Bartlett, the Republican, asked his Democrat challenger to explain how he can advocate for Tulsa to become more urban and compact and yet promote regionalism for government.

Adelson, an Oklahoma senator and attorney, said the PlaniTulsa comprehensive plan in the works is asking for Tulsa to be much more concentrated.

“I do favor just that,” he said. “It’s asking us to be much smarter about our growth. It’s asking us to say 'yes’ to investments along existing corridors, to have a discipline we haven’t had in the past, and to say 'no’ to investments that might expedite the loss of our sales tax to surrounding cities, like the south Tulsa bridge.”

With a regionalist approach to government, Adelson said, he is simply looking to end inefficiency

Bartlett, a former city councilor and the president of Keener Oil & Gas, said his own solutions “do not involve heavy-handed, Big Brother governmental approaches to planning our city.”

Government should not be in the position of mandating where people locate their businesses, he said, adding that will not help business or job growth.

Later in the debate, Bartlett said no politician should make a firm decision on the south Tulsa bridge, that it should be made by the next mayor in consultation with experts.

Adelson countered, “Great cities don’t just happen, they do require planning, and this is a good faith difference between us.”

The hourlong debate was aired on the KFAQ 1170 AM morning show.

Bartlett criticized Adelson’s first campaign ad, which proclaimed he would “Stand up to the City Council,” saying it shows Adelson doesn’t have the temperament to lead the city.

Adelson said the quote “captures my personality, which is one of deep passion, deeply held beliefs and firm convictions.”

“I fight hard for the things I believe in,” he said. “The City Council, since the 1990 change in the charter, has always had a combative relationship with the mayor. It’s frankly the nature of politics.”

Bartlett said there has been enough bickering in city government.

“That is simply not the type of personality, the type of aggressiveness that we need to work with people,” he said. “The last thing you can do is walk in the room, hit someone in the nose an then try to shake their hand.”

Adelson jumped on Bartlett for recommending at least $1 billion in new sales and property taxes as the co-leader of the citizens streets task force to address Tulsa’s infrastructure woes.

Bartlett said the public needed to be adequately informed about the condition of the streets and what was required to fix them. Ultimately, a smaller package was put forth by city leaders and approved by voters.

“That’s what the process is about,” he said.

Adelson pointed out that one of Bartlett’s recommendations was to have the Broken Arrow Expressway turned into a toll road as a source of street funding.

Bartlett said it was just one idea of many that was put forth.

“The money that would be realized from that concept would go toward paying the entirety of our street maintenance system, as well as funding the completion of the Gilcrease Expressway,” he said.

Adelson pledged that, if elected, he will not add toll roads in the city, saying they would inconvenience thousands of motorists daily.

Bartlett said Adelson is a supporter and donor to President Barack Obama and wondered whether Adelson would promote Obama’s agenda from the Mayor’s Office.

But Adelson said Tulsans aren’t interested in Washington politics becoming part of the mayor’s race.

Adelson said his “politics are what they are. I do support the president, but it has nothing to do with the role of being a chief executive of the city. It has nothing to do with managing 4,000 employees.”

The two candidates will be on the Nov. 10 general election ballot with independents Mark Perkins and Lawrence Kirkpatrick, who were not invited to participate in the radio debate.