Taylor can’t handle city duties plus race for re-election
Citing her inability to run the city and campaign for re-election at the same time, Mayor Kathy Taylor will not seek a second term in November.
“I’m a business person, not a politician, and you have seen that time and again,” she said.
In a press release, Taylor gave herself credit for the following:
• The downtown arena
“We have opened a world-class arena…” she said.
Ex-mayor Bill LaFortune was in office when county voters approved the Vision 2025 sales tax that funded the downtown arena. Taylor went to county officials for more than $60 million in additional sales tax revenue to make up for overruns on the arena.
• A new City Hall
“(We) moved city hall to a modern and high-tech new space…,” Taylor said.
Taylor used a secret report from the Roger Staubach company in Dallas to convince city councilors - without a vote of the people - to spend more than $75 million for a new City Hall. That report stated that the fiscal solvency of the acquisition hinged on sale of the old city hall and the leasing of excess space in the new facility. Even though Taylor paid more than $300,000 up front to an out-of-state real estate firm to market those properties, nothing has been sold or leased.
• Revitalization of downtown
“(We have) seen amazing progress on the revitalization of downtown…” Taylor said.
As Tulsa taxpayers have spent more than $400 million on downtown revitalization, Taylor talked the city councilors into approving more than $25 million in new taxes in a controversial assessment district to build a downtown baseball park without a vote of the people.
• Streets
“(We) made a significant commitment to our streets infrastructure…” Taylor said.
In 2008, Taylor wanted a $2 billion tax increase for street improvement. After being told such a gigantic tax increase wouldn’t pass, Taylor settled for a package of $451.6 million and with the help of the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce, it passed. Because of a federal investigation and subsequent indictment of two former managers in the Public Works Department, that promised street work was delayed for months while officials looked for more corruption.
• City planning
“…thousands of Tulsans have given us their input through our city’s comprehensive planning process,” Taylor said.
Taylor is pushing PlaniTulsa, a new comprehensive plan modeled after a United Nations model and sold to the public through a series of tightly controlled planning meetings.
• Taxing and spending
“Because of the serious budget and economic challenges we are facing, the next 6 months are going to be pivotal and frankly, very difficult for our city,” Taylor said. “Tough decisions will have to be made that may not be popular, but they will be fiscally responsible - and they will help secure Tulsa’s future.”
Taylor failed to keep a campaign promise to add police officers to deter crime. Now she wants to give unpaid furloughs to city employees, including policemen and firemen.
While she agreed to a $7 million payment to Bank of Oklahoma for a lawsuit settlement concerning the failed Great Plains Airlines, her new budget will have to include cuts of at least $10 million because of the decline in the sales tax base in the city. She raised virtually every fee in the city and she has promised higher utility rates, which have increased more than 50 percent in her term.
“All of these initiatives and many many more have culminated in a record of amazing progress for the city we love,” Taylor said.
“The Oklahoma Democratic Party would like to applaud Mayor Kathy Taylor for her years of service to the people of Tulsa,” said Todd Goodman, chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. “On her watch, the city has seen significant improvements to public safety, education and economic growth.
“… She’s an outstanding leader who has been a loyal Democrat, yet has an incredible ability to reach across the aisle to get things done.”
Because Taylor is a millionaire and can finance her own campaign, there has been speculation that she will seek a higher office. She denied that she is looking toward another race.
One possibility would be a run for the First District Congressional seat. U.S. Sen. John Sullivan is in the Betty Ford Center for treatment of his alcoholism and it is uncertain what his political future holds. That could be an open seat in 2010.
Taylor denied being interviewed for a potential spot in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She would not confirm an interest in running for lieutenant governor, which will be open in 2010 because Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, a Democrat, is running for governor.
No Democrat has announced a run for mayor. Former city councilor Tom Baker and attorney Doug Dodd have been mentioned as potential candidates. County Commissioner Karen Keith, a liberal Democrat, has been the subject of speculation for a run for mayor but she has only been in office for a few months. Businesswoman Sharon King Davis is a Democrat who might consider a race.
Councilor Jack Henderson, a Democrat, has not indicated an interest to run for mayor.
On the Republican side, David O’Connor has been campaigning for the GOP nod for a year. Businessman Clay Clark recently announced his plan to run as a Republican and Kevin Boggs has said he will run for mayor.
The exit of Taylor has fueled speculation that former State Sen. Jim Williamson would reconsider the race. Former city councilor Chris Medlock, who narrowly lost to incumbent Bill LaFortune in 2006, has stirred some interest. Councilors Bill Christiansen and Rick Westcott, registered Republicans who have supported Taylor’s tax initiatives, are considering a run. Councilor Bill Martinson might also enter the race.
The filing period is in July and the election in November.