Tulsa World: Mayoral hopefuls speak at forum

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Mayoral hopefuls speak at forum
They discuss Tulsa's schools and crumbling infrastructure.

Democratic mayoral candidate Tom Adelson speaks as Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr. waits for his turn Wednesday. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 10/15/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 10/15/2009 4:42 AM

Tulsa Elections: Read bios of candidates for mayor, City Council and city auditor and view a map of City Council districts.

Audio: Listen to the entire mayoral forum.

Tulsa will rise and fall depending on the quality of its public school system, and that must be a focus for the city's next mayor, three of the candidates for the position said Wednesday.

Although schools are independent from local government, there are actions the mayor can take, Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr., Democrat Tom Adelson and independent Mark Perkins said during a noon Rotary Club of Tulsa forum.

Bartlett, Keener Oil & Gas president and former city councilor, said the mayor should use his bully pulpit and even go a step further to make sure public schools improve.

"The mayor needs to have a full-time person dedicated to being a nonvoting member of the school board and being able to interact on a daily basis about our common problems and identify what we as a city can do to help," he said.

Adelson, a state senator and attorney, said people won't live in a city where a quality public education is not an option. He is a volunteer teacher at Booker T. Washington High School.

"Let's

use the city's resources to recruit teachers," he said, noting that could be done with a private-sector partnership to offer subsidized housing and other benefits for educators.

Perkins, an attorney, said most of the city's challenges, including crime and economic development, are inextricably linked to education.

"Our schools have been underperforming for some time," he said, adding that, "If still we can't find better solutions, then we need to look at changing how our school systems are run."

It might be that the mayor needs "more control," Perkins said.

The three candidates also said the $451.6 million, five-year streets package approved by voters last fall is just the start of what needs to be done to repair the city's crumbling infrastructure.

That package provides the city with time to find more long-range solutions, Perkins said.

"Streets are obviously a big concern for Tulsans and have been for decades," he said. "I don't think there's a magic bullet."

Perkins said he's looking forward to the performance review that's being conducted in the Public Works Department to see where changes could be made.

Adelson said the city's maintenance fund to deal with simple fixes like potholes needs to be adequately funded.

Adelson pledged close oversight of the streets initiative, which "very honestly, is just phase one of a multipronged, multiyear effort to get our streets to the condition and care we deserve in a city as fine as Tulsa."

Bartlett, who co-led a citizens committee about streets before the package was sent to voters, said the backlog of work that needs to be done tops $2 billion.

Streets haven't been a top priority for a long time, Bartlett said.

"It will be my job as mayor to make certain these projects are done under budget and on time," he said. "The purpose of that statement is twofold. One, to show good management capabilities. And secondly, to make certain that we regain the confidence of our voters because we don't simply have enough money at this point in time to fix all our problems."

The three candidates will appear on the Nov. 10 general election ballot, along with perennial independent candidate Lawrence Kirkpatrick.

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa mayoral candidates talk education," which was published on 10/14/2009.

	Report Comment Basil, Tulsa (10/14/2009 2:46:42 PM) The only thing worse than Bartlett is Adleson. When can we get a candidate we can feel enthusiastic about--maybe someone who isn't an elite and can relate to the average Tulsan?
	Report Comment irwindale, Tulsa (10/14/2009 3:33:16 PM) Lets not forget to keep an eye on the part time landlords here in Tulsa.
	Report Comment Brooksider, Tulsa (10/15/2009 9:56:52 AM) Nudus, You make good points. Public education is valuable when it is valued. If parents don't value education then their children likely won't either. No amount of money, teachers, or government will solve that problem. I know many teachers who spend many hours outside school, and their own money, preparing for their classes. Teacher dedication is not really the issue. The philosophy of modern education may be the issue. Children to not need much education to be laborers. All children need education to be goo citizens.
	Report Comment Brooksider, Tulsa (10/15/2009 9:57:32 AM) Excuse me. Good citizens. Sorry.
	Report Comment AllSmiles, Sperry (10/14/2009 3:15:52 PM) I vote for the SHOE!!! Let see if they can dodge and cover like Bush did!! =0)
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/14/2009 3:35:51 PM) I second that Joyce
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/14/2009 3:39:40 PM) That's about all there is to say BobDog. (good boy)
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/15/2009 9:41:22 AM) My vote is for BobDog! (a pat on the head for you)
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/15/2009 10:11:38 AM) We all need a smile today, thank you joyce!
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/14/2009 2:44:04 PM) I miss the cogent comments from Accountability Burns.
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/14/2009 4:36:26 PM) nudus, beat 'em, force Jesus down their throats and give them even less money than they get now (Oklahoma has 3rd world expenditures per student and U.S. is low compared to other industrialized nations). Thanks for your input! Sorry public education didn't work for you.
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/14/2009 8:09:34 PM) nudus, my degrees trump yours since the doc degree is from a private school...and..I know how to properly use an adverb. I can't see, in any of the surveys I just researched, where the U.S. has the lead in expenditures per pupil among the industrialized west and we all know Oklahoma is near the bottom in this country. Where is the proof to back up your contra assertions? I see you decided to up the ante by asking for repeal of child labor/sweatshop laws and going after that old boogaboo of the looney right, the dreaded LABOR UNIONS!!!! Wooooo. After listening to some Rush Limbaugh recordings to demonstrate his racism and now reading your tripe I think I need a hot shower.
	Report Comment TK1, (10/14/2009 2:30:08 PM) Schools are a reflection of the families and communities they serve. Poorly performing schools are a symptom of a much larger problem--one that won't be fixed by simply changing the principal or teacher.
	Report Comment TK1, (10/14/2009 2:37:39 PM) drkdt, have you been writing the ads that have been running on radio and TV?
	Report Comment BettyRubble918, Tulsa (10/14/2009 2:26:05 PM) It's the economy & jobs, dim-bulbs.
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (10/14/2009 2:50:26 PM) 1.Crime 2.Streets 3.Education 4.Business development To accomplish dealing with these things gov't needs revenues,wise spending, and vision,i'm not sure any of the candidates have that.
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (10/14/2009 2:59:55 PM) How bout a shoe?
	Report Comment IrishQuaker, Tulsa (10/14/2009 3:01:23 PM) Education is key not only to the quality of the city but to our property values. No one wants to come to a city with poor schools. I am interested in the fact that Adelson is a VOLUNTEER TEACHER. To me, that speaks in a real way that he understands something about our schools.
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/14/2009 3:38:06 PM) Arf, arf, arf... (Bobdog comments on the state of the city.)
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/14/2009 3:39:22 PM) (Bobdog scopes out the part time landlords.)
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/14/2009 3:41:33 PM) Shoo what? (Bobdog as usual is confused.)
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/14/2009 3:49:37 PM) OK (Bobdog is amused.)
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/15/2009 9:29:33 AM) I put my faith in my campaign manager to run the campaign for me. (Bobdog sits and wags tail.)
	Report Comment dustyoutlaw, Tulsa (10/14/2009 5:56:21 PM) Scruffydog would like to know Bobdog's position on more fire hydrants in the city?
	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/14/2009 2:33:54 PM) What about crime??? I want to hear who is ready to go to battle with the thugs in this city, not pretend they arent there, ala the current regime.

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