Michael Lee Rush



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. I would like to look at ensuring that police and fire resources are properly appropriated to where they are needed the most and look at increasing volunteer fire programs with volunteers having responsibilities for areas in which they live. In addition, I would look into the cost savings and potential greater efficiency of newer technology for both departments. I would also promote increased prevention programs through public education (CPR/First Aid classes, fire prevention training, smoke detector give aways, etc.) and alert neighbor programs.
  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. I support the idea of having a City Manager. A City Manager would be a person who is an expert in planning infrastructure, city laws, and the intricacies of managing the many projects that a city the size of Tulsa will have. The Mayor, on the other hand, can come from many diverse backgrounds and may not have the expertise in each area that would best benefit the city. Excellent opportunities may be missed due to a lack of experience or knowledge. A good City Manager would be a strong asset for any Mayor.

    I do not necessarily support having Tulsa’s elected offices be non-partisan. Having a candidate declare a party allows the voters to gain a general understanding of the candidate’s beliefs and values. The candidate will not always agree with the party platform, but these differences can be addressed in public meetings, interviews, and statements that allow the public to understand the candidates exact feelings on important matters. The party system at least gives the voter a starting point for understanding the candidate.
  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. I believe that the mass transit system can be improved; however, I do not feel that we have the resources at this time to build a rail system on our own without using federal money to support the project. I would definitely like to see an expansion of the current bus system to further embrace the surrounding communities by building on the existing park and ride system. Increased use of the bus system by those inside and outside of Tulsa would help to alleviate parking problems and air quality issues.
  7. What would be your top three priorities if you are elected?
  8. Education – Tulsa has addressed some of the issues by being a national leader in early childhood education, but we still have a major problem in our middle school and high school programs. According to a recent article in the August 2, 2009 edition of the Tulsa World referencing a study by the McKenzie Group, only 7 percent of TPS high school graduates are considered “college-ready.” I believe we should:

    Increase corporate partnerships with our schools to help defray costs of equipment.

    Continue the pursuit of grants.

    Implement proactive solutions to ensure the education of our children, like: encouraging in-home tutoring for struggling students, increasing counseling programs for families, and increasing family involvement.

    Economy and Infrastructure – I would like to increase job growth through more tax incentives for current employers increasing business and for new companies coming into Tulsa. I believe that we need a strong plan for improving and building upon our current infrastructure. For example, current roads need to be properly cared for, highways should be well lit and safe, and city pools need to be open. Before we start new projects, we should have a plan in place for taking care of what we already have.

    City Government – I would work to give back to the citizens of Tulsa strong reassurance in their city government. We need to improve communication and team work across departments to have everyone working together towards the common goals of improving the city and keeping our people safe. We also need to ensure that we have strong communication between this community and the communities that surround us because they are also a part of Tulsa.
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