County Commissioner Fred Perry announced today that effective July 8, 2013 he will resign his position and retire.  He plans to send a letter accordingly to Governor Fallin within a few days so that an election can be scheduled for a new District 3 commissioner in a timely manner.

Perry was elected in 2010 for a second term which runs until December 31, 2014.  However, he plans to remain in office until July 8th.  “I will be on the job until July 8th,” he said.  He will be leaving his four year post eighteen months ahead of time.

Perry said that he was retiring “for health reasons” noting that he had a heart procedure last November.

“There comes a time when one knows it’s time to retire.  By giving five months notice, this will provide for an orderly selection of my replacement according to the statutes,” Perry said.

“Of course, the timing of the election is the governor’s decision.  However, it is possible to have the special election of my successor on the same days scheduled for the City of Tulsa mayoral primary and runoff elections.  This will minimize the expense.  Also, if held as we are suggesting, the position will be open for only a few weeks,” Perry added.

Fred Perry was first elected to public office in 1994 when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives where he served until November 2006.  He ran for Tulsa County Commissioner in 2006 and was sworn in January 3, 2007.  He served a four-year term and was reelected in 2010 and is presently just past the half way mark of his second term.  Prior to 1994, Perry worked in private sector for thirty years.