My name is Gary McCollum Jr., My wife, Shannon, and I have been married for 16 years and have lived in the Preston community for the past 9 years. During that time, we have continued building our small farm, where we raise chickens, goats, and guineas.

We have three adult children and two grandchildren. Shannon and I have attended Life Church in Jenks for nearly six years, where she serves in the nursery. In our free time, we enjoy camping, kayaking, riding our motorcycle, and, more recently, cycling with our daughter and son-in-law. I also enjoy hiking, hunting, and fishing whenever I can.

I currently work as an Investigator for the Okmulgee and McIntosh County District Attorney’s Office and have served in that role for 19 years. Before that, I served with the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office for 13 years. Some of you may also recognize me as the Security Officer at Preston High School basketball home games, a position I have held since 2009. In addition, I have proudly volunteered with the Preston Fire Department since 2008 and have served on the Board of the Oklahoma International Association for Identification since 2025.  In 2007, I graduated from Bacone College with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.

For the past five years, I have also written and maintained federal grant funding for the District 25 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. These responsibilities have helped me develop experience in securing resources, managing federally funded programs, and maintaining accountability within a professional organization.

Throughout my career, I have worked to conduct myself with integrity, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to evaluate complex information before making decisions. These experiences have strengthened my analytical thinking, accountability, and commitment to public service.

Many people have asked why I want to serve on the Preston Water Board. My answer is simple. I care about this community and want to do my part to help it continue to grow and improve. Serving others has always been important to me, and this is another way I can give back to the community my family calls home.

While my perspective comes from outside the daily operations of a water department, I believe good decisions come from listening, asking questions, and working with people who have the right knowledge and experience. Clean, reliable water is essential for every home and every family in our community. I understand there are several important infrastructure projects already underway, and I would like to help continue that progress and support the work being done to strengthen our water system for the future.

I would appreciate your vote and the opportunity to serve the Okmulgee County Rural Water District No. 2 community.

Gary L. McCollum, Jr.