Tulsa World: Tulsa mayoral candidates talk acrimony at forum

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Tulsa mayoral candidates talk acrimony at forum

Democrat Tom Adelson (left), independent Mark Perkins (middle) and Republican Dewey Bartlett (right) participated in a mayoral forum Monday. Tulsa World file photos

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 10/19/2009 2:41 PM
Last Modified: 10/19/2009 5:09 PM

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

Each of the top three mayoral candidates said Monday they not only know how to “play well with others,” but in their own different ways will do so as Tulsa’s next leader.

The candidates were responding to a question about acrimony that has plagued the mayor’s office when dealing with the City Council, Tulsa County, and the suburbs.

Democrat Tom Adelson, Republican Dewey Bartlett, and independent Mark Perkins participated in a mayoral forum Monday hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa.

Adelson, Bartlett and Perkins, along with independent Lawrence Kirkpatrick will face each other in the Nov. 10 municipal general election.

Perkins said he would enter the mayor’s office with a “clean slate” because he is not currently on the campaign trail “creating adversaries by dividing us.”

“As you are well aware, our challenges are nonpartisan in nature,” he said.

Perkins said he will be in the best position to build productive relationships through collaboration, and being respectful.

Bartlett said ending the acrimony takes “very simple communication skills.”

“It’s going into a situation with an open heart and open mind and being friendly,” he said.

Bartlett said it’s also about having a transparent government, which he said would be the “hallmark” of his administration.

Adelson said the city’s form of government sets up “creative tension” between the mayor’s office and the council probably because the council represents neighborhoods within a defined district and the mayor has a larger interest that includes the entire city.

“It’s about building one-on-one relationships, and my record at the state senate is just that,” he said about working across party lines on numerous pieces of legislation.

The candidates also answered questions about public safety, PlaniTulsa, and education.

Read more about the forum in Tuesday’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 "Hopefuls address strife," which was published on 10/20/2009. So far, 49 comments have been made.