Bill Christiansen: He says the mudslinging leading up to the mayoral primary makes him question endorsing his fellow Republican.
Former City Councilor Bill Christiansen says he is unsure whether he will follow through on a promise to endorse Mayor Dewey Bartlett after losing Tuesday's primary election, saying mudslinging from Bartlett's campaign over the months has irked him and supporters.
"I think I said I probably would endorse him, yes, but I said that many months before he, in my opinion, started lying about me in his campaign," Christiansen said. "It's just hard to swallow, and I just have to make sure I'm endorsing the right person for the city of Tulsa."
Christiansen was quoted in news media early in the mayoral race saying he would endorse his fellow Republican if he were to lose in the primary, and he said after his concession speech Tuesday that "I've given my word that I will endorse him, and I am a man of my word."
He softened that Tuesday by adding that he would have to meet with Bartlett to make a final decision.
He said Wednesday that both Bartlett and former Mayor Kathy Taylor, a Democrat, have negatives and positives as candidates and that he will meet with both of them before making an endorsement decision. No endorsement is also a possibility, he said.
He said he plans to take a weeklong vacation with family before arranging the meetings and would likely make a decision by early August.
Taylor captured 42 percent of Tuesday's vote over Bartlett's 34 percent and Christiansen's 23 percent. The candidates competed directly as part of the city's new nonpartisan election system.
Taylor and Bartlett will compete again in the Nov. 12 general election, and both will focus on swaying Christiansen supporters.
But many of those supporters are bitter after months of mudslinging from Bartlett, including efforts to paint Christiansen as the "big union" candidate, mailers linking Christiansen to Taylor's decision to move City Hall and live cold calls spreading incorrect information, Christiansen said.
"A lot of them are very upset," he said of his supporters. "I've got to tell you, it upset a lot of the people that were there last night (at Christiansen's watch party). I can't tell you how many came up to me and said Bartlett did not put his best foot forward with all the things he was saying about me."
Bartlett's Campaign Manager Dan Patten, who has contended that the mayor has been the target of substantial mudslinging from Christiansen's campaign, said campaigns are "not necessarily the prettiest process."
"But I think at the end of the day, people that are involved in politics and Christiansen supporters, they'll look at Bartlett and Kathy Taylor and see which one of those candidates lines up with their political ideologies," he said.
He said he had lunch with Christiansen supporters Wednesday as the campaign began efforts to appeal to the group.
"We do plan on getting the support of our fellow Republicans," Patten said. "I think Republicans will come together and get behind the Republican candidate, and that's Dewey Bartlett."
Josh McFarland, Christiansen's campaign manager, said Christiansen has run a largely clean campaign.
Christiansen said he will keep his options open in running for a political office at some point but has no specific plans. In the meantime, he plans to remain active in local issues, McFarland said.
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Endorsing Bartlett not a given, says ex-councilor
