Tulsa Beacon endorsements
Here are the endorsements by the Tulsa Beacon for the Sept. 8 municipal primary election.
Mayor
Chris Medlock has the experience to run City Hall and the willpower to resist the selfish interests of the “good old boy” network and its manipulation of city government.
There are several good candidates in the race but Dewey Bartlett is not one of them. He is an elitist whose interests don’t extend beyond Midtown. Bartlett is a supporter of Kathy Taylor and would continue her policies.
The other Republican candidates are Anna Falling, David O’Connor, Paul Roales, Michael Tomes, Norris Streetman, Kevin Boggs, John Todd, Nathaniel Booth and Michael Rush.
On the Democrat side, State Sen. Tom Adelson should win easily and the Tulsa Beacon has no endorsement.
The other Democrats are Robert Gwin Jr., Paul Tay, Accountability Burns and Prophet Kelly Lamar Clark.
City auditor
Preston Doerflinger faces Lynn Ruemler in the GOP primary. We recommend Doerflinger.
Council District 2
Incumbent Republican Rick Westcott faces Barton Rhoades. We have no recommendation in this race.
Council District 4
Incumbent Eric Gomez is running against Rocky Frisco in the Republican primary.
We endorse Frisco. Gomez is out of touch with his constituents, as evidenced by his handling of the new homeless shelter at Yale Avenue and Admiral Boulevard. Gomez is more concerned with special interests downtown than the people who elected him.
In the Democrat primary, Maria Barnes faces Elizabeth Wright. We have no recommendation.
Council District 5
Republican incumbent Bill Martinson is running against Chris Trail. We have no recommendation.
Council District 6
Democrat incumbent Dennis Troyer faces Mario Choice. We have no recommendation in this race.
Former city councilor Jim Mautino is running against Tadd Weese in the Republican primary.
Mautino is a strong voice for accountability. He wants an external audit of the Public Works Department, which has an annual budget of more than $200 million. Mautino is the best choice for District 6 and has the full endorsement of the Tulsa Beacon.
Council District 8
Republican incumbent Bill Christiansen faces challengers Phil Lakin, Jr. and Scott Grizzle. We have no recommendation.
However, Phil Lakin would not be an independent voice for the residents of District 8. He is closely tied to the Bank of Oklahoma and to powerful business interests downtown and the chamber of commerce. He would be a terrible choice for Tulsa and District 8.
The primary election is Sept. 8 and the general election is Nov. 10. The primaries are “winner take all,” with the top vote getter advancing.