Former Mayor Mick Cornett joins Oklahoma City PR firm

Former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett is joining a local public relations firm.

Cornett will be working at Oklahoma City-based Jones PR in an executive counsel role, specializing in business. Jones PR is a marketing and public relations firm that serves a variety of clients both locally and nationally.

“(I’ll be) generally offering business perspectives and advice,” Cornett said. “I think you have to look at each client’s needs individually.”

Jones PR President and CEO Brenda Barwick said Cornett brings years of marketing expertise to the company.

“Mick is going to be a natural fit here,” Barwick said. “He’ll be meeting with our clients and lending his expertise and leadership skills to our clients and us.”

Cornett served as mayor from 2004 to 2018 and is largely widely credited with helping bring the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team to the arena built by MAPS to attract professional sports.

He ran for governor in 2018, but lost to Gov. Kevin Stitt in a Republican Party primary runoff.

Cornett and Barwick have known each other since college, where both attended the University of Oklahoma.

Barwick donated $2,700 to former Lt. Governor Todd Lamb’s campaign for governor, but began financially supporting the Cornett campaign after Lamb was eliminated in the Republican Primary. Barwick later gave $5,400, split in two donations, to Cornett in the runoff.

After Cornett’s campaign ended in August, he has filled his time with some consulting work and travel promoting his book, “The Next American City.” Now, he’s ready to start his work with Jones PR.

“We both have been involved in communications and marketing and business so it seemed to be the right time to work together on some projects,” Cornett said.

Cornett’s arrival at the company comes shortly after the departure of Jones PR Senior Vice President Josh Harlow. Harlow left the company last week, but Cornett’s arrival is in no way related, according to Barwick.

Cornett’s role with Jones PR is effective immediately.