Tulsa World: Tulsa mayoral candidate addresses negative ads

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Tulsa mayoral candidate addresses negative ads

Tulsa mayoral candidate Tom Adelson speaks at the Tulsa Press Club luncheon on Friday. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 10/9/2009 1:46 PM
Last Modified: 10/9/2009 4:08 PM

From Wayne Greene's Blog: Tom, Dewey: Take the pledge -- no negative advertising

Tulsa Elections: View campaign ads, read bios of candidates for mayor, City Council and city auditor, and see a map of City Council districts.

It appears doubtful that the negative campaigning between the frontrunners in the mayor’s race will end.

Democratic mayoral candidate Tom Adelson said Friday that while he has more positive TV ads airing than negative, he thinks it’s important to respond to his opponent.

“I care deeply about how I’m seen by my friends, my family and my supporters. I care about how my family is seen and I acknowledge that campaigns are tough,” he said when asked if he would “pledge to pull” his negative ads.

Speaking at the Tulsa Press Club’s Page One Luncheon, Adelson talked about the direction he would take the city before answering questions.

Adelson faces Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr. and independent candidates Mark Perkins and Lawrence Kirkpatrick in the Nov. 10 general election.

Adelson noted that about two-thirds of his campaign ads have been “totally positive,” while Bartlett has run nothing but attack

ads against him since the end of the primary election.

“It’s been 100 percent on TV, 100 percent on radio, 100 percent in his direct mail. It is difficult to know how to respond,” Adelson said about Bartlett’s attacks.

Bartlett’s campaign has aired three TV ads so far - one positive and two attacks ads. Bartlett was the first to air an attack ad and both have run since the primary.

Adelson has 10 TV ads so far - one that responds to Bartlett’s first negative ad, four that attack Bartlett, and five that are positive. Not all are currently on air.

Of the four spots now running, Adelson said three are positive and one responds to a Bartlett attack ad.

Adelson said the traffic of ads will begin to change next week and in the weeks beyond.

As the election day gets closer, the public will see more ads about Tulsa, the city’s future and what “I think I have to offer the city,” he said.

“But we’ll probably have to respond to my opponent. It’s difficult to find that balance,” he said.

For more, read Saturday's Tulsa World. By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Adelson defends his advertising," which was published on 10/10/2009. So far, 35 comments have been made.