Tulsa World: Candidates find common ground

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Candidates find common ground
Three mayoral hopefuls agree that the city needs its own "rainy day" fund.

Tulsa mayoral candidate Tom Adelson takes a turn at answering audience questions Thursday evening at the Park Plaza Homeowners Association at Thoreau Demonstration Academy as fellow candidates Mark Perkins (left) and Dewey Bartlett Jr. listen. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 10/16/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 10/16/2009 5:12 AM

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

With the city facing $6 million more in budget cuts, the three major candidates for mayor said at a forum Thursday that Tulsa should have a "rainy day" fund, as the state does, to provide a cushion during hard economic times.

Democrat Tom Adelson, Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr. and independent Mark Perkins all said, however, that the city needs to be able to generate enough revenue to cover basic services before leaders can think about socking some of it away.

"Hopefully, when our fiscal health returns, we can look at doing something like that," Adelson said during the Park Plaza Homeowners Association forum at Thoreau Demonstration Academy, 7370 E. 71st St.

"It would be nice to have something that would help alleviate the furlough days that all city workers are taking," said Adelson, a state senator.

Bartlett, president of Keener Oil & Gas, said it would be "good for the city to be able to save some money for when we're not doing as well. I think that possibility should be looked at in the future."

Perkins, an attorney, said having a fund set aside is important for any business and should be for the city.

"We need a safety valve to turn to in times like this, because the economy will

continue to fluctuate," he said.

As it is now, the city typically carries a 5.4 percent reserve — roughly $13 million — of the budget that can be dipped into for unexpected expenses. The state's rainy day fund holds about $600 million.

All of the candidates called for more police to be added to Tulsa's force, saying independent studies show that they are needed.

"We need more boots on the ground," Perkins said, "but we also need to look at the way we allocate them. A presence will do a lot to deter crime."

Bartlett said officers tied up in desk and paperwork jobs need to be out in the field. Those office positions should be filled by civilians, he said.

"We've spent a lot of money to train them as officers, and we need to use them as such," he said.

Bartlett also said he wants to drop the college-degree requirement for people to become reserve officers so that more can help support the force.

Adelson said the force needs the manpower and tools necessary "to make us safe and secure in our homes and neighborhoods and target high-crime areas."

Adelson also said more outreach programs through schools and churches are needed to target at-risk youths.

Strengthening the city's neighborhoods was a major topic at the forum.

"We are only as strong as our neighborhoods," Adelson said, pledging that his Mayor's Office would have a direct connection to neighborhood leaders and that he would attend association meetings.

"They are what gives our city its charm and vibrancy," he said.

Bartlett said he would go out with each of the nine city councilors on a monthly basis to visit their districts and the neighborhoods in them to be more in touch with residents.

"We need to listen to people about what needs to be done," he said. "That's the only way to find out what's working and what's bothering people."

Perkins said neighborhoods "are a critical component of the city."

"I'm a big supporter of neighborhood watch programs, too," he said. "I think they would help us with our public safety efforts."

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

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 "Mayoral candidates emphasize need for "rainy day" fund," which was published on 10/15/2009.

	Report Comment Mar, Tulsa (10/15/2009 11:28:16 PM) Why are the candidates only attending forums at certain places, like the Park Plaza Homeowners Association? I can't remember the other recent forums the candidates attended, but they were again just for certain people. I would like to attend a forum, but I'm not a Park Plaza Homeowner or a member of this or that. Surely one of the local television stations could spare one hour for the candidates to debate so most every citizen in Tulsa could watch them.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/15/2009 11:35:00 PM) Campaign managers have done their research. They know where the historical large voting blocs are located. They already know the N. Tulsa voting statistics. No amount of money or campaign time in that area is going to change the vote pattern in that area. They have the research for each district, each precinct location adn now their working on coalition and association voting blocks. You'll see in the last week they will start working on the individual voters in a more general city wide effort to turn out voting numbers. They essentially already know their votes right down to the zip code level.
	Report Comment outlawpete, Tulsa (10/16/2009 11:01:57 AM) I'm also a South Tulsa Republican who will vote for Adelson. His answers in the mayoral forums and in longer interviews are more detailed and well-thought out. Bartlett is OK, but he seems to be running more on his name and background than on any specific ideas or vision to improve Tulsa.
	Report Comment Shirley S, (10/16/2009 6:14:04 AM) This is one South Tulsa Republican who is going to vote for Tom Adelson...actually there are quite a few of us. We may not agree with him on all of his issues but the ones that are important to our city we agree 1000% on. Tom takes a stand and makes a commitment after extensive research and sticks to it. Dewey doesn't...he is easily swayed. That's how I see him running the city. Tom will be a Mayor of all Tulsans...I'm not sure that is true about Bartlett.
	Report Comment Shirley S, (10/16/2009 6:22:44 AM) Another thing I like about Tom Adelson...he went to Tulsa Public Schools and he sends his kids to Tulsa Public Schools. He talks the talk and walks the walk when he says he wants to improve our school system. He also volunteers in the TPS and seems to really enjoying doing it. He believes that children should be allowed to move to a school in the district if it's better than the one they currently go to. That in itself would make schools have to better themselves so they wouldn't loose students.
	Report Comment thanks but no thanks, (10/15/2009 10:43:15 PM) Stop hiring and you may need to stop firing! Two $100,000 information technology management positions are still posted on the City of Tulsa job site!!!
	Report Comment comparative , (10/15/2009 10:29:40 PM) "5.4 percent reserve — roughly $13 million — of the budget that can be dipped into for unexpected expenses" The 5.4% is the bond reserve and a requirement for bonds and are intended to cover bonds only and not unexpected expense as the cost to borrow money and costs of borrowed money will increace without such a reserve.
	Report Comment CWG, Tulsa (10/16/2009 6:05:20 PM) Don't trust any of them.

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