Current, Future Tulsa Mayors Prepare For Transition

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The race for Tulsa mayor is over and incoming Mayor Dewey Bartlett's transition to power - from leading an oil company to leading city government - started Thursday at City Hall.

The first meeting at Tulsa City Hall between Mayor Kathy Taylor and Mayor-Elect Bartlett happened Thursday. He got his first official briefing on the budget - with many more to come for the next month.

Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor welcomed her successor to the executive floor of City Hall. Mayor-Elect Dewey Bartlett has 25 days to learn what he can from the current management.

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"But there are still so many issues facing the city, to transition that knowledge, it still has to be a very focused task and we've been working on it for several months," said Mayor Kathy Taylor.

Taylor opened a transition office for Bartlett at City Hall, but he says he's not sure how much time he'll spend in there before Taylor leaves. Bartlett says he wants to take in all he can, but not impose.

"I'm not mayor; she is and I plan to be very, very respectful of that," Bartlett said.

Bartlett met with Taylor's management team in City Hall Thursday afternoon. They created a 250-page briefing on budget issues facing each department.

Another sales tax check will come in about the time Bartlett takes over.

"I think next month's number will give the mayor elect and staff sufficient information to know whether additional action needs to be taken," Taylor said.

Bartlett says he manages by walking around, though he admitted that's easier at his small oil company.

"So I'll have a lot of walking around to do.  But I think that's what I'll do, is walk around, talk to people, get to know things," said Mayor-Elect Dewey Bartlett.

Taylor says she will consult with Bartlett on any significant decision during the transition. The new mayor takes office the first Monday in December.