Tulsa World: Councilor seeking second term faces repeat candidate

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Councilor seeking second term faces repeat candidate

THE CHOICES
G.T. Bynum (left) and Roger Lowry: Bynum is a Republican. Lowry has run on the tickets of both major parties. This year, he's a Democrat.

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 10/11/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 10/11/2009 4:38 AM

Visit the Tulsa World’s city elections Web page for continuing coverage.

City Councilor G.T. Bynum of District 9 will face a perennial candidate, Roger Lowry, in Tulsa's Nov. 10 general elections.

Bynum, 32, has started a governmental affairs consulting business. He was the senior director of governmental affairs for Williams & Williams Worldwide Real Estate Auction and worked in Washington from 2000 to 2005 for former Sen. Don Nickles and current Sen. Tom Coburn.

Bynum, a Republican, said that when he first took office two years ago, he was surprised to learn how effective a councilor can be.

He said he assumed that a councilor's effectiveness would be based on seniority and that during his first term "I'd be seen and not heard."

But he said he was surprised that seniority plays no role, noting that he was able to have a hand in several changes such as stopping a longtime practice of suburbs dumping animals at the city's animal shelter to be euthanized for $1 each.

He also played a role in regulating taxi rates from Tulsa International Airport after he heard complaints about price-gouging by cab drivers.

Bynum said one attribute he brings to office is his willingness to work across party lines. "I think that was shown in the streets package, which was approved by two Republicans, two Democrats and an independent," he said, referring to himself and some other councilors. The City Council has nine members.

Bynum said that if he is re-elected, he has two big projects he would like to tackle.

The first is river development, which he said "is the whole reason I decided to run for council initially." District 9 residents support river development, he said.

Bynum also wants to create a joint city-county task force to look for areas where the city and county can merge duplicate activities to create efficiencies. "This is all about providing more bang for the buck for the citizens," he said.

Bynum was clear that he opposes regionalism, but he said that "doesn't mean that we put up our walls and ignore the county."

Although Bynum had considered a run for mayor after Mayor Kathy Taylor announced that she would not seek re-election, he quickly dropped the idea.

"It was flattering to be encouraged by so many to run for the office, but I realized that I have plenty of things to learn before I should be entrusted with that job," he said.

Lowry, 53, owns a cleaning service. He has sought the District 9 seat four previous times and the District 1 council seat twice.

Over his past decade of running for office, Lowry has changed his registration between Republican and Democrat. He is running this year as a Democrat.

"I want to be a full-time councilor," he said. "I have neighbors that call the city with problems and they never hear back from their councilor."

Lowry said he could represent District 9 better than Bynum does.

"I've talked to business owners here, and they have never spoken to him," Lowry said of Bynum. "I'll give them $18,000 worth of work."

He was referring to the annual salary of a councilor. The position is considered a part-time job with a two-year term.

Lowry said he supported river development and he wanted to find a new building for Fire Station No. 18.

He said it's been difficult to get his message out in a Republican-heavy district.

"I've been knocking on doors and making church appearances," he said. "I don't have any money for mailers or television ads."

Voter registration records show that District 9 has 14,561 Republicans, 11,281 Democrats and 2,966 independents. By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment olddude, tulsa (10/11/2009 8:42:57 AM) Bynam said he didn't know how effective a councilor can be,my question is when is he going to start?What a little pip sweak.
	Report Comment GARFIELD, TULSA (10/11/2009 8:43:26 AM) Those of us who support the underdog can see a classic case here! Mr. Bynum has all the power points going for him--two U.S. Senators, plenty of cash, well-known connections, a high position in business, and 2 years Council experience. It might appear Mr. Lowry, just a working stiff who has been plugging away for years for changes--might just concede now. But--every now and then the voters can see the truth from the facade, the real from the unreal. Don't automatically dismiss the unknown, you might be surprised!
	Report Comment Whirled Peas, (10/11/2009 11:01:09 AM) So he switched party affiliations -- years ago. He's not the first politician who's been dissatisfied with the direction the Republican party has been going.

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