Candidates Boggs, Troyer differ on how to help District 6
City Council candidate Kevin Boggs wants bigger houses in East Tulsa, development of Route 66 (11th Street) for tourism and no tax increases for Tulsa citizens.Councilor Dennis Troyer praises the City Council for working together behind the scenes and avoiding public controversy.Boggs will face Councilor Dennis K. Troyer in the April 1 city election. Boggs, a council candidate for District 6, says all parts of city government need more oversight.“There needs to be some changes in city government,” Boggs said.“We all work together for the better of the city,” Troyer said. “The mayor is a hard working person. When you meet with her, she will listen to you.”Mayor Kathy Taylor is working on plans to raise utility rates, sales tax and property taxes to expand city government. She appointed a political committee to study streets and that group recommended tax increases of $1.6 billion for street repair.“I don’t agree with that at all,” Boggs said. “We have a lot of extra money at the city that people don’t know about. People don’t know there are surpluses.”Troyer is not opposed to a tax increase but he hopes the council won’t have to raise taxes. He has supported every effort by Taylor to raise taxes.“We want to be as easy on the taxpayer as we can,” Troyer said.Boggs said Tulsa has $30 million to $50 million in surplus funds tucked away.County records show that Tulsans already pay the highest property taxes in the state, Boggs said. A rural homeowner could pay as much as 40 percent less for the same value house in the Jenks School District (within the Tulsa city limits).“It’s putting the squeeze on a lot of people,” Boggs said.Boggs said too much of Tulsa’s street work is done by subcontractors. A one-mile stretch of state road that would cost $1 million would cost Tulsa $4 million because of “middle men.”A central problem is that under Tulsa’s system of government, department heads report to no one but the mayor. That means there is insufficient public accountability for Public Works and other departments, Boggs said.“We need to seriously reconsider how we fix streets,” Boggs said. “I’d like to see us hire city crews to do the work. I think they could do a good job if we give them sufficient resources.”Former street commissioner Jim Hewgley met with councilors and proposed a street maintenance and improvement plan that does not raise utility rates or sales tax. Councilor Bill Martinson is working on a similar plan.“There needs to be some changes,” said Boggs, who is a manager for Fed-X. “We need some councilors who know what they are doing.”Taylor is independently wealthy and doesn’t take her city salary. Boggs said she does so for personal tax reasons. He said she continues adding personal staff members with the excuse that she covers the expense with her own salary. Taylor is about to go over budget for her office, he said.Boggs said Troyer is “tied to special interests” and is out of touch with the needs of East Tulsa.“He’s running as a Democrat and that really has nothing to do with it,” said Boggs, a Republican. “He doesn’t want to hear the other side of issues. You want someone who will look at both sides. He doesn’t return phone calls or e-mails.”Troyer was pushing a development that would put 5.2 lots on an acre with 1,100-1,300 square foot homes in an East Tulsa development. Boggs thinks the homes should be bigger with larger lots to spur retail development and match nearby neighborhoods.“We need quality, step-up homes,” Boggs said. “We can’t have just starter homes.”Troyer said he has supported the East Tulsa Metroplex, the redevelopment of Eastland Mall.Crime is a problem in East Tulsa and Boggs said he will push for more visible police patrols. Taylor promised more funding for police in her campaign two years ago but has cut funding for police academies.Despite funding for development of Route 66 in Vision 2025 in 2003, no improvements have been made outside downtown, Boggs said.Boggs believes the city should add parks, bike trails, antique car shows, motorcycle shows and other attractions along Route 66.“Route 66 in East Tulsa is an untapped resource,” Boggs said.Troyer admitted that so far, almost none of the Vision 2025 money has been spent in East Tulsa for Route 66. “I’ve been talking to them – the money will come,” he said.Boggs said the most important result of this election should be change.“We can’t let things go the way they are going,” Boggs said. “If they do, everyone will leave and Tulsa will become a cesspool.”Kevin Boggs• FedEx for more than 22 years• Soccer coach for NETS• Host and announcer for KRRR and KXOJ• Married 26 years, three children• Member of Victory Christian ChurchDennis Troyer• Tulsa resident for 25 years• Navy veteran• Machinist union member• Married 41 years• Retired from American Airlines