Tulsa Mayor's Aide Resignation Email Released

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK --  The News On 6 has obtained the email an aide to Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett sent to the mayor to resign his position.

On Tuesday morning Mayor Bartlett told The News On 6 that Stuart McCalman had submitted his resignation after the mayor had reassigned him over emails the aide had sent to Tulsa city councilors.

4/12/2010 Related story: Tulsa Mayor: Reassigned Aide Submits Resignation

In his resignation email, McCalman says recent events hurt his health and his family.

"It has been my privilege and honor to serve you in this city but recent events, in my view, have made it almost impossible to do my job effectively. I have breached a trust and you and your staff deserve better."

The resignation follows a series of emails McCalman sent to the Tulsa City Council over concerns about police layoffs.

In the emails McCalman said the Mayor's office knew it didn't have to lay off officers before getting a federal grant to save those jobs, but did it anyway.

McCalman asked for his emails to be deleted after they were read, but they were later released to the public.  Mayor Bartlett changed McCalman's job responsibilities after the release of the emails and McCalman resigned from his job as Director of Governmental and Veterans Affairs Monday night.

Tulsa City Councilor Jack Henderson is calling McCalman a hero and believes he was forced out.

"He thought he saw something that was wrong, and he tried to make it right by letting some people know that he felt could make a difference, and because he did that, I think that's why he's not here today," said Jack Henderson.

The Tulsa City Council will continue its own investigation into Terry Simonson, the Mayor's chief of staff.

Whether McCalman will figure in to that investigation is not clear.

Email from McCalman to Mayor Dewey Bartlett:

Mayor,

I planned on putting time on your calendar tomorrow but feel it is appropriate to go ahead and send note now as well. In light of recent events it is with tremendous sorrow and regret that I have drawn the conclusion that you and this Administration would be better served by me no longer serving in the capacity as your Director of Governmental and Veterans Affairs and I therefore provide you my notice to leave the service to you and this great city. I know 2 to 4 weeks is customary for such a transition to physical departure but I leave it in your wise hands to determine what is appropriate and needed. I have a number of vacation days remaining and if you deem it appropriate, these could be used to time any announcement you may wish to make.

It has been my privilege and honor to serve both you in this city but recent events, in my view, have made it almost impossible to do my job effectively on the 15th floor and I believe my continued presence would only serve to make others uncomfortable as well. I have breached a trust and you and your staff deserve better. This city needs better.

I hope you know that I take none of this with any degree of levity as the events of the last week have not only damaged my soul, but it is affecting my health significantly not to mention the great strain this has placed upon my wife and family. If nothing else, my departure is for them. It is time for me to stop being a burden to you and them.

As for last Thursday and Friday, it is my duty to report the following:

Thursday, April 8: spent calling Congressional staff (Lucas, Inhofe) to discuss events and to ensure that relationship between this Administration and their office had not been impacted. Visited personally with Congressman John Sullivan and his staff for same purpose. Attended Veterans briefing from 1130AM-2PM that included presentation by AG Drew Edmundson. Met with Erin Conrad to cover and discuss support for COT appropriations requests and continued support for COT priorities

Friday, April 9: spent morning with Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa Air and Space Museum to cover in-depth the upcoming air show and the attendance and logistics as related to Congressional Delegation, state leaders and NASA officials. Additionally discussed continued shuttle efforts with Jim. Had lunch and meeting with Sen. Coburn staff (Brian Treat) to discuss federal priorities and ensure support. Then spent afternoon in Muskogee at VA regional center to meet with Jim Becker (VA Public Affairs Director) and staff to coordinate their presence and actions at upcoming TASM air show and separate "Medal of Honor" day to ensure Tulsa veterans community is served with assistance and communications.

Regretfully,

Stuart