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PAM POLK
Durant City Council met on Jan. 30 and voted unanimously to hire Pam Polk as city manager.
Polk began her municipal career in 1996 serving as City Clerk for the City of Mangum, Oklahoma, before becoming the Mangum City Manager there in 2002. Pam Polk began as city manager in the City of Collinsville in July 2005.
She received the prestigious Gerald Wilkins Award for City Manager of the Year in 2017, making Oklahoma history as the first female recipient. In 2022, she was recognized as Woman of the Year by the Oklahoma Municipal League Women in Municipal Government.
“I am very excited for Ms. Polk to begin working in Durant and look forward to working with her for the betterment of our wonderful community,” Mayor Martin Tucker said, in a news release. “She has the professional experience necessary, an excitement about where Durant is going and I believe Pam will be a wonderful fit for our city.”
Polk said, “I am excited to be coming home to Durant since I have family here. Durant is a great community, and I look forward to working with the council, staff and residents in growing the place that each of us call home.”
Oklahoma Municipal Management Services was selected by the Durant City Council to assist with the hiring process for the vacant City Manager position.
Tucker said working with Oklahoma Municipal Management Services made the process seamless and enjoyable.
“They helped the council stay on track with our goals, and accomplishing a unanimous decision shows our desire to work together as a team for the City of Durant,” Tucker said.
Rick Rumsey had been serving as interim city manager since June following the termination of Lisa Taylor the prior month.
Polk earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/ Management from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Master’s Degree in Administration also from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Polk is scheduled to begin her duties on April 5.