Tulsa Mayoral Candidate Calls Ad A Disgrace To Tulsa

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A new negative campaign ad sparks another war of words in the campaign to become Tulsa's next mayor.

"A disgrace to the city." That's what Democratic candidate Tom Adelson is calling the latest ad attacking his record on crime.

Republican candidate Dewey Bartlett is firing back, saying the campaign ad is true and he's standing by it.

• Ad: "Nothing the Tulsa mayor does is more important than keeping families safe. That's why Tom Adelson's record on crime is troubling."

Tom Adelson says it's not his record on crime, but this negative ad that should be troubling to voters.

"This ad is defamatory, slanderous and outright wrong and we will be taking action," said Tom Adelson, (D) Mayoral Candidate.

• Ad: "Adelson voted against the death penalty for twice convicted child molesters."

That's true.

Adelson did vote against two bills in 2006 that would have allowed the death penalty for repeat child molesters. But he says that law was unconstitutional and the U.S. Supreme Court agreed, striking it down in 2008.

• Ad: "He wouldn't even let the juries give child molesters life without parole."

No, that's not entirely accurate.

The law already allowed child molesters to be sentenced to life without parole and Adelson's 2006 votes didn't have any effect on that.

"I am someone who has actually supported chemical castration for the worst offenders, someone who thinks they should stay in jail forever," said Tom Adelson.

• Ad: "And Adelson voted for budget cuts for the Department of Public Safety."

Adelson disputes that claim.

He did vote for a general appropriations bill, which cut several agencies because of the state budget shortfall. And Adelson says just about every state representative and state senator voted the same way.

Adelson fires back it's Dewey Bartlett who wanted to take cops off the street, when he voted against an increase in funding for Tulsa Police, as a city councilor in 1992.

The Bartlett campaign says he voted against "a budget that would have resulted in layoffs and reduction of services, if they did not tighten the budget."

Dewey Bartlett says public safety is a major issue and his ad is a fair critique of Tom Adelson's crime record.

Adelson says he is tough on crime and he points to two bills he recently co-sponsored, cracking down on child predators.

WEB EXTRAS:

Statement From Adelson Campaign

Statement From Bartlett Campaign

10/14/2009  Related Story: Tulsa Budget, Streets, Public Safety Top Issues At Mayoral Forum