C&C in Real Life

John Tyler Hammons, until recently a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, likes to play history-based games like Rome: Total War. “That’s the best video game ever,” the 19-year old told PTD recently while standing in the parking lot of City Hall in Muskogee, a community of just under 40,000 in eastern Oklahoma. “I love history - I have a bust of Julius Caesar in my office,” he continued, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at the imposing building behind him.

His office?

Oh, didn’t we mention it? Hammons was elected mayor of Muskogee on May 13! Hammons and five others ran for the office in a campaign that resulted in the 19-year old gamer and 70-year old Herschel McBride (a former three-term mayor) battling for the lion’s share of the votes cast, although neither claimed the 50% majority necessary to win the initial election. In the eventual runoff, however, Hammons claimed a clear victory winning 70% of the final vote. The new young mayor has now moved from dorm room to Council Chambers.

PTD caught up with Mayor Hammons on Tuesday, May 20, the day after he took the Oath of Office and just an hour after his first round of official meetings at City Hall. He was lingering in City Hall’s parking lot with fellow gamers Matt Price and Chris Reese, talking to a Muskogee Police Department officer. Hammons credits his win over McBride to his use of the Internet to build a grassroots political base and to overwhelming support from the Muskogee Fire and Police Departments. After spending just $5,000 on his campaign, Hammons plans to explore local campaign finance issues while on the Council. When PTD asked about other future political plans, he said, “I hope to own a PS3 soon” - and grinned.

Hammons has always been interested in politics, serving as senior class president at Muskogee High School in 2007 and as president of both the Young Republicans and the Young Democrats clubs (a true bi-partisan?). Hammons is a registered Republican now, however, and will be Oklahoma’s youngest delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis this September.

“Eventually I plan to run for governor,” Hammons said, “although you have to be 31-years old to do that.” And after the governorship? You guessed it: President John Tyler Hammons has a nice ring.
But enough about politics.

“I like all the Mario titles,” Hammons said, “Super Smash Bros. Brawl is one of my favorites - I’ll play anything with Mario in it.”

He hasn’t played the recently-released Mario Kart Wii yet, but is looking forward to doing so: “As soon as I can borrow it from my buddy here,” he said, pointing to Price. Super Mario Sunshine is another favorite of the young mayor.

“I like most RPG & shooter games,” Hammons said, “And I enjoy civilization-building games.”
With his new duties, gaming may have to take a back-burner to running Muskogee’s municipal government, a sacrifice Hammons is willing to make for now. He’s also transferring from the University of Oklahoma in Norman to Northeastern Oklahoma University in Muskogee in order to be closer to the action.

How will Hammon’s latest RPG play out IRL? Stay tuned - we’ll let you know if skills learned from Rome: Total War actually work in the Council Chamber.

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