Tulsa Mayor Draws Line - On Facebook

<p>The primary is two months away, but campaigning for Tulsa mayor is underway - with some opinions aired on social media. </p>

Thursday, April 14th 2016, 3:03 pm

By: News On 6

The primary is two months away, but campaigning for Tulsa mayor is underway - with some opinions aired on social media.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett is running for a third term, and his main challenger is Tulsa City Councilor G.T. Bynum.

Bartlett took to Facebook to accuse Bynum of mudslinging, saying his administration established the framework for the Vision tax package. Bynum says the mayor doesn't deserve sole credit because a lot of people worked to make it happen.

Bartlett's post includes the statement:

"I had to draw a line in the sand, and refuse to budge, because Councilor Bynum and his backers fought for months and months against my plan.

It is very well known that I laid down three hard line conditions for my support of Vision.

1. There would not be a tax increase taking more from the pockets of hard-working Tulsans.
2. Public safety would be a chief priority and component of the package.
3. Each community in the greater Tulsa metropolitan area would decide what Vision package was best for its citizens.

Remember the gnashing of teeth that followed? I do."

Fellow Councilor Blake Ewing responded, challenging Bartlett to find one member of the council who would confirm the mayor's words.

Ewing replied to Bartlett's post with, in part:

"We remember what really happened. We remember that you were absentee through the process. We remember that you contributed almost nothing. We remember you having no plan, no vision of your own, and no big ideas about how to advance the city. We remember how you recommended cuts to education, north Tulsa, and low-income healthcare services. We remember that you stood there last Tuesday and took credit for the work of others. We remember you wasting your time fighting with the county over the jail instead of working towards compromise and progress. We remember when we stood up for law enforcement when you tried to screw them over. We remember the truth, Mayor."