Tulsa World: Hopefuls address strife

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Hopefuls address strife
They outline ways to smooth government relations

Mayoral candidates Mark Perkins (from left), Dewey Bartlett Jr. and Tom Adelson debate Monday at a Kiwanis Club luncheon. Stephen Pingry / Tulsa World

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 10/20/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 10/20/2009 3:48 AM

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

Each of the top three mayoral candidates said Monday that he not only knows how to "play well with others" but, in his own way, will do so as Tulsa's next leader.

The candidates were responding to a question about ending acrimony between the Mayor's Office and the City Council, Tulsa County and the suburbs.

The candidates — Democrat Tom Adelson; Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr.; and independent Mark Perkins — participated Monday in a mayoral forum put on by the Kiwanis Club of Tulsa.

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

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," the former city councilor said.

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

Perkins said he would enter the Mayor's Office with a "clean slate" because his campaign is not "creating adversaries by dividing us."

"As you are well-aware, our challenges are nonpartisan in nature," he said.

Perkins said he would be in the best position as mayor

to build productive relationships through collaborating and being respectful.

Adelson said the city's form of government sets up "creative tension" between the Mayor's Office and the council because the council represents defined districts while the mayor represents the entire city.

Adelson, a state senator, said working together is about building one-on-one relationships, and he said his record in the Legislature "has been just that."

He said he's worked across party lines on numerous pieces of legislation ranging from health care to tax cuts.

All three candidates said the city must find ways to tighten its belt and choose which services are vital to maintain as it deals with economic difficulties.

Bartlett said that on his first day in office he would begin an analysis of how to cut waste from the budget, including an energy-savings program.

Adelson said he would focus on three areas of savings: an energy audit, better management of contracts, and a difficult discussion with the Police Department about stopping its policy that lets officers who do not live in Tulsa take vehicles home.

Perkins said he favors energy audits, discussions with the state about tapping the "rainy day" fund, and modifying permit regulations and zoning codes to ease the way for businesses.

Each candidate also made a pitch as to why he should be elected.

Perkins said he would bring a "new approach" to solutions on the same issues that have been discussed for decades.

"If you want to expect different results, you need to elect a different kind of leader," he said. "I want to unite Tulsans in a nonpartisan way to overcome our nonpartisan challenges."

Adelson said the job of mayor is "more than about who has the most famous name."

"It's about leadership and competence. It's about someone who has a record of getting things done. It's about someone who has the smarts, seriousness of purpose and deep from within the wellspring, a love and passion for our city," he said.

Bartlett said the mayor's job is not just cutting ribbons but involves myriad duties. He said he would make Tulsa grow by using a road map of "good governance" with "no tax increases."

"I'll be the job-gettingest mayor this city has ever seen," he said.

P.J. Lassek 581-8382
pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Tulsa mayoral candidates talk acrimony at forum," which was published on 10/19/2009.

	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/19/2009 3:18:53 PM) Addleson and Bartlett are worthless. Unfortunately, the system makes it difficult to know anything about where this Perkins guy stands.
	Report Comment Tulsa World Web Reporter, Tulsa (10/19/2009 3:20:43 PM) To learn where the candidates stand on various issues, click the link at the top of the story for our site's election section, which includes Q&A with all mayoral candidates.
	Report Comment Webmeister, Tulsa (10/19/2009 3:25:12 PM) Both Dewey, Jr. and Adelson are Trust Fund Babies, who were born on Third Base, and think they hit a Triple........ EXACTLY what Tulsa government needs less of....
	Report Comment THESMOKEHOLE, Tulsa (10/19/2009 3:46:46 PM) Larry, Moe, and Curly
	Report Comment born okay the 1st time, tulsa (10/19/2009 4:16:28 PM) Perkins stands on a fairly solid ground. He has not resorted to the childish name calling & mud slinging that both Bartlett & Adelson have.
	Report Comment AllSmiles, Sperry (10/19/2009 4:19:40 PM) My vote is with Hottie McHott Mark Perkins!
	Report Comment sweeper, (10/19/2009 4:21:33 PM) The audio is posted on the KWGS website
	Report Comment Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/19/2009 4:26:20 PM) After looking at the Q&A section, I think I am gonna vote for the independent. He seems a heck of a lot better than the other two. They do nothing but gripe at each other. Still, if one of the three would state that crime prevention was their top priority, they would get my vote. Perkins states it in the Q&A, which is the best I have at this point.
	Report Comment Massey, Tulsa (10/19/2009 4:33:07 PM) Perkins has a lack of basic people skills. Speaking from personal experience that I choose not to elaborate on...I'm just saying....
	Report Comment Carlos, Tulsa (10/19/2009 4:33:23 PM) I may vote for Perkins just because the other two cannot stop crying foul and slinging mud.
	Report Comment BeeGee, Tulsa (10/19/2009 4:45:14 PM) If Perkins wins, maybe that will get the attention of the mudslingers that we're tired of that sort of campaigning.
	Report Comment born okay the 1st time, tulsa (10/19/2009 4:48:33 PM) "Perkins has a lack of basic people skills." Maybe that would improve if the mainstream media would stop excluding him from half the debates.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (10/19/2009 5:06:30 PM) BobDog for mayor! "He'll never bark up the wrong tree!"
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/19/2009 5:09:48 PM) I like that Joyce. (Bobdog is out the doggie door to visit his.)
	Report Comment LocalBoy, B.A. (10/19/2009 5:09:56 PM) Too bad I don't get to vote on this. Adelson's TV ads where they say he is talking about Tulsa while Bartlett is talking about Adelson are laughable - those ads actually say nothing abouth anything except about Bartlett. I don't think the two of them together could run a hot dog cart much less a city. Tulsa will come to miss what they could have had with Kathy Taylor.
	Report Comment tulsaGuy, (10/19/2009 5:16:35 PM) Tulsa, this is scary !!! These two are going to be embarrassing to us. They have both shown mean spirits and displayed some juvenile behavior. We don't know about Perkins. Honestly, we are in a bad pickle.
	Report Comment tulsaGuy, (10/19/2009 5:19:43 PM) Adelson can't take criticism, Bartlett has shown poor management in selecting campaign folks (mud-slinging-wins crowd.)
	Report Comment Kilgore.Trout, Tulsa (10/19/2009 5:22:36 PM) Every campaign Dewey Bartlett has been in starts and ends with mud slinging. Thank goodness for remotes that allow us to quickly change the channel.
	Report Comment FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (10/19/2009 5:59:50 PM) Vote your conscience, not the news.
	Report Comment edelweiss, Tulsa (10/19/2009 6:23:02 PM) I WAS
	Report Comment edelweiss, Tulsa (10/19/2009 6:23:51 PM) continued... for Adelson. But after all the negativity am gravitating towards Perkins
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/19/2009 6:39:26 PM) City elections should be non-partisan.
	Report Comment WhoseLeft, Tulsa (10/19/2009 8:42:17 PM) I am also sorry about the spate of negative campaigning, but I listened to the npr debate and reiewed the World sites on the campaign, I am clearly for Adelson.
	Report Comment Duffy, (10/19/2009 8:49:40 PM) I too am voting for Perkins. The TW has been doing a question/answer with the candidates the past few weeks. Adelson and Bartlett are pure politians.....all talk. Perkins gives great answers. Plus I'm tired of the mud slinging.
	Report Comment divermp, (10/19/2009 8:59:39 PM) We all need to unite and take the higher ground! Vote Perkins for Mayor. Start telling all of your friends to make sure they vote on Nov 10. The only way we can defeat these mud-slinging partisan candidates is to show up at the polls and vote against them!!

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