FORMER Tulsa County DA to run for Tulsa mayor

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ A former Tulsa County district attorney, whose uncle once served as mayor, has announced his intention to run for the post. <br><br>Flanked by his family and influential supporters,

Tuesday, July 10th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ A former Tulsa County district attorney, whose uncle once served as mayor, has announced his intention to run for the post.

Flanked by his family and influential supporters, Bill LaFortune said Monday he has a vision of a united Tulsa.

``I know our past, and I'm committed to our future,'' LaFortune, 43, said as his uncle, former Tulsa Mayor Robert LaFortune, looked on.

``Whether it is economic development, creating jobs, increasing public safety so that we move toward becoming `America's Safest City,' protecting our valuable water resources or assisting our public schools, I believe I am the most-qualified person to address these issues.''

Tulsa City Councilors Sam Roop, Brady Pringle and Clay Bird attended the announcement to show their support of LaFortune, a Republican.

``He's definitely the man for the job,'' Roop said.

Bird and Roop earlier expressed interest in running for the post, but Bird said they changed their minds after learning that LaFortune would seek the office.

``Bill LaFortune is the best-suited individual to come out,'' Bird said. ``He can make a difference.''

Pringle said the councilors' early endorsement is a ``testament on just how strongly we feel about him being the right candidate at the right time.''

LaFortune practices law at the firm of Normam Wohlegmuth Chandler & Dowdell, where he has been a shareholder and director since 1998.

He served as Tulsa County district attorney from 1995 to 1998 and was an assistant attorney general from 1990 to 1993 before being appointed to a Tulsa County special judgeship.

LaFortune also was a Tulsa County assistant district attorney from 1988 to 1990.