Tulsa Mayor Responds To Ethics Violation Report

NewsOn6.com & Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett disagrees with a report released Thursday accusing him of violating two sections of the city's ethics code.

Read part of the report

Mayor Bartlett released a statement Friday saying he will file a response with the Ethics Advisory Committee Monday, but wont say anything else.

The complaint that started the investigation came from the Tulsa City Council last August. They complained Bartlett was getting free legal advice, a gift potentially worth thousands of dollars.

The ethics report, released by Tulsa City Auditor Clift Richards, claims Bartlett created an appearance of impropriety when he accepted free and personal legal advice from city contractor and attorney Joel Wohlgemuth back in August.

The report also claims the relationship between the mayor and Wohlgemuth leaves the perception of influence.

The report cleared the Mayor of other claims, concluding there was no city money spent for the mayor's representation and that the Mayor did not conduct city business with contractor while he was being represented. The Auditor also found the Mayor has no financial relationship with Wohlgemuth.

According to the ethics ordinance, the auditor makes the final judgement on ethics complaints. His office considers the matter settled and has no plans for the hearing the Mayor is expecting.

05/19/2011 Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Violated Ethics Code, Report Says