Tracy Matli is a candidate for Blaine County Commission District #3.
He was born in Thomas and has lived in this area his whole life, attending Watonga schools and graduating from Watonga High School in 1979. He went to work for Pioneer Telephone on the construction crew immediately after high school and then became part of the maintenance and installation crew. He was with Pioneer for 28 years.
After he retired from Pioneer, Matli was employed by the postal service for a time, then started his own construction company, Matli Construction and operated it until he ran for county commissioner in 2022.
“I thought there were a lot of things that District #3 lacked and I felt we could improve on,” Matli said, when asked why he chose to run for public office.
He said that although he hasn’t gotten everything accomplished that he set out to do, he has made strides.
When he started learning how to be a commissioner, he said, he learned what a small part of the job infrastructure is. “It is a very small part of the job. We are responsible for all the tax dollars the county has. Also, the estimate of needs, budgeting and the 522 boards.” He also noted that the commissioners are in charge of courthouse operations and overseeing other elected officials. He noted the commissioners are not over the other officials, but they are responsible for overseeing the tax dollars in the county and being sure they are used in the way they are intended to be used.
One thing Matli is very proud of as a commissioner is getting the new Blaine County Jail completed and open, even as he recognizes the work had begun before he took office. “That was $10 million without a bond issue,” he said. “That’s a big accomplishment in Western Oklahoma.”
The most interesting part of his job, Matli said, is that it changes on a daily basis. “What’s in front of you is a priority.” Another thing he prides himself on, he said, is keeping his doors open and talking to people with concerns.
The biggest challenges were in 2024 when more than 30 inches of rain fell in his district washing out bridges and culverts.
Matli is married to court clerk Christy Matli for 30 years and they have three children between them, and eight grandchildren.
“I’ve done the best I can do as a county commissioner and I want to continue doing that for the citizens of Blaine County. My experience in the past three and a half years has prepared me to be commissioner for the next four,” he said.