Lt. Col. Barry Niles running for HD31

Lt. Colonel Barry Niles  (Ret.) Announces Candidacy for State House, District 31

Decorated veteran and third generation Oklahoman, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Barry Niles, USAR, announces his candidacy on the Republican ticket for State Representative, District 31, an area that encompasses Guthrie, Cashion, Cedar Valley, Cimarron City, and Edmond. Niles and his wife Debra have lived and raised their 8 children in the South Logan County area for over 35 years.

Niles is a veteran of both the U.S. Army Reserve and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Niles performed 30 years of military service, and was deployed to active duty with a tour of Iraq in 2007. Niles was named Chief of a Military Transition Team, serving as Senior Adviser, 1st Brigade, 6th Iraqi Division of the Kadahmiyah Security District, Baghdad. He was tasked with training the Iraqi Army and coordinating with local and national police to provide security for the people of Baghdad, and working with other US government agencies and Iraqi government authorities to repair and rebuild major infrastructure problems and failures.

“This assignment allowed me to go into a devastated region, deconstruct the processes that were flawed, develop a plan to correct, and then work with other groups to ensure that we assisted in the creation of a successful foundation for future growth. This experience prepared me with a unique skill set to face the ongoing challenges in our Oklahoma government, to find the areas that are not serving our state well, and develop a tactical plan to course correct. Oklahoma desperately needs people in government who can identify challenges, and then come forward with real solutions to ensure that our neighbors have stability and certainty in expectations of services, infrastructure, healthcare, education and a business positive approach to encourage free market growth,” Niles said. “I ask for your vote and your trust - I am ready to get to work to get our own state back on track."

Several area business leaders welcomed the announcement of Barry Niles’ entrance to the race. Trey Ayers, COO of the Dominion Group, stated, “I know Barry Niles to be a man of integrity, faith, and good Oklahoma know-how. I am pleased to support his endeavors in supporting my district - Barry Niles possesses strong leadership that will serve Oklahomans well.” The command positions held during Niles’ military service and his duties as a police officer, Detective and Internal Affairs Investigator, equipped Niles to identify failures, ask the hard questions and make the hard decisions required to tackle mismanagement, deconstruct failed systems, and rebuild with workable solutions that Oklahomans expect and deserve from their representatives.

In 36 years of service to the Oklahoma City police department, Niles worked his way up to Sergeant from a uniformed patrol position, serving a 10 year assignment in the Domestic Violence Unit, then Burglary Unit service, and then as an Investigator in the Office of Public Integrity (Internal Affairs).  Niles was a conscientious investigator; he worked hard to uncover corruption, expose fraud and bring criminals to justice while bringing closure to victims and their families.

Locally, in the course of his law enforcement career, Barry Niles’ varied assignments gave him a unique exposure to understanding dynamics in troubled areas. Niles has a strong commitment to youth, education, veterans, public safety, infrastructure, and mental and physical health. He knows that in order for Oklahoma to improve on state rankings in all of those categories, we must have transparency, accountability, restoration of a strong foundation, and a sustainable plan created and implemented so businesses and economic growth is encouraged.

Barry Niles is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma.  Barry and his wife Debra are faithful members of St. Mary Church. Three of their eight children are completing their career education, while others have already embarked on successful careers in carpentry, information technology, automotive industry, and co-owner of an electrical company. Their eldest daughter is a homemaker proudly raising a fourth generation of the Niles family here in Oklahoma.

For more information, please visit www.BarryNiles.com or on Facebook.com/BarryNilesForHouseDistrict31.