Another Tulsa recall in the works

The Tulsa city council <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=recall">recall</a></b> election is settled, but the <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=recall">recall</a></b>

Wednesday, July 13th 2005, 1:56 pm

By: News On 6

The Tulsa city council recall election is settled, but the recall issue is not. Two city councilors have a recall behind them, but four others, and the mayor - now face a second recall effort that's just beginning.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan talked with Mayor-council recall leader David O'Connor. "This city belongs to the people, not to the special interests and not to the lying thieving representatives we got in there, in those council districts and for sure not to that lying, thieving mayor."

David O'Connor is gathering signatures for a recall of Councilors Sullivan, Christiansen, Neal and Baker, and the Mayor. "We'll have the mayor out of office within 90 days if we can get people to come forward and put their signatures on a petition." Even though the organizers of the second recall are moving ahead with it, the timing of it could make it a moot point.

By the time the second recall election is set, those councilors could all be up for re-election. And the mayor - facing election in early 2006 - says he's not worried about being recalled before then. "If there are citizens out there who want to continue with that, I think they are going against what the public will is with recall, that expressed yesterday, but they're citizens who are free, we live in a free country."

The Medlock and Mautino recall, like many city issues, was decided by just a few voters. Chris Medlock's district has 30,494 registered voters, but just 4,183 voted - that's a 14% turnout. In Jim Mautino's district, 21,595 voters are registered, 3,703 people voted for a turnout of 17%.

The controversy on the city council probably helped the turnout and gave two councilors an early look at their chances for re-election next spring.