Sapulpa City Council Candidate Disputes Debarment Claims

Kent Glesener says his company is not banned from contracts despite federal labor ruling.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:26pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of a lone construction worker standing on an empty job site, the scene bathed in warm, dramatic lighting that evokes a sense of contemplation and quiet tension.A local construction company's labor violations have become a point of contention in a Sapulpa City Council race, exposing the complex intersection of business history and political ambition.Sapulpa Today

Sapulpa City Council candidate Kent Glesener is disputing claims that his company is debarred, or banned from certain government contracts, despite a federal labor ruling that ordered a three-year ban after findings of labor law violations.

Why it matters

The debarment issue has become a point of contention in the local City Council race, with Glesener's opponents alleging his company's history of labor violations should disqualify him from holding public office.

The details

A federal Department of Labor investigation found that Glesener's construction company, Glesener Builders, had violated labor laws by failing to pay proper overtime wages to some employees. As a result, the company was ordered to serve a three-year debarment period, barring it from bidding on certain government contracts.

  • The federal labor ruling was issued in January 2024.
  • Glesener is currently running for Sapulpa City Council in the 2026 election.

The players

Kent Glesener

A Sapulpa City Council candidate who owns a local construction company, Glesener Builders, that was found to have violated labor laws.

Glesener Builders

A construction company owned by Kent Glesener that was ordered to serve a three-year debarment period from certain government contracts due to labor law violations.

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What they’re saying

“The debarment claims are simply not true. My company has never been debarred and continues to bid on and win government contracts.”

— Kent Glesener, Sapulpa City Council Candidate

What’s next

Glesener's opponents are expected to continue raising the debarment issue as the City Council race heats up in the coming months.

The takeaway

This dispute over Glesener's company's labor violations and debarment status has become a central issue in the Sapulpa City Council race, highlighting the importance of candidates' business histories and compliance records when seeking public office.