Mayor Dewey Bartlett and former Mayor Kathy Taylor are headed to November's ballot in Tulsa's first nonpartisan mayoral general election.
Taylor captured 42 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary election, taking a definitive lead over Bartlett's 34 percent and former City Councilor Bill Christiansen's 23 percent.
By combining for more than 50 percent of the vote, Taylor and Bartlett avoided a multicandidate runoff election in August and will compete again Nov. 12, when both feel they have the best chance.
"We ran first tonight, and we will run first in November," Taylor told supporters at her watch party in downtown Tulsa. "Two-thirds of Tulsans tonight voted to elect a different mayor."
Bartlett said he will work hard to attract Christiansen supporters in the general election. Christiansen, meanwhile, said he would offer to endorse his fellow Republican.
"We certainly don't want to assume that they are going to support us," Bartlett said of Christiansen supporters. "We have to make our presentation to each and every one of them, and we will do that.
"I think they will like what they hear."
With all 196 precincts reporting, the State Election Board showed Taylor with 24,495 votes to Bartlett's 19,937 and Christiansen's 13,476. Perennial candidate Lawrence Kirkpatrick and political first-timer Jerry DeWayne Branch combined for 340 votes.
Tuesday's turnout was 29.3 percent of registered voters - more than was projected by the Tulsa County Election Board and well above the average turnout for the last three mayoral primaries. It was slightly lower than the turnout for the last three general elections, which drew an average of 31.3 percent of registered voters.
Taylor, who hoped to capture more than 50 percent of the vote and win the race outright by the new nonpartisan system's rules, said she was thrilled by the results nevertheless.
The 57-year-old Democrat who was mayor from 2006-2009 told supporters that she will now go back to work shoring up what she hopes will be wide nonpartisan support in the general election.
"All the votes have been counted, and while I stand before you as the candidate with the most votes, we know there is more work to do to secure a vibrant future for Tulsa," she said. "We will continue to put our city's progress first because potholes aren't Democrats and crime isn't Republican or independent, and our future - Tulsa's future - must rise above our politics."
She dismissed the idea that Republican voters will back Bartlett in November, arguing that Tuesday's results indicate that voters simply want change - not a candidate from a certain political party.
"To me, it says that citizens are dissatisfied with progress in our city, with the vision for Tulsa's future," she told the Tulsa World. "They don't believe that we're moving fast enough or clear enough for the greatness that Tulsa can be and has been.
"To get 42 percent in this race against an incumbent, that's exciting."
Bartlett, 66, said he believes voters responded to his call for continuity of leadership in the Mayor's Office and his verifiable record.
"It really does show that we have a good, successful track record, and good things have happened," he told the World. "That is what I really attribute it to."
He said he would begin looking forward to the fall election as early as Wednesday.
"We'll have a series of meetings (to say), OK, let's look at what we did, what we can do to improve, what the next step is - various things," Bartlett said. "Plus, I am still running the city of Tulsa. We'll have those meetings, too."
He added that he is not concerned about the long campaign leading up to the November election or the fundraising advantage the Taylor campaign has had thus far.
Taylor has raised $1.3 million to his $476,855.
"I don't think we will have to do too much differently because even with that 3-to-1 advantage in spending, I don't believe she really gained a lot of traction," Bartlett said.
"We were able to use our record and accomplishments and focus on the interests of the citizens of Tulsa - the basic things: transportation issues, infrastructure, the economy, job creation, public safety that is what we will continue to focus on, in my view, for the next several months."
Christiansen, 65, said he spoke with Taylor and Bartlett on the phone and congratulated them on making it to the general election. He told a crowd at his south Tulsa watch party that there was a silver lining to the loss.
"The greatest thing about not winning is I'll be able to spend time with my granddaughter," he said.
"We had a really good campaign I just feel very fortunate to have been able to run. I love Tulsa, and I will continue to love Tulsa."
He told the World that he would likely give Bartlett his support during the general election in November.
"I've given my word that I will endorse him, and I am a man of my word," he said. "(Bartlett) and I have to get together and make that final decision, but I take my word very seriously."
The next mayor will take office in December for a three-year term.
Beginning in 2016, the mayor will be elected to four-year terms.
World staff writer Samantha Vicent contributed to this story.
What's next
Mayor's race: The top two vote-getters, Mayor Dewey Bartlett and former Mayor Kathy Taylor, proceed to the Nov. 12 general election.
Auditor's race: The top two vote-getters, Cathy Criswell and Clift Richards, proceed to the Nov. 12 general election.
District 3 County Commission: Republican special primary winner Ron Peters faces Democrat John Bomar in the Aug. 13 special general election.
Tulsa Mayoral Primary
196 of 196 precincts - 100%
x-Kathy Taylor 24,495 42%
x-Dewey Bartlett 19,937 34%
Bill Christensen 13,476 23%
x-Advance to Nov. 12 general election
tulsaworld.com
Kevin Canfield 918-581-8313 Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
kevin.canfield@tulsaworld.com zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Taylor, Bartlett advance
