Tulsa World: Eager to embrace role

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Eager to embrace role
Victoria Bartlett intends to be active in several Tulsa issues.

Victoria Bartlett is interested in becoming involved with the Tulsa Million Miles program and the Mayor's Mentoring to the Max initiative after her husband, Dewey Bartlett, takes over the mayor's office Dec. 7. Shane Bevel / for the Tulsa World

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/29/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/29/2009 3:54 AM

Tulsa doesn't bestow a formal title or delegate any specific responsibilities to the mayor's spouse, but Victoria Bartlett is ready to embrace the public service opportunities her role will offer.

Bartlett, 57, who is a federal law clerk, said she is particularly interested in becoming involved with the Tulsa Million Miles program, which encourages physical fitness, and the Mayor's Mentoring to the Max initiative, which pairs youths with positive adult role models.

She also wants to try to get more young people engaged in the community.

"I do intend on being very active in some of the health, social and cultural issues Tulsa has," she said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Bartlett said her husband, Dewey Bartlett, will have his hands full running the city government and, as he put it on the campaign trail, being the "job-gettingest mayor Tulsa has ever seen," after being sworn in Dec. 7.

"So whatever his family and I can do to help, we absolutely will," she said. "We love him, and we love this city."

Still newlyweds: Victoria and Dewey Bartlett, 62, who owns Keener Oil & Gas, were married in August 2008 after a long courtship.

To celebrate, they went on a Caribbean cruise with their blended family. On the trip were her daughters Andrea Petersen, 29, and Ann Bartlett, 20, and his son, Dewey Bartlett III, 22.

Ann was adopted by Dewey Bartlett, who has been her father figure since her early teens. Both she and Andrea call him "Dew-Dad."

The couple met about 2002 through a mutual friend, who encouraged Dewey Bartlett to give Victoria a call.

The two met for lunch one day and found they had a lot in common — Republican politics, geology (he's an oilman and it was her college minor) and their children. The relationship developed from there.

"Sometimes it takes a lifetime to find someone you are truly compatible with, and Dewey and I are a good match," she said.

From Kansas to Tulsa: A native of Newton, Kan., Victoria Bartlett was a political science student at the University of Kansas during the Vietnam War.

The campus was in turmoil with rioting and demonstrations.

During one rally, in the sea of protesters with their faces painted black and white, Bartlett was the only one carrying a sign that read, "I Support the President." A photo of her was printed in newspapers across the state, and she was noticed by then-U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, who thanked her.

But the highly charged atmosphere at the university became too disruptive for the serious student Bartlett wanted to be, so she transferred to the calmer scene at the University of Houston in Texas.

Bartlett was eventually introduced to Tulsa via the opera.

She had a good friend who was an opera lover, so the two would often visit the city to attend performances.

"It's a great opera, and I was very impressed by Tulsa's beauty and especially the river," she said.

Bartlett later moved here to earn her law degree at the University of Tulsa and for a period worked for the city's community relations department.

Shadow of the judge: Bartlett in 1984 went to work for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma based in Tulsa.

She was assigned to U.S. Senior District Judge H. Dale Cook and was with him until his death from cancer last year.

As a career law clerk for Cook, Bartlett, an attorney, did the legal research, jury instructions and drafted all of the orders for the judge.

"I'm the shadow behind the man," she said. "I would write up everything up to the signature line and then it would be turned over him to review and sign."

Now she's with U.S. Magistrate T. Lane Wilson, for whom she writes legal recommendations on cases related to Social Security and tax matters.

Bartlett kept a relatively low profile during the mayoral campaign due to her employment with the federal court, in observance of the judicial code, but now the election chapter is over.

Although she will continue working, she is ready to be side-by-side with her husband to help Tulsa through these rocky times.

"I think Dewey's business experience and his leadership qualities are what this city needs right now," she said. "He wants to advance the positive outlook that he carries with him in his life.

"We all need to focus on how much we have in common rather than our differences. Together, we can move Tulsa forward."

Brian Barber 581-8322
brian.barber@tulsaworld.com By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 4:16:13 AM) So when will she run for mayor. Mrs Dewy Bartlett II. Continuation of the Bartlett diocese in Tulsa. More rotten politics in Tulsa. How many jobs can he destroy.
	Report Comment copperhead, (11/29/2009 5:39:46 AM) Certainly a First Lady our city can take pride in. . Mrs. Bartlett, pay no attention to M-Maynot, the constant malcontent, who consistently seems threatened and intimidated by successful, educated women, and possibly just women in general?
	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Las Vegas (11/29/2009 6:59:24 AM) If you want to find out a little more about what kind of mayor we've elected, interview his first wife.
	Report Comment jett rink, (11/29/2009 9:27:13 AM) "...at the University of Kansas during the Vietnam War...Bartlett was the only one carrying a sign that read, "I Support the President." What fantasy world do Republicans live in? If Richard M. Nixon is her idea a "positive adult role" model, please keep our children far away from this woman.
	Report Comment Nuff, (11/29/2009 9:59:08 AM) I think this is a very good idea and she will do a fine job. He's focusing on the tough issues. I'm happy to see that he doesn't need to be a 'busy-bodied celebrity' like Taylor who had to have her picture in the paper every day.
	Report Comment fld11, (11/29/2009 11:38:23 AM) This clown thinks he's a Saudi king or something. He's just a small town mayor and needs to rethink his already corrupt practices of wasteful spending on a chief of staff, transition team, etc. Give me a break. Why you people elect career political family boys is beyond me. Politician spouses are certainly not qualified to do anything as they weren't elected and can't be on the payroll (legitimately). Time will certainly tell.
	Report Comment argon, (11/29/2009 11:59:25 AM) They talked about Republican politics and geology on their first date? Sounds like fun.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 12:00:34 PM) fid11 Ms Bartlett may not succed but she will run. Cookie cutter people fashion their cookie cut life after cookies cut before them ie Clinton.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 12:13:46 PM) What the matter copperhead u scared. A predator that hides under rocks. Is that why your profile is private. Glad that you are so easily swayed by others views. It shows your strength.
	Report Comment GARFIELD, TULSA (11/29/2009 12:59:35 PM) Usually a Democrat, I have confidence in Mr. Bartlett and that he will tackle our many embedded problems forthrightly. I voted for Mr. Adelson for other reasons. Only comment regarding Mrs. Bartlett--she doesn't look 57 years old in the photo, and she has sharp mental acuity, too!
	Report Comment grace o'malley, donegal (11/29/2009 1:15:43 PM) so much idiocy in one article? how does one begin? i will just start with what the bloody hell is she wearing.
	Report Comment 007, Tulsa (11/29/2009 2:21:20 PM) "Ann was adopted by Dewey Bartlett, who has been her father figure since her early teens" Cool.May the rest of the prolife right wing bible thumping me myself and I republican party take note.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 3:08:44 PM) 007 is that truE? If so then that means that you are bringing Bartletts out of the closet. More like Woody Allen wedding with his step daughter. Fine folks with tons of money and questionable moral fibre.
	Report Comment IrishQuaker, Tulsa (11/29/2009 3:16:32 PM) O'mally. You're just jealous of her arms.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/29/2009 3:46:23 PM) I like her necklace.
	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Las Vegas (11/29/2009 4:37:06 PM) Nuff you should have seen him glad handing at the Summit Club Friday before last, it was embarassing. I was no fan of Taylor's but at least she's intelligent. Bartlett? Not so much....
	Report Comment you'rekidding, Tulsa (11/29/2009 5:31:58 PM) Glamour is something you can't bear to be without once you're used to it. Loretta Young
	Report Comment nativedaughter, (11/29/2009 6:30:42 PM) Boy are these comments stupid by people who don't know anything but complain about things they know nothing about. Wow, are we glad none of these people will amount to anything in government. They act like its so simple to solve the citys problems that anyone should be able to do it alone, no help, no staff, nothing. Where are you living, bodunkville?
	Report Comment uklynbereg, (11/29/2009 6:53:34 PM) Promoting fitness is an admirable goal, and judging from what can be seen waddling down the streets, thighs rubbing, she has her work cut out for her.
	Report Comment Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 7:14:20 PM) It is going to be a LONG four years.
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 9:20:29 PM) Nuff that's right I'm sure he will stay away from the limelight. Just like he's not in the background in the picture here in the newspaper. Hahahahaha
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 9:24:23 PM) If you go to the family reunion to find a date:~} YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK
	Report Comment mayor_maynot, Tulsa (11/29/2009 9:47:33 PM) That's funny copperhead thinks that Ms Bartlett is listening to him. Hahahahaha. Copperheads are cold blooded predators who hide under rocks and spew their venom on unsuspecting victims. Not much unlike bullies. It's a good season for snakes to be hibernating. Back to the dirt where they belong. What's wrong got a frog in your throat?
	Report Comment jett rink, (11/29/2009 11:33:59 PM) "They act like its so simple to solve...problems that anyone should be able to do it alone, no help, no staff, nothing" Isn't that the Republican philosophy, at least for poor folks, in a nutshell?
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/29/2009 11:35:19 PM) Glad to see there is an intelligent educated woman behind our Mayor.

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