Political Action Committee 'Biz Pac' Won Big In Tulsa Election

Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Primary voters put four city council incumbents out of office, sending new candidates on to the general election.

While there were plenty of candidates Tuesday night, the biggest winner of all was the political action committee connected to the Chamber of Commerce. One of the common denominators behind the winners was the support of Biz Pac, founded by members of the Chamber.

Tulsa Biz Pac gave money to the campaign of Karen Gilbert and both supported and endorsed David Patrick. Both won their races against incumbent city councilors.

David Page leads Tulsa Biz Pac.

"Our focus was really more on making sure the people we talked to and might eventually support were people focused on leadership and diplomacy," said David Page of Tulsa Biz Pac.

David Patrick says he decided to run first, then got the support of the PAC.

"And I do appreciate their support because campaigns cost a lot of money, and if it wasn't for Biz Pac's generous people I couldn't afford this myself," said David Patrick, candidate for City Council District 3.

"I'm just a working man like everybody else."

And the PAC money helped overturn the council.

Of the current nine member city council - three incumbents - Eagleton, Westcott and Christiansen decided not to run for re-election. Voters turned on four other incumbents in the primary - Trail, Mautino, Barnes and Turner.

Only two incumbents survived the primary – G.T. Bynum and Jack Henderson - who were the only incumbents endorsed and supported by Tulsa Biz Pac.

"I think what that says is not so much about our efforts and what we did, but more that we were in tune with what the voters were thinking," said Biz Pac leader David Page.

Patrick says the $2,500 of Biz Pac money for his campaign is flattering, but won't influence his decisions.

"I take every donation whether it's $5 or $2,500 dollars, and I feel like everybody who gives me that feels like I'm the best person for the job," he said.

Only one of the candidates supported by BizPac did not win last night - that was Liz Hunt in District Four.