Hoping to see a greater representation of the views of his home district’s constituents, Citizen Potawatomi Nation member Mark McBride decided to run for the state legislature in 2012.
The Moore High School graduate and Northwestern Oklahoma State alumni worked for years in ranching and farming. Eventually he returned to Moore and took over an established family owned business. Now, he is both owner of McBride Construction and Roofing and McBride Homes, two wellknown enterprises in the south Oklahoma City metro area.
In terms of politics, McBride admits his previous government experience was limited, the most involvement he’d had at that point was to cast a vote in elections.
“I wanted to see a change in the district where live and work,” McBride said. “Just being a common sense, business guy, I came in out of the blue. I wasn’t involved in politics at all really.”
The freshman representative for District 53, which includes the city of Moore and some portions of south Oklahoma City, announced his candidacy for the position in June 2012.
He won the Republican run off on June 26. With no Democrats running in opposition, McBride assumed the district seat and began his first term in the legislature in January 2013. McBride’s main focus at the capitol will be on good government, especially in terms of promoting the wise spending of money.
“I think we should run government like we run our households and that we should be accountable as everyday citizens are to their loan to the bank for their house,” said McBride.
McBride is a descendant of the Boursaw family from his father’s side and praised the CPN government and people for supporting him in his election bid during the summer. He is looking forward to being a more active participant in the positive relationship between tribes and the state government.
“Look at the Potawatomi, we’re doing great right now. Everything has just exploded out there in the last ten years. That is a good example that things are going well between the tribes and Oklahoma,” declared McBride.
In addition to his primary focus of promoting good governance, he is also interested in the recently created Native American Liaison position created by Governor Fallin last year. He promised he would monitor the role that the newly appointed liaison Jacque Secondine Hensley will take, saying “I would like to know more how she’ll approach her duties as the liaison.”