Tulsa World: Tulsa council candidate to remain on ballot

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Tulsa council candidate to remain on ballot

Candidates for the District 5 Tulsa City Council seat Chris Trail (left) and Bill Martinson (right). Tulsa World File

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 7/21/2009 10:19 AM
Last Modified: 7/28/2009 3:31 PM

View the Tulsa World’s city elections page here.

Related story: Legal woes haunt candidate

Ike’s Chili operator and Republican candidate Chris Trail will remain on the ballot for the District 5 City Council seat, the Tulsa County Election Board ruled Tuesday.

His opponent, Republican Councilor Bill Martinson, challenged Trail’s eligibility to compete in the race, saying Trail fraudulently registered to vote in the district March 30 when he didn’t have a legal “right to residency” because his house rental contract didn’t start until April 1.

The board ultimately sided with Trail, who argued that he signed the lease and actually took possession of the house at 10611 E. 20th St. on March 26.

After the ruling, Trail said he was pleased with the result, and that, “all I want to do is represent the citizens.”

Trail, however, seemed unsure if he will continue his campaign because of a Tulsa World story Tuesday that detailed his history of legal troubles, which include outstanding tax liens, an arrest on food code violations, a personal bankruptcy and a protective order against him requested by his wife a decade ago, among other issues.

Trail also was untruthful in filling out the newspaper’s candidate biographical questionnaire when he indicated he had never before been arrested.

“I need to decide where to go from here,” he said, adding it’s tough being under a microscope. “I think this is why a lot of people don’t run for office. I’ve made some mistakes. Some of them I’m still working to fix.

“A lot of supporters have put their trust and faith in me to run. But I’m going to take some time with my family to think and re-evaluate,” he said.

The GOP primary election between the two, which will decide the race, is set for Sept. 8.

Martinson, following the ruling, said he was disappointed in the four-person election board because “they didn’t follow the law.”

Martinson said Trail’s voter registration should be deemed illegal and void.

“For those of you who have followed me on the City Council, I’m a real process-oriented guy,” he told the board. “I know there are some dates that are close, but it doesn’t matter; the law is the law.

“I wouldn’t have filed this petition if I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. I’m not above running a race. That’s not it at all. But you need to maintain the integrity of the system.”

Trail said he was allowed to move in before his contract went into effect because he did some painting and other work around the house.

Martinson produced former Councilor Sam Roop as a witness. Roop lives next door to Trail and said he didn’t encounter his new neighbor until April 25.

Roop and his wife, Gail Roop, both maintain that they saw furniture being moved in sometime in May.

Martinson said Trail’s utility bills that were brought in as proof of residency show he didn’t really live there full time since they indicate virtually no water or gas usage in April.

But Trail produced a witness, who said that he visited the house April 8 and that most of the furniture was already there.

The election board requires that any candidate be a “qualified elector,” meaning a registered voter and resident, in the district at least 90 days before filing for an elected office. The filing period was last week.

Trail moved to the District 5 house from one in the rural Berryhill area of Tulsa County.

On Tulsa World’s candidate questionnaire, which asked how long he had lived in the district, Trail answered: “Total of five years.”

Trail has previously said he didn’t mean to imply that he has lived in the district for the last five years but for a cumulative five years. He said he lived in the area when he was younger.

Although Trail is known for his family’s Ike’s Chili, he no longer owns the restaurant business. He is the operator, and the owner is David Sharp.

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By BRIAN BARBER 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 "Hopeful survives election challenge," which was published on 7/22/2009. So far, 41 comments have been made.