On this episode of On The Record, Lawton Town Crier sat down with Ward 4 Councilman George Gill, the incumbent in the upcoming election, for a wide-ranging conversation about Lawton’s future.
We talked about the election, improvements in Ward 4, traffic flow and signals, TIF (Tax Increment Financing), and public safety – including fire protection, ambulance service, mutual aid, and police. Councilman Gill also opened up about some of the personal challenges that come with serving on the council.
Topics & timestamps
Use these timestamps to jump to the parts you’re most interested in:
- 0:40 – Election & why he’s running again
Councilman Gill explains why he chose to seek another term and what he believes is at stake in this race. - 1:24 – Ward 4 improvements and priorities
Discussion of projects, neighborhood issues, and what he sees as the biggest needs in Ward 4. - 3:25 – Traffic flow & signals (including permissive left turns)
How traffic lights, turning lanes, and flow are being handled, and what changes residents might see. - 5:45 – TIF (Tax Increment Financing)
A conversation about what TIF is, how it works locally, and how it affects development and neighborhoods. - 7:30 – Public safety: fire protection, ambulance service & mutual aid
Fire coverage, EMS/ambulance service, and how mutual aid agreements work to protect residents. - 10:20 – Public safety: police and community concerns
Police coverage, response, and some of the concerns Councilman Gill hears from residents. - 13:50 – Personal challenges while serving as a councilman
The human side of serving on the council – time, stress, criticism, and what keeps him going.
About candidate invitations
For this race, Lawton Town Crier extended multiple interview invitations to Councilman Gill’s challenger, Tiffiney Dimery, to appear on On The Record as well.
As of the time of this posting, those invitations were declined. Our invitation remains open, and we are committed to offering equal opportunity for all candidates to share their perspectives with voters.
Why this matters for Ward 4 voters
Ward 4 residents are being asked to make decisions about:
- Who represents them at City Council,
- How public safety is funded and delivered,
- What kind of development and infrastructure they want in their neighborhoods.
These are not abstract topics – they affect traffic on your street, response times when you call 911, and how your area grows or doesn’t grow.
The goal of On The Record is simple:
To give Lawton–Fort Sill residents a chance to hear directly from the people asking for their vote, in their own words, with as much context as possible.
Get involved & stay connected
If you live in Ward 4, or you simply care about what’s happening in Lawton, I’d encourage you to:
- Watch the interview
- Share it with neighbors and friends
- Leave a comment with the questions you want asked at the next forum or interview
You can also follow Lawton Town Crier for more forums, council coverage, and local interviews:
- 📘 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/lawtontowncrier - 🌐 Website: https://www.lawtontowncrier.com
- ☕ Support on Ko-fi:
https://ko-fi.com/lawtontowncrier
Teacher by day, Town Crier by night – and as always, thank you for paying attention to local government. 🔔