Tulsa World: Mayoral hopefuls try new tactic

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Mayoral hopefuls try new tactic
Two candidates use news conferences to lay out their economic development plans.

REPUBLICAN
Dewey Bartlett Jr.: He says he wants to recruit more businesses to Tulsa.

By P.J. LASSEK AND BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writers
Published: 10/23/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 10/23/2009 7:16 AM

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

Mayoral candidates Tom Adelson and Dewey Bartlett Jr. held dueling news conferences Thursday to outline their individual plans for economic development.

Adelson, a Democrat, unveiled a six-point plan that includes targeting small businesses, localizing expenditures and work-force training.

Bartlett, a Republican, unveiled a five-point plan that includes hosting economic forums, privatizing some government services, and easing regulatory and permitting processes.

Adelson held his news conference at the Tulsa Press Club about 45 minutes before Bartlett's, which was held at Tulsa Plastics, a small, locally based business.

Adelson said 82 percent of the businesses in Tulsa and the surrounding areas have fewer than 10 employees, "so it is no exaggeration to say that small businesses are indeed the life blood of our city."

As mayor, he said, he would immediately convene a summit led by the Tulsa Metro Chamber. The summit would include small-business owners, municipal permitting officials, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, lenders and education officers to produce recommendations within 30 days on how to improve the small-business climate in Tulsa.

Bartlett said he would host five economic forums

throughout the city within his first 100 days in office.

"I want to hear from our corporate leaders and business owners about what the city can do to enhance the overall economic environment," he said.

Part of that effort, Bartlett said, is to make it easier to do business in Tulsa by working to improve the city's "bad reputation" when it comes to regulations and permitting.

"We must roll out the red carpet, not the red tape," he said. "Regulations have a proper place, but they must not create barriers to prosperity, ingenuity and innovation."

Adelson said that as mayor he would work with the Tulsa Economic Development Corporation to position small businesses to be "first in line" for credit to take advantage of the federal government's plan to increase government-guaranteed loans to small businesses through the Small Business Administration's 504 loan program.

Adelson also said he plans to assist in expanding the chamber's Tulsa's Future effort, a public-private partnership created to help retain and grow new jobs.

He pointed to the recent announcement of the Holly Corp., which acquired the Sunoco and Sinclair refineries, saving 100 jobs, as an example of the program's work.

Bartlett, too, made reference to the Holly Corp., saying it would benefit the city to try to lure its company headquarters to Tulsa.

Adelson said that as mayor he would not forget the city's microcompanies, which have fewer than five employees and make up about 50 percent of the cities new businesses, many of which are minority-owned.

Bartlett, the president of Keener Oil & Gas, pointed out that Adelson, a state senator and an attorney, received one of the lowest scores from the Research Institute for Economic Development, which grades state legislators each year on how they vote on business, job and economic growth issues.

Adelson's score was a negative four on a scale of as much as 100. His cumulative score as a senator is 51.

Adelson, who never mentioned Bartlett at his news conference, told the Tulsa World afterward that he doesn't place much stock in the RIED Report.

"I was endorsed by the National Federation of Independent businesses in 2008, which include over 3,000 small businesses in Oklahoma," he said.

Bartlett’s plan

Hosting five economic forums to involve businesses with City Hall to determine a direction for the city.

Easing the regulatory process and streamlining the permitting process.

Privatizing more services and contracting more to Tulsa businesses, while lessening the bureaucracy at City Hall.

Evaluating the bidding process to involve a more diverse and representative group of Tulsa business owners and make bonding less onerous.

Recruiting businesses to Tulsa, especially in the areas of energy, alternative energy, manufacturing and aerospace.

Adelson’s plan

Hosting a small-business summit to generate recommendations on how to improve the business climate.

Working with the Tulsa Metro Chamber to retain and grow new jobs.

Strengthening the city policy of supporting local businesses and working with the chamber to encourage businesses to buy locally.

Facilitating small business access to credit through several lending programs, including the recently announced federal SBA 504 loan.

Supporting microbusinesses for minorities with five or fewer employees.

Working with higher education institutions and the business community on job-retraining of displaced workers and education for a quality work force.

P.J. Lassek 581-8382, Brian Barber 581-8322
pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com, brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By P.J. LASSEK AND BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writers

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "Mayoral candidates outline economic development plans," which was published on 10/22/2009.

	Report Comment Blesstguy, Tulsa (10/22/2009 3:30:49 PM) Nothing new here.......same old thing........
	Report Comment Arbythree, Tulsa (10/22/2009 3:30:54 PM) In 3, 2, 1, Bartlett will attack it.
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/22/2009 3:35:29 PM) How bout job evolution. (Bobdog thinks you should have both.)
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/22/2009 3:37:53 PM) Sick em BobDog.
	Report Comment GARFIELD, TULSA (10/22/2009 3:42:42 PM) He is starting to make sense now. Maybe I was too premature in writing him off earlier. He does have a fine looking family, and no criminal record that I know of--we'll see if the other candidates start offering solutions, too---and no more ugly remarks about each other!!
	Report Comment Green Shirt, Tulsa (10/22/2009 3:45:12 PM) He is going to work hard, and convene a summit. This guy is a talking head with no substance. What is he going to do about budget shortfalls? The new city hall costing a $million more anually than the old City Hall? Who will he select as the next police chief since the current Chief is at will? Will he work hard and spout off non-sense? Of course Bartlett is too busy planning his next Adelson is ok child molestors commercial to say anything better. God help us! We are doomed with both of these clowns!
	Report Comment SRV, (10/22/2009 3:50:24 PM) He is getting my vote.
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/22/2009 3:58:01 PM) Adelson kinda looks like Phillip John Ortega. (Bobdog is just saying if you see Tom in a pink one piece, RUN.)
	Report Comment CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/22/2009 4:11:30 PM) Six points and five points. Poo I've got nine points and a looker for a campaign manager. (Bobdog checks to see what color scheme he wants for the office.)
	Report Comment Centrist, the burbs (10/22/2009 4:13:18 PM) Bobdog would make sure we have fire hydrants on every corner.
	Report Comment Ric, Broken Arrow (10/22/2009 4:18:42 PM) Adelson looks like a fish and Bartlett a turtle...
	Report Comment lucky girl, mine (10/22/2009 4:19:33 PM) LOL Ric, you are right
	Report Comment IrishQuaker, Tulsa (10/22/2009 4:34:55 PM) Adelson is right to focus on small businesses. I don't agree with Dewey's claim that he will reduce regulations and the permitting requirements. That is not what we need, diminishing quality. Privitising services has not shown any cost reductions. I have also seen that "recruiting businesses" to the city has had less than desirable results. Sure we can get them here (Whirlpool) give them outrageous tax benefits (to the detriment of the real tax base) and then have them walk out the door when they have a better offer. Remember Boeing?
	Report Comment Rance, Gore (10/22/2009 4:47:37 PM) fix what you have now. why worry about economic developement when so much of what you already have is in need of a fix! The Fire Department is disgruntled The roads are horrendous Old Tulsa is so run down. Tulsa was always one the best looking cities in America.....now its just another dying city...
	Report Comment messy, tulsa (10/22/2009 4:49:24 PM) I sure hope that reductions in regulatory and permitting processes will be applied to liquor stores, porn shops, and abortion providers.
	Report Comment terryf, (10/22/2009 5:11:35 PM) I was a Bartlett guy but after his negative ads I am sick of the entire process. You guys should tout your merits not the other's failings. I for one refuse to vote for either one of these guys and since the Tulsa World has reduced this to a battle between these two I am OUT
	Report Comment focuses, (10/22/2009 5:24:26 PM) Bartlett says, "easing regulatory and permitting processes, privatizing more government services, revamping the bidding process to allow more participation"; but what Bartlett does not understand is the municipal government is NOT BROKEN the municipal government is BROKE.
	Report Comment TK1, (10/22/2009 5:26:18 PM) IrishQuaker, Ever tried to get a building permit? You can build a building in less time.
	Report Comment comparative , (10/22/2009 5:27:12 PM) talk, talk, talk... all you get is talk at Bartlett's five economic forums. talk, talk, talk... talk, talk, talk... Yes Bartlett do talk
	Report Comment thanks but no thanks, (10/22/2009 5:57:07 PM) So Dewy tell us about privatizing more services at the City of Tulsa. Kathy Taylor attempted to privatize the computer support but only succeeded in additional management consisting of endless cronies and favorites at some $100,000 each. Still two such jobs posted on the City of Tulsa web site so you are well on you way.. Safe to say Dewy has a friend or two to fill the fire chief positions so start with privatizing the Fire Department.
	Report Comment Charley, (10/22/2009 6:00:41 PM) These guys could fix a broken red light, much less all the broken things in Tulsa. The could NOT organize a street sweeping campaign. They are politicians, they are not men that get a job done. Politicians are people, that have a job because someone liked them, not because they can do anything..
	Report Comment Charley, (10/22/2009 6:02:11 PM) I made some errors.. These guys could NOT fix a broken red light, much less all the broken things in Tulsa. They could NOT organize a street sweeping campaign. They are politicians. They are not men who get a job done. Politicians are people, that have a job because someone liked them, not because they can do anything..
	Report Comment Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (10/22/2009 6:02:18 PM) TK1 In order to build a new ballpark in Fremont, CA the Oakland A's had to prepare an extensive environmental statement (it was to be built in an existing industrial/warehouse area) and after more than a year of wrangling over that single non-issue the A's finally gave up.Let's see Adleson had a 6 point plan and Bartlett only 5 so I guess Adleson wins by a point, right?
	Report Comment FF, Tulsa (10/22/2009 6:17:31 PM) I want to hear how the candidates plan to increase the revenue stream in this city. I'd like to see a blue ribbon panel commissioned to explore new and/or diverse revenue streams for Tulsa. We can talk about cutting expenses but if anyone is paying attention expenses have been cut to the bone, ask any city employee. We need new and innovative ideas about increasing revenue. The tired old rhetoric about economic development and small business is just that, tired old rhetoric. If any of that had worked as touted our city would be in far better shape than it is. We need revenue. Get the picture? Is anyone listening?
	Report Comment Davy Crotchety, Tulsa (10/22/2009 6:32:03 PM) Let me echo the BROKE, but not BROKEN comments. Tulsa's already business friendly and is rated highly as Adelson notes. Bartlett Jr. is simply incorrect on this. There may have been regulatory and permitting problems when Dewey left the Council 15 years ago, but much of that has been fixed for years. The one-stop permitting center is a breeze and they've had that going for a long time now. Apparently, Dewey's been gone (or at least out of touch) for a long time, too. And Adelson is also right to be focusing on growing small business...Nordam was once a small Tulsa business, so was Bama pie, FlightSafety International, and on and on. The ones you grow are the ones you can keep. Forget that stagnant 'ole Chamber policy of chasing after multi-nationals...even if you can bait them here, there's no loyalty when the goodies run out. Adelson is sounding like he's thinking about the 21st century, and Bartlett Jr. sounds a little dated. Tulsa may be behind the times, too. Question is, do you pick a person who reflects who we are, or do you pick a person who represents where we WANT TO BE?

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