Poindexter Takes Office

Ro Poindexter was sworn into office as Sallisaw’s Ward 2 Commissioner 

Thursday by Judge John Cripps.

“I felt there was a need for me to step up and serve again,” is why Ro Poindexter decided to put her name in nomination for the Ward 2 Commission Post on the Sallisaw City Commission.

Poindexter was sworn into office Thursday morning by Judge John Cripps in the office of City Manager Clayton Lucas at city hall, while friends looked on.

Poindexter takes the place of Ward 2 Commissioner Jim Hudgens who was appointed mayor and was sworn into office at the city’s regular meeting Monday. Poindexter was chosen to serve in the Ward 2 post at the same meeting but was to be sworn in later.

This is Poindexter’s second term on the commission. She served as a commissioner from 2012 to 2015.

The city faces several important issues in the future, including how to pay for upcoming projects and a decision on whether or not the city should cooperate with Sequoyah Memorial Hospital in a program to oversee nursing homes, which is projected to bring in about $1 million a year for the hospital.

Poindexter said she wanted to get an update from Lucas before commenting on those upcoming issues.

“I want to give back to the community and the citizens,” she said. “I have the best interests of the people at heart.”

Poindexter was also instrumental in obtaining the city’s new animal shelter, and organized the volunteer group, the Guardian Angels.

She said plans for that group include having children read to the adoptable dogs, which helps the animals get used to children and calms the animals, having dog walkers work with the dogs, and have more fundraisers to benefit the animals.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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