Eric Gomez (incumbent)



Q&A

  1. A recent presentation by a city councilor showed Tulsa's overall police and fire budget has grown more than three times above the rate of inflation over the last 40 years without adding manpower in at least the last decade. It has been described as "unsustainable growth" with the city's current level of revenue. How would you propose to address this situation?
  2. The unsustainable growth as highlighted by the Tulsa City Council staff presentation presented by Councilor Martinson during the council's budget negotiations points to two separate issues within the city, limited resources and an imbalance in resource allocation.

    While public safety is at the core of basic services that a city must provide the amount of our city budget allocated in this fiscal year towards public safety leaves other key areas of the city virtually closed for business.

    The second more salient point deals with revenues. While this current crisis is caused by an overall downturn in the economy Tulsa must remove the barriers that will allow the “urban core” to be revitalized. This is the best and most prudent way to solve the financial crisis that the city is in currently in.
  3. Over the last several years, controversy between the City Council and mayor's administration has triggered discussions about changing from the current strong mayor- council form of government to a city manager-council form of government and about having Tulsa's elected offices be non-partisan. Would you support either of these ideas? Why or why not?
  4. At this time I am generally not in favor of a city manager form of government since the city manager would only need to be in the good graces of a majority of the councilors and this in my mind would not allow the citizens of Tulsa the right to say who runs the daily operations of the city. I would support non-partisan elections within the city as several council districts are decided in primary elections and tens of thousands of Tulsa citizens are denied their right to vote based upon party affiliation.
  5. Improving mass transit (i.e. additional bus service, rail lines, etc.) has been a major topic of discussion through the city's ongoing PlaniTulsa comprehensive planning process. Do you believe Tulsa's public transportation system needs improvement? Please explain.
  6. There is no question that Tulsa’s transportation system needs substantial investment. As our population continues to age and transportation improvement costs continue to escalate while traditional funds for federal and state highways are decreasing we must supplement the current system. We only need to look at the cost and time to procure funding for a small stretch of Interstate 44 and apply that cost per mile (nearly $100 million per mile and over 20 years of lobbying) of highway to the current needs for one to see the question is not “how can we afford to implement a light rail or fixed guide way system?” But rather: “How can we afford not to do so?”
  7. What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?
  8. To continually promote quality infill that will help sustain Tulsa economically for the future, to work with the new mayor in this endeavor. To improve the overall quality of life for all Tulsans by challenging the new administration and council to re-align how the city management structure prioritizes resources by making our comprehensive plan not just about land use but all resource expenditures. To continue to improve the urban core of Tulsa since it is not only the “heart” but the “Heartbeat” of Tulsa.