Photo: City of Claremore
The Mayor of Claremore has died. City officials announced that Mayor Bill Flanagan has died after a long illness. Flanagan has served as mayor since 2013, and also owned an accounting practice in the city. Deputy Mayor Herb McSpadden will serve as interim mayor until May First, when mayor-elect Debbie Long takes office.
The city of Claremore released the following statement: "It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Claremore Mayor Bill Flanagan. He passed away yesterday from a longstanding illness. He was a dedicated public servant. He began his tenure as Mayor in 2013 and owned and operated a public accounting practice in Claremore for 35 years. For the past decade, Mayor Flanagan helped transform Claremore into the vibrant community we are today, driving responsible growth and business-friendly policies that created quality jobs for our community."