 A city councilor from each of the city 's nine council districts is elected every two years , each serving a term of two years . Councilors are elected from their own respective districts based on a plurality voting system , and serve on the Tulsa City Council . As a whole , the council acts as the legislative body of city government , which aims to pass laws , approve the city budget , and manage efficiency in city government . In accordance with the mayor @-@ council form of government , the Tulsa City Council and the office of the Mayor coordinate in city government operations . A third body of the government , the city auditor , is elected independently of the city council and mayor to ensure that the auditor can act in an objective manner . The auditor is elected for a term of two years . Phil Wood , a Democrat , held the position for 21 years before being defeated by Republican Preston Doerflinger in the 2009 election . The city serves as the seat of county government for Tulsa County , and lies mostly within Oklahoma 's 1st congressional district , with its far northwestern areas in southern Osage County in Oklahoma 's 3rd congressional district . Municipal and State laws are enforced in Tulsa by the Tulsa Police Department , an organization of 781 officers as of 2012 . 
