Tulsa City Election Candidates Weigh In On Government Reform

The Tulsa City election is this coming Tuesday. Candidates are on the ballot, but so are competing plans to change the form of government.

It turns out most of the candidates running for city council said the contention at city hall played a part in their decision to run. Despite that, almost all oppose changing the form of government.

Most of the current city councilors want the form of government changed. But almost all of the people running for council don't agree with them.

"Now is not a good time to go change the government," Thomas Mansur said.

"I'm opposed to all the ballot items," G.T. Bynum said.

"The form of government isn't the problem; I'm in this with the feeling that the problem is the people in government," Byron Steele said.

The candidates who want to be part of city hall largely agree that the form of government isn't the problem.

"It really boils down to key people, who you elect, if you elect good people, you'll have good government," David Patrick said.

"The form of government we have I believe is adequate to serve the form of government," Michael Rainwater said.

"My personal thoughts are that I would retain the strong mayor form of government," William Suliburk said.

The only candidate who outright supports a different form of government is Phillip Oyler.

"I favor the council's position, as far as making the mayor part of the team," Oyler said.

"My official thing is no change or just the city manager format," Robert Gwin Jr. said.

Candidate Mike Batman opposes the charter changes.  Phil Lakin says he's opposed to three of the charter changes, but favors restoring councilors' terms to 2 years.

Ken Brune supports the change to non-partisan races, David Bell does not.

Stay with the News on Six for complete election coverage Tuesday. We'll have results plus analysis of the races.