Debra Wimpee has served as Mayor of Broken Arrow since 2021, following her tenure as City Councilor for Ward 1 after first being elected in 2017. She serves as only the second female Mayor in the cities history and it had been 90 years since the first. Her leadership spans the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and is marked by a lifelong commitment to community service, economic development, relationship building, and veteran advocacy.
Her dedication to service has earned significant recognition, including being named the 2026 Mayor of the Year by the Oklahoma Municipal League, induction into the Oklahoma Military History Hall of Fame in 2025, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Most Patriotic Mayor Award, and the PBR Be Cowboy Award.
She is the founder and owner of The BA Buzz, a positive news and information platform dedicated to highlighting local businesses, community events, and the people who make Broken Arrow special. Under her leadership, The BA Buzz has grown into one of the community’s most recognized digital platforms, reaching millions of people through its content.
Debra’s professional career includes extensive experience in business development, relationship building, nonprofit leadership, and commercial real estate. She previously held executive roles with NAIOP Oklahoma and the CCIM Institute, and she received a Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing her contributions to the commercial real estate industry. As Executive Director of Soldier’s Wish, Debra raised more than $1 million in donations and helped grant more than $1 million in wishes for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
In 2026, Debra joined First United Bank, bringing her decades of community relationships, business development experience, and passion for connecting people to an organization with a long history of serving individuals, businesses, and communities. Founded more than 125 years ago, First United has grown to more than 85 locations throughout Oklahoma and Texas while maintaining a strong focus on relationships and community.
In 2023, she was nominated as Woman of the Year by The Journal Record and received the publication’s Beacon Award for Philanthropy and Volunteerism. One of her most meaningful recognitions came in 2019 when she was inducted as a Broken Arrow High School Great Graduate, honoring alumni who have brought distinction to their community and alma mater. She was also selected as one of just 12 female mayors in the United States invited by the Embassy of Switzerland in the United States to participate in a week-long leadership visit to Switzerland.
Debra and her husband, Glenne, graduated together from Broken Arrow High School in 1990 and have been married for 24 years. They have three children and two beloved “grand darlins.”
At the heart of everything Debra does is her faith. She knows without a doubt that her spiritual gift is service and believes her calling is to connect people, serve others, and be a light for the Lord.
