisher residents is paramount and municipal and county employees who ensure the things we all take for granted are operational and functioning well.

What do you see as Kingfisher’s biggest challenges that could or should be tackled by city government?

Covalt: Maintenance of the physical assets. Kingfisher, like many other government entities, have constructed significant infrastructure over the decades in an opportunistic manner. Unfortunately, we have built more public infrastructure than we have revenue coming in to cover long-term maintenance and replacement costs. We need to address this with a short-term and long-term asset preservation plan and continue to develop and implement planning strategies.

Farrar: In my opinion, infrastructure is our biggest challenge. There will always be improvements needed and work to be done and the cost associated with the repairs will continue to climb. People tend to want something shiny and new to enjoy when money is being spent, but our roads and utilities and sewage and drainage is vital to the safety and success of our community. City Government is necessary in prioritizing and overseeing the completion of those projects.

What is your main motivation for seeking office?

Covalt: I have spent several years working with municipal governments and believe I can offer a perspective that would be beneficial to Kingfisher. In addition, I am at a time in my life where I have available time to serve in this capacity and give back to the community which has been very warm and accepting of my family.

Farrar: The representation for women in our city is currently lacking and our youth’s participation and interest in local government is underwhelming at best. I believe that improvement on both fronts is desperately needed for Kingfisher’s growth, and I feel called to serve. “Be the change you want to see.”

What unique experience or qualifications would you bring to the job as commissioner?

Farrar: I have devoted the past seven years of my life to serving the Kingfisher community, through the Distinguished Young Woman Scholarship Program and Altar Society, Child Welfare and MCART, Home Health and Long-term care.

My experience in our great city has given me incredible insight into the impact that government has on small business as well as the social and economic realities that the citizens of Kingfisher face, from the most vulnerable to the most successful. That’s why I’m running.

I feel that I am uniquely qualified to identify the possible risks and benefits city government decisions will have on a broader spectrum of its people.

Covalt: I have spent 26 years working to improve communities around Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Mostly, I have been involved in infrastructure development, rehabilitation, and maintenance.

I have spent most of my career constructing these facilities either as a contractor, owner’s representative, or Resident Engineer for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. In addition, I served the City of Enid as their General Obligation Bond Manager for the construction and rehabilitation of bridges throughout Enid. Currently, I serve CEC Corporation as the Oklahoma Transportation Market Leader and on the Board of Directors.

CEC is multi-discipline engineering company that serves clients throughout Oklahoma and Texas.

CEC provides the following services: surveying and mapping, construction materials testing, construction engineering inspection, roadway and bridge design, power (distribution, transmission, substation) design, civil and structural design, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design. My experience will provide a unique perspective I don’t believe we currently have available on the Commission.

Have you identified any priorities that you would want to focus on as city commissioner? If so, what are they?

Covalt: At CEC our vision statement is the following: “Eliminate aging infrastructure and drive community growth.”

This statement resonates with me and aligns with what I would like to see prioritized in Kingfisher – eliminating aging infrastructure.

We have several assets throughout the City of Kingfisher that are aging and decaying.

We should prioritize our investments to eliminate aging infrastructure and provide high-quality services for our citizens and businesses.

Farrar: I have some ideas to bring in additional revenue that I am excited to explore and there are a few infrastructure projects that I am passionate about addressing.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to adding my voice to the discussions already taking place, providing insight and perspective wherever I am able.

How accessible will you be to your constituents who may have questions or concerns about city government?

Farrar: I’m as busy as any other working mother of two, but I’m also very accessible due to the nature of my career. I live and work here in Kingfisher and my cell phone number is very public and already heavily used.

You never really stop being a social worker and I will always want to be a resource for others.

Covalt: I am always willing to listen to anyone who has questions, ideas, or concerns. I am available by phone any time of the day.

What’s a question you wish we had asked and what is your answer?

Covalt: Is Kingfisher’s downtown healthy? The downtown area in a lot of ways is the heartbeat of the city.

If you sit and watch the activity on any given day in our downtown area, is it bustling with activity?

Have times changed to the extent that one can’t determine the health of the city by the activity in downtown? Things have changed quite a bit because of technology but I think we all agree the more activity we see around town and in our downtown area, the healthier we are as a community.

As I stated in earlier questions, community support is great in Kingfisher, and I believe the more integrated the Chamber of Commerce and its members are with the City of Kingfisher the more prosperous and healthier Kingfisher becomes.

Our society has become so fast and detached, we as a community must be intentional in creating opportunities for people to connect and businesses, citizens, non-profits, and other entities to flourish.

Farrar: How invested are you in Kingfisher’s future?

Kingfisher is my home, our family is here. They have been here for generations and they will still be here for generations to come. Our businesses, farms, careers, and legacy are here.

My boys will be in school here for another seventeen years, and if the past is any indication, they’ll someday come back home to farm and work and raise their families.

My future is directly tied to Kingfisher’ s and the decisions I make as a commissioner will be reflective of that.