Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett to run for re-election

BY KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
2/26/13 at 5:06 AM

Tulsa Elections 2013: Your in-depth resource for coverage of the Tulsa 2013 elections.

Standing in the lobby of a newly constructed bank headquarters in south Tulsa, Mayor Dewey Bartlett touted his record of job creation and common-sense management Monday afternoon as he announced his campaign for re-election.

"It's great to look around here at 61st and Yale and see construction, growth and progress," Bartlett said during a press conference at American Bank and Trust Co. "It is happening all over town. This is just one good example."

Bartlett joins former Mayor Kathy Taylor, whom he succeeded, and former City Councilor Bill Christiansen as announced candidates for the city's highest elected office.

Bartlett and Christiansen are Republicans. Taylor, a Democrat, will make her formal announcement at 5 p.m. Tuesday at ONEOK Field.

Bartlett reminded about 40 supporters Monday that when he took office in December 2009, the city was running out of cash, laying off workers, turning off expressway lights and grounding police helicopters.

"We turned Tulsa around by managing our city with the conservative, common-sense solutions that Tulsans have always been proud of," he said.

Bartlett said nearly 15,000 more people are working than when he took office.

During the last campaign, "we announced that our job was to become the job-gettingest city in America," Bartlett said. "We are not there, but we have made remarkable progress. Three years ago our city was losing jobs left and right."

That job creation - coupled with the efficient management of city government - has allowed the city to invest in core services again, Bartlett said.

The city has had three consecutive police academies since January 2011 and has a fourth under way, for a total of 143 new officers. In addition, two Fire Department academies have graduated 72 firefighters, with another 30 to begin training next month, he noted.

"We must never - I mean it - we must never again be faced with laying off employees and hampering our core city services," the mayor said.

Bartlett said the likelihood of that occurring again has been diminished with the creation of a $2 million sinking fund.

More savings are expected in the next five years, Bartlett said, with the city projected to save $25 million through implementation of the KPMG efficiency study his administration commissioned.

Bartlett said another key to turning the city around has been the support of the community and its determination to move forward.

"Now we are reaping the benefit of that attitude," Bartlett said. "We must stay the course. We must now have the consistency in the management and leadership of our city so that we can continue the great progress we have made."

Bartlett was surrounded by his family Monday. His wife, Victoria Bartlett, stood by his side at the lectern. Behind him were his son, Dewey Bartlett III, 25; his daughters, Ann Bennett, 23, and Andrea Brown, 32; and Brown's husband, Brad Brown.

Speaking after the news conference, the mayor said that after consulting with his family, the decision to run for re-election was an easy one.

All three of his children have chosen to build their lives in the city, he said.

"Family wins, and the family said, 'Let's go!' So we're going to do it."

Election dates

Under the city's new nonpartisan election system, all mayoral candidates will compete in the June 11 primary. Should one candidate get more than 50 percent of the vote, he or she would become the city's next mayor and would be sworn into office in December.

If two candidates receive the majority of the votes, they advance to the general election on Nov. 12.

If it takes three or more candidates to reach a majority of the votes, those candidates will compete in an Aug. 13 runoff election.

Original Print Headline: Bartlett to try for 2nd term

Kevin Canfield 918-581-8313
kevin.canfield@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and his wife, Victoria Bartlett, smile as he announces his intent to run for re-election Monday. MATT BARNARD / Tulsa World

Mayor Dewey Bartlett (left) kisses his wife, Victoria Bartlett, as his daughter, Andrea Brown, and her husband, Brad Brown, applaud his plans to run for re-election in Tulsa on Monday. Photos by MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World

Mayor Dewey Bartlett stands with his wife, Victoria Bartlett, and son, Dewey Bartlett III, as he announces his candidacy for re-election.