Policies take a back seat in Bartlett-Adelson campaigns
As Tulsans prepare to go to the polls Nov. 10, information about the policies of the candidates for mayor is being lost amid negative TV attack ads.
Republican Dewey Bartlett, Jr. faces Democrat Sen. Tom Adelson on Nov. 10 at the top of the city ballot.
Adelson, who has refused an interview with the Tulsa Beacon, is advocating a consolidation of municipal governments and county functions in Tulsa County.
He would like to see Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks, Glenpool, Sand Springs and Collinsville become one in controlling county parks, economic development, transportation, police and fire protection and other basic government services.
“All communities in Tulsa County face ever-increasing infrastructure costs and reliance on sales tax,” Adelson says on his website.”Each of them offers similar city services upon which residents depend.
“Following consolidation with surrounding Clarke County, government spending dropped by nearly 10 percent in Athens, Georgia while their finance costs on loans declined by 16 percent. Indianapolis, Ind., likewise experienced.
“As mayor, I will initiate a new discussion with surrounding cities, towns and Tulsa County about how we can work together toward a more efficient form of government… At a minimum, I believe we should have a zero-tolerance for service duplication.”
Adelson praised Mayor Kathy Taylor for her “Greater Tulsa Health Access Network,” a move to put personal medical records online rather than having doctors and hospitals maintain their individuality.
“Evidence shows that an interconnected health care delivery system will both improve the quality of care and lower its cost,” Adelson states. “Until now, the health care industry has been slow to adopt this technology. That has to change.”
Adelson supports efforts to reform health care by the Obama Administration.
Adelson agrees with Taylor’s decision to take federal bailout money (with strings attached) to temporarily hire 18 more policemen.
Adelson supported the $452 million tax increase for roads and he has indicated he will push for more taxation for streets. He wants more money for “mass transit”, more sidewalks and bicycle trails.
“We need to be smart about land development, about how our city grows,” Adelson said.
Adelson is supportive of PlaniTulsa and efforts to reshape Tulsa’s Comprehensive Plan.
Adelson would like to continue Taylor’s policies and management style.
“To me, public service is one of the highest callings, and I believe that effective leadership can make all the difference,” Adelson states. “Mayor Kathy Taylor proved that. She led a street improvement package that is vital to Tulsa’s infrastructure. She oversaw the construction and opening of the BOK Center. She modernized city government. She spearheaded PlaniTulsa for communitywide planning on Tulsa’s Future. She made the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park a reality. I am proud of her record.”
Adelson poses with members of Leadership Tulsa in a posting on his website.
Leadership Tulsa is a group that was formed more than 30 years ago as a joint venture of the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Junior League of Tulsa. The group’s officers include President-elect John Stancavage, business editor of the Tulsa World, Jeff Stava of the Tulsa Community Foundation and Renee Jacobs of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Board members come from the Bank of Oklahoma, Matrix Architects, CITGO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and other downtown business interests.
According to its website, “Our Mission is to identify, develop and connect diverse leaders who impact the community through service.” A critic said the “true mission of Leadership Tulsa is to indoctrinate newcomers to the Tulsa political power structure to make sure they follow the party line.”
The group’s on-line directory of members is password protected.
Bartlett has pledged that if elected, he will not raise taxes.
“My first priority as mayor will be keeping our citizens safe,” Bartlett states on his website. “Any budget I present will adequately fund our police force and fire departments. Without raising taxes, I will find ways to increase the number of police officers patrolling our streets and neighborhoods. A fixed budget will sometimes force one to choose what is most important, but my budget will pay for public safety first.”
Bartlett said he wants to encourage economic development, particularly in terms of Tulsa International Airport.
“We must reduce government regulation so that it is easier for businesses to grow and expand in Tulsa,” Bartlett said. “I will roll out the red carpet instead of the red tape when we have a chance for growth and development in Tulsa. We are blessed with relatively inexpensive energy due to our proximity to refineries and I plan to promote this selling point when recruiting jobs and businesses to our city.”
Bartlett did support Taylor for re-election before she withdrew from the race and was listed on her website under “Republicans for Taylor.” Taylor named Bartlett to the airport authority and she had him head a committee charged with coming up with a tax increase for streets in 2008.
“I have devoted years of my life as a private sector business and civic leader to promoting and finding ways to improve our roads and bridges,” Bartlett wrote. “I served as the volunteer co-chair of the citizens’ streets task force this past year. The task force sent numerous ideas to the Tulsa City Council, which then crafted the plan that was sent to a vote of the people. I will ensure that the recently passed streets package is closely monitored in my administration and that it is implemented on time and under budget.”
While on that committee, Bartlett entertained the idea of making the Broken Arrow Expressway a toll road.
While on the airport board, Bartlett voted for giving $7.1 million to the Bank of Oklahoma in a court settlement negotiated by Taylor over a defaulted loan to BOK from the bankrupt Great Plains Airlines. Taylor was on the board of Bank of Oklahoma just before she took office in 2006.
Independent candidate Mark Perkins did not respond to a request for an interview by the Tulsa Beacon.
NOVEMBER 10 BALLOT
Mayor
Republican -
Dewey Bartlett, Jr.
Democrat - Tom Adelson
Independent - Mark Perkins
Independent -
Lawrence Kirkpatrick
Auditor
Republican - Preston Doerflinger
Democrat - Phil Wood
*District 1 City Council
Democrat Jack Henderson was unopposed.
*District 2 City Council
Republican Rick Westcott won the primary and is unopposed.
District 3 City Council
Republican - Karl Hulcher
Democrat - Roscoe Turner, Sr.
Independent - David Patrick
District 4 City Council
Republican - Eric Gomez
Democrat - Maria Barnes
*District 5 City Council
Chris Trail won the Republican primary and is unopposed.
District 6 City Council
Republican - James Mautino
Democrat - Dennis Troyer
*District 7 City Council
Republican John Eagleton was unopposed.
*District 8 City Council
Republican Bill Christiansen won the primary and is unopposed.
District 9 City Council
Republican - G.T. Bynum
Democrat - Roger D. Lowry
Proposition 1
Shall the existing charter of the City of Tulsa, as heretofore amended, be further amended to require that any person filing for and holding the office of city auditor must be a certified public accountant or certified internal auditor?
Proposition 2
Shall the charter of the City of Tulsa be amended to provide that city councilors will serve for three-year terms, which shall be staggered so that no more than three council districts will have an election in any one year?
Proposition 3
“Shall the charter of the City of Tulsa be amended to require that before any claim or lawsuit where the demand is equal to or greater than $1 million ($1,000,000) may be settled both the mayor and the city council must agree to the settlement?”
· No race on November 10.