Tulsa’s 3 Mayoral Candidates Explain Their Positions

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- With Tulsa's mayoral election next week, Tulsa's three candidates sat down for a forum Sunday afternoon at All Souls Unitarian Church to explain their views.

Dewey Bartlett and Tom Adelson agree with saving money by not allowing Tulsa police officers, who live outside the city, to drive their vehicles home. They're calling on the FOP to consider changing their contract to save that money.

10/28/2009  Related Story: Two City Councilors Ask Tulsa FOP To Give Up Take-Home Cars

Bartlett, Adelson and Mark Perkins all agree the city of Tulsa is too reliant on sales tax, and will look at more creative ways to generate funding.

Other than that, the candidates had different takes on a host of pressing issues.

"They want good roads, good schools, economic development, safe streets," said Mark Perkins (I), mayoral candidate.

About 100 voters attended the Sunday forum.

Republican Dewey Bartlett has pledged more audits of city departments to reveal waste and unnecessary spending.

"We have to look at where we're wasting money, what we can do to consolidate and make things work more effectively. I propose from day one the use of an energy audit," said Dewey Bartlett (R), mayoral candidate.

Democratic candidate Tom Adelson says Tulsa's pro-business attitude isn't translating into population growth and retail spending. He wants the city to help recruit new teachers to Tulsa, using housing subsidies if necessary. He wants more amenities and development in downtown.

"We also want to work very closely with Career Tech and Workforce Tulsa to make sure if there are any job training issues that our local employers need, that we can meet those immediately," said Tom Adelson (D), mayoral candidate.

Independent candidate Mark Perkins says he believes in a solutions-based approach to the job. He says economic issues like public safety and job growth are nonpartisan, and wants to work with both parties.

"Instead of creating divisions within Tulsa, we need to work with anybody, from any party, that's willing to contribute their time, their talent, their brains to help us solve these problems," said Mark Perkins (I).

The general election is November 10.

10/26/2009  Related Story: Tulsa Mayoral Candidates Discuss Preserving Public Safety