B.J. Roberson

1. You have served on the Cushing City Commission and as mayor for nearly a decade. Your campaign points to specific accomplishments including a hospital services agreement with Ardent Health Services, infrastructure upgrades, and a walking trail system. Walk readers through the two or three decisions you're most proud of and what they cost and delivered for Cushing residents.

Over the past nine years serving on the Cushing City Commission, I have been involved in many important decisions, but three stand out because of their long-term impact on our community.

First, I am proud of the work we did to secure a new long-term agreement with Ardent Health Services for Hillcrest Hospital Cushing. At a time when many rural hospitals, including our own, faced uncertainty about the future, it was important to provide stability and continuity for healthcare services in our community. We approved a seven-year agreement through 2030 that provided stability and continuity for healthcare services while ensuring Cushing would continue to have a full-service acute care hospital. The agreement also established a more collaborative partnership between the Hospital Authority and Ardent while ensuring the Authority maintained a voice in key strategic decisions affecting healthcare in our community.

Second, I am proud of the efforts to help keep the Cimarron Correctional Facility open. The closure of the facility would have had a devastating impact on local families, businesses, and our economy. Through an intergovernmental agreement involving the U.S. Marshals Service and CoreCivic, we worked with our partners to keep the facility operational and preserve hundreds of jobs. That decision protected one of the area's largest employers and provided economic stability for our region.

Finally, I am proud of the investments we made in infrastructure. We worked closely with ODOT over several years to advance the nearly $19 million reconstruction of Highway 33 through Cushing. The project improved safety, modernized aging infrastructure, enhanced pedestrian connectivity, and upgraded one of the community's most important transportation corridors. We also invested approximately $9 million in the Harmony Road Substation, which strengthened electric reliability, provided capacity for the new elementary school, and created the infrastructure needed to support future residential, commercial, and industrial growth.

While these projects were very different, they shared a common goal: protecting essential services, preserving jobs, and making long-term investments that position our community for future success.

2. You describe yourself as a real estate investor and businessman. What does that business involve — what types of properties, what geography, and how long have you been doing it?

My wife and I own Roberson Properties, a real estate investment company based in Cushing. We specialize in purchasing distressed single-family homes, performing extensive renovations, and then either renting or selling them. We currently own and manage rental properties in Cushing, Stillwater, Drumright, and Oklahoma City. We started the company in 2014 and have been operating it for the past 12 years. I am also a licensed Realtor with eXp Realty and have spent the last year and a half helping buyers and sellers navigate real estate transactions throughout Oklahoma.

3. What specifically about the direction of House District 33 prompted you to challenge a first-term incumbent, and what would you do differently in Oklahoma City?

I decided to run because I believe the people of District 33 deserve representation that is engaged, accessible, and focused on delivering results. Throughout the district, I heard from people who felt increasingly disconnected from their representation and frustrated by the growing focus on political conflict rather than solving problems.

For the past nine years, I have served on the Cushing City Commission, including four years as chair. That experience taught me that effective leadership is not about creating division or generating headlines. It is about showing up, listening, working with people, and finding practical solutions to improve the communities we serve.

In Oklahoma City, I would bring that same approach. My focus would be on the core responsibilities of state government — education, roads and infrastructure, healthcare, public safety, agriculture, economic development, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Most importantly, I will remain accessible, accountable, and engaged with the people of District 33.

4. Oklahoma lawmakers and voters are debating proposals to limit property taxes. What is your position on property tax reform, and how would changes affect funding across House District 33?

I support responsible property tax relief. As property values continue to rise, many homeowners, especially seniors and those on fixed incomes, are concerned about being taxed out of their homes.

At the same time, property taxes help fund important local services, including schools, county government, career technology centers, libraries, and public safety. Having served in local government, I understand that every tax policy affects real people and has real consequences for the communities and people we serve.

Any reform should be carefully evaluated to ensure it provides meaningful relief without simply shifting costs elsewhere or creating unintended funding challenges for essential services. I would support solutions that are fiscally responsible, sustainable, and help homeowners while protecting the long-term financial stability of our communities.

5. Of all the issues facing your district, which two do you believe matter most to your constituents, and what specifically would you do to address them?

Over the course of this campaign, I have spent countless hours traveling throughout District 33, attending community events, visiting with local leaders, and speaking with thousands of people at their doorsteps. One of the most important things I have learned is that people across District 33 care deeply about many of the same issues, even if they prioritize them differently. The concerns I hear most often are education, roads and infrastructure, healthcare access, cost of living, tax relief, and public safety.

If I had to identify the two issues that come up most frequently, I would say education and roads and infrastructure. However, concerns about affordability, cost of living, and tax relief are not far behind and are often part of the same conversations.

Education is the issue I hear about most often. I believe we need to continue investing in our classrooms, support and retain quality teachers, and maintain a strong focus on the fundamentals of reading, writing, math, and science. We should continue building on our literacy efforts while working closely with teachers, administrators, parents, and students to identify practical ways to improve outcomes and ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed. I also believe school districts should have the flexibility to implement policies that best serve the students and communities they know best.

Roads and infrastructure are essential to economic growth, public safety, and quality of life. District 33 includes both growing communities and rural areas that depend on reliable transportation networks and infrastructure. I will support continued investment in roads, bridges, water systems, and other critical infrastructure while working to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and responsibly.

While the question asks for two issues, the reality is that education, infrastructure, healthcare, public safety, and affordability are all important to the people of District 33. The people of this district deserve a representative who takes each of these priorities seriously, stays engaged with the communities and constituents they serve, and remains focused on delivering results.

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar, spelling, and AP style. Substance and positions have not been altered.

I've known B.J. and his family for over six years. He's been my landlord at two locations, and he's also the landlord for two of my sons. My oldest son runs a business and has worked closely with him over the years as well. That has given my family a real-life view of his character, not just campaign language.

Our experience with B.J. and his family has been consistently honest, fair, steady, respectful, and genuinely caring. That matters – because character doesn't suddenly appear when someone runs for office. It shows up in how a person treats people long before they need their vote. B.J. is the kind of person who listens, follows through, and handles responsibility with maturity. He understands that leadership isn't about creating noise or chasing attention. It's about showing up, solving problems, and serving people well.

I also appreciate his practical focus on the things that matter to families in District 33: education, roads and infrastructure, healthcare access, public safety, agriculture, economic development, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. These aren't abstract issues, they affect our homes, children, communities, and our future. I believe B.J. Roberson has the utmost integrity, sound judgment, and real-world leadership experience District 33 needs. He has earned my trust, and I believe he'll serve this district with the same honesty and steady character I've seen firsthand. – Kristie Dilley