Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett: I'm Owed An Apology

NewsOn6.com & Ashli Sims, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett says he's owed an apology from the City Council after an attempt to ouster him was deemed invalid. He made the comments during a news conference Friday.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt ruled Friday he does not support a petition filed by Tulsa city councilor John Eagleton to remove the mayor from office.

5/25/2011 Related Story: Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Warns City Council On 'Privilege' 

"I wonder if they will apologize and I hope they do. Because we are owed an apology in my humble opinion," Mayor Dewey Bartlett said.

City Councilor John Eagleton launched the effort back in March asking Attorney General Scott Pruitt to investigate ten allegations of misconduct, including lying to the council, violating the ethics code, and trying to trade favors with a councilor.

Pruitt tossed out the request for not having enough valid signatures. He also said the allegations against Bartlett deal with violations of local law, not state law, and therefore aren't grounds to be kicked out of office.

Read Attorney General's Response to John Eagleton's Petition For Ouster.

Mayor Bartlett said certain Tulsa City Councilors wasted taxpayer's time pursuing baseless attacks against his character, wife and lawyer.

"Hopefully, now it's come to an end, now it's come to an end, I hope," he said.

Councilor Eagleton said he's disappointed and disagrees with the attorney general's opinion, but he accepts it. He still stands by his claims that Mayor Bartlett shouldn't keep his job.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Mayor Bartlett has breached his oath of office to such an extent that he is affirmatively unfit for the position of trust and responsibility that he holds. He should be removed from office," Eagleton said.

Bartlett's attorney Joel Wohlgemuth called the complaint submitted to the AG's Office by the City Council an "unprecedented abuse of power."

In May, Governor Mary Fallin denied a request by Eagleton to investigate Mayor Dewey Bartlett.

5/11/2011 Related Story: Governor Denies Councilor's Request To Call For Investigation Into Tulsa Mayor

So will this be the end of the council's turf war with the mayor?

"The new council will take over fairly soon. It might be time for me to stand down, but we will wait and see. I'm going to think about it over the weekend," Eagleton said.

Councilor Eagleton clearly left the door open there. He says there are at least six avenues that he could take, but he would not elaborate.

News On 6 asked him if he would apologize to the mayor and he said he would consider it.