DowntownNow, (9/23/2009 5:38:30 PM)

Certainly well spoken and concise in his rhetoric so far. Mr. Mark Perkins could easily become the under dog candidate. I would like to see more debates and information from this young man as to how he will precisely handle these issues and the team he plans to put in place to replace the mediocrity assembled by this current adminstration.

nomosoetoro, Tulsa (9/23/2009 5:55:49 PM)

I like Perkins because it seems that he is not obligated to any of the usual suspects around town. This may not be the case, but I am impressed with how he is doing it, and I think Tulsa needs a change from the old ways. We need to hear more and I think that we will. I would like to hear him talk about a broom, badly needed at City Hall.

Mar, Tulsa (9/23/2009 6:00:34 PM)

"...A registered Republican, Perkins filed as an independent, which he says frees him from being beholden to party rhetoric. ..."

That always bothers me when a person switches political parties just to run as a candidate in an election.

I'm on the fence as to who I'll vote for at this time. But Bartlett not getting involved in healthy debates about the issues is not making me lean to his side. If he is so busy now with other commitments, how will he do as mayor? Only show up half the time for meetings, etc.?

As for Adelson, I saw an ad ran on tv yesterday for the Adelson campaign running down Bartlett. Most people don't want to watch candidates run each other down. Most people want to know what YOU as a candidate if you became mayor you would do for the citizens.

Thunder196, Tulsa (9/23/2009 6:01:22 PM)

Bartlett is so thrilled about Tulsa his ad, on TV asking to be our mayor, shows Oklahoma City in the back ground, NOT Tulsa.
.
Bartlett won't make any statement of commitment about anything. That way he can't be held accountable for not honoring his campaign pledges.

Rupert Shootman, Tulsa (9/23/2009 6:31:28 PM)

Well said Thunder.

The A Team, (9/23/2009 9:54:58 PM)

I'm glad Perkins is calling Bartlett out for dodging debates, but something is bugging me about his campaign. Isn't Perkins still registered to vote as a Republican, but filed as an Independent candidate to run for Mayor? That seems really peculiar, if you are swearing off partisanship, why not change your voter registration to Independent? It makes me question if he has political ambitions beyond being Mayor.

At least Bartlett's paid politicos spelled his name right this time in his negative attack ads, even though they spelled interview wrong. Since he hires political consultants who can't even spell and don't know the difference between the OKC skyline and Tulsa's skyline, it makes me wonder how competent the staff he hires or the appointments he makes will be?

ProTulsa, (9/23/2009 10:53:33 PM)

A Team. I understand your thoughts. First, I do fully support nonpartisan elections. The result would be an increased emphasis on ideas and leadership, rather than on party politics and money.

Second, until we transition to nonpartisan elections I am stuck with the system we have...and under that system I would disenfranchise myself from being able to vote in the primary for my own city councilor, or in the primary for state and national elections.

Independent is not a party, it is a state of mind. Hope this helps.

The A Team, (9/23/2009 11:51:52 PM)

If and until Mr. Perkins changes his voter registration to Independent, I view him as an Independent and a Republican in name only. I think it lacks integrity to try and have it both ways.

RedGloves, Tulsa (9/24/2009 6:08:38 AM)

Mar asks,"If he [Bartlett] is so busy now with other commitments, how will he do as mayor? Only show up half the time for meetings, etc.?"

That's my beef with Bartlett. He says he'll be mayor on his lunch hour and after work. His oil company will come first. Tulsa needs a full-time mayor.

And that picture of him in front of OKC. If he is so bad at details as to let that happen, can you imagine him running the City?

rememberme?, (9/24/2009 8:17:16 AM)

time to vote for this guy.

The A Team, (9/24/2009 10:23:15 AM)

I'm glad Perkins is calling Bartlett out for dodging debates, but something is bugging me about his campaign. Isn't Perkins still registered to vote as a Republican, but filed as an Independent candidate to run for Mayor? That seems really peculiar, if you are swearing off partisanship, why not change your voter registration to Independent? It makes me question if he has political ambitions beyond being Mayor.

If and until Mr. Perkins changes his voter registration to Independent, I view him as an Independent and a Republican in name only. I think it lacks integrity to try and have it both ways.

At least Bartlett's paid politicos spelled his name right this time in his negative attack ads, even though they spelled interview wrong. Since he hires political consultants who can't even spell and don't know the difference between the OKC skyline and Tulsa's skyline, it makes me wonder how competent the staff he hires or the appointments he makes will be?

Ex Adverso, (9/24/2009 11:45:24 AM)

Debate what? Which chugholes to fill in first? We don't need no stinking debates.

tranquiliti, (9/24/2009 3:04:35 PM)

People are missing the whole point of why Perkins retained his voter registration status while running as an independent. The fact that our political system is so party-centered just caters to the polarization of ideas. By keeping registered Independents from voting in primaries, our system is unfairly restricting the opinions of its citizens on both the state and national level. Though I disagree with much of the Republican platform, I am also registered as a Republican voter just so I can have some kind of say in the primaries.
This is a petty issue and is keeping people from seeing the broader impact of why Tulsa needs the leadership of Mark Perkins.

senor notas, Tulsa (9/24/2009 3:49:05 PM)

The issue is not in what party Mark Perkins is registered, it is the fact that he has a positive agenda for the city and questions Mr. Bartletts views. I was surprised at the latest forum to learn that Adelson and Perkins were there but no Bartlett. Previous commitment? That is the lamest excuse in the book. So what else is new? The Bartlett campaign is lame. This republican is voting for an alternative.

The A Team, (9/24/2009 4:28:00 PM)

I think if a primary will decide an election, then any qualified registered voter, regardless of party affiliation or lack thereof, should be able to vote in that election. I agree on that much, but that is all. I think it should left up to the party primary elections, open only to those registered to vote as member of that party, to decide who their candidates should be, unless like I've said the primary decides the election.

The inherent hypocrisy of masquerading as a true Independent while remaining registered as a Republican is simply dishonest. No amount of lame excuses and attempts to rationalize or legitimize this by arguing moral relativism will convince me otherwise. Unless and until Mr. Perkins changes his voter registration to Independent, I will continue to view him as an Independent and a Republican in name only. Only then, would I consider him a serious candidate for Mayor. Until then, I will continue to suspect there are ulterior motives driving his campaign for Mayor, namely to gain name recognition and a fundraising base to further other future political ambitions.

For me, leadership means having the courage and commitment to act upon your convictions. Mark Perkins has not demonstrated he has the character to do that by his actions in regards to this issue. I encourage Mr. Perkins to have the courage and commitment to act upon his convictions and become a real Independent, instead of just playing one in the media.

Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (9/24/2009 5:02:27 PM)

Hilarious that Bartlett has OKC in his ads! I always wonder why politicians never reveal what they were really doing when they claim the "prior commitment" alibi. Volunteer work at a children's hospital? Since they never reveal we can only assume it wasn't more important than an actual discussion of issues with your opponents. Then again, independent candidates are rarely included in full tilt "debates."

Charley, (9/25/2009 10:08:24 AM)

Please don't vote for Dewey Bartlett Jr.