Tulsa mayoral candidates line up endorsements

With less than three weeks left in the race for Tulsa mayor, the candidates are looking for a boost to carry them over the finish line. Both Democrat Kathy Taylor and Republican Bill LaFortune appear

Thursday, March 16th 2006, 10:22 am

By: News On 6

With less than three weeks left in the race for Tulsa mayor, the candidates are looking for a boost to carry them over the finish line. Both Democrat Kathy Taylor and Republican Bill LaFortune appear to have gotten one.

News on 6 reporter Steve Berg says Mayor Bill LaFortune looks to be shoring up support within his party.

Meanwhile Kathy Taylor has gotten a powerful stamp of approval from police. Darin Filak with Tulsaâ€™s FOP: â€œwe need a mayor who will address the number one issue today in Tulsa and that issue is crime." Kathy Taylor got some powerful ammo Thursday courtesy of the Fraternal Order of Police. "I'm happy to have these great partners, people who lay down their lives every single day for this city to protect your family, to protect my family, to protect my home."

The FOP has been alienated by Mayor LaFortune almost from the beginning, starting with his controversial settlement of the black officerâ€™s lawsuit, to his recent dismissal of Chief Dave Been. Darin Filak: "The police pay index, Tulsa is continually slipping behind the other cities on the basis of wages and compensation and such and just everything that's happened since he's become Mayor has not been positive for our police department."

And while crime is unquestionably the hot topic, Tulsa firefighters are lining up with Mayor LaFortune. Their pay and staffing issues are similar to the police's. In fact, Firefighters Union head Dennis Moseby says he sat with police in some of the same negotiations with the Mayor and says LaFortune did all he could do given the economy. "He's always wanted to help us out when he can, and he's always kept his word. And now with the revenues coming back and things looking good for everybody and you know he just needs another four years to continue what he's doing."

A fractured Republican party meanwhile appears to be coming together, with Tulsa Countyâ€™s GOP's executive committee voting Wednesday night to support LaFortune. Jerry Buchanan: "All of these folks that are on this committee that make up these different groups came together, and to have a unanimous vote, that is almost unheard of."

LaFortune still doesn't have endorsements from his former Republican challengers "themselves", Chris Medlock and Randi Miller.

The X-factor for Taylor meanwhile could be Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, who says he's looking into the allegations that she committed voter fraud.