Andrea Dunlap also threw her hat in the running for city council. Dunlap moved to Madill in 2020, with her husband and son.
She said she fell in love with the charm of the city when she came to Madill for errands. Dunlap and her husband bought the Dunbar School House, with the idea to renovate and make it their forever home. She said she loves Madill’s proximity to a big town because it allows citizens to enjoy the small-town life, while being able to get necessities quite easily.
She said they chose this location for neighborhood because it was quiet and cozy. Dunlap and her family are originally from NE Oklahoma. Dunlap’s family is mainly from around Tulsa, with a few located in Kingston.
Dunlap stated that Madill has felt like home since she first moved. She also said that she loves being near the water and enjoys a lake life. She has participated in bowfishing tournaments multiple times.
Dunlap attended school in Sapulpa, Okla. for a few years until she moved to Depew, Okla., close to her grandparents. With such a small population, it was a tight-knit community, just like Madill.
She graduated in 2005 and started working immediately. With a desire for independence, she started her education in welding. She graduated from Tulsa Welding School in 2007.
She noted that welding was the most rewarding challenge she’s ever pursued. Due to the challenge of being hired in that field, she went back to school for a more stable prospect. Dunlap decided to enter the medical field, in honor of her grandmother. She obtained certifications in CNA, CNHA Home Health, Phlebotomy, First Aid and CPR.
During all this, she still worked as a welder and was able to devote herself full time to her passion. She eventually retired as a welder in 2020, after having her son. To still work, she went back to school to receive her certification in Esthetics.
Dunlap said she feels her background will aid in her position on the city council. Due to her background, she feels she understands what it is like to be unheard by those in power.
Her motivation to run for the city council seat derived from helping those who feel unheard have a voice. She said she feels since she’s been in that position, she’ll be able to help them better.
If she is elected, she said that her first step is to see that the rules are not changed so easily. As Madill continues to grow, she wants to make sure that the change does not affect the residents negatively. By introducing change carefully, Dunlap said she feels that the citizens can still be heard.