http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0509/624698.htmlMAYOR WALKS OUT ON COUNCILORS
'Several Tulsa city councilors say they are still in shock after Mayor Kathy Taylor walked out of a committee meeting.
'The mayor says it happened when she was interrupted by one of the councilors while trying to explain the new stadium improvement district coming to downtown Tulsa. In a nutshell, the City is no longer going to contribute a half million dollars to a fund for special downtown services. It will now be part of the new Stadium Improvement District.
'Councilor Bill Martinson wanted to know where that money was going. But, in the end, he upset Mayor Taylor. Martinson wanted to know how much the City would be contributing to the ballpark fund for downtown services. The mayor proceeded to explain, but after fifteen minutes, and the question asked several times over...
'"Councilor Martinson, I would really like to finish a sentence," Taylor said. "I know that you don't want me to, but I'd really like to if you don't mind."
"I do mind," Martinson replied. "Because I..."
But, he was cut off in mid-sentence.
"Okay, if you want to submit a question to me in a writing, I'm not, I won't take that..."
Mayor Taylor eventually walked out of the room.
Councilor John Eagleton says the mayor was not answering Councilor Martinson's questions.
"If the question is where is the money coming from and where is the money going, I expect a clear answer to that question," Eagleton says. "We still don't have a straight answer."
'But, when we asked the mayor the same question, she gave us a straight answer.
"The general fund allocation won't be paid this year," Taylor said.
'As for walking out of the meeting?
"I think there have been issues over the last six months both where I've appeared and some our city employees have appeared where the dialog has not been respectful," she says. "And I felt like it was important yesterday to make that statement."
'But, Councilor Rick Westcott says it's just the opposite.
"The City Council feels disrespected by the mayor of Tulsa," he says.
'It seems all anyone can agree on is that they need to stop disagreeing.
We also spoke with Councilor Martinson by phone, who says he never meant to disrespect the mayor. He says he felt like his question was not being answered directly. He says he still does not have that answer.
'Right now, the council is waiting for an opinion from the state Attorney General on the legality of the new stadium assessment fee. Mayor Taylor has put the issue up for a vote on Thursday's agenda. Councilors have until July first to approve it.'
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So the Mayor fillibustered for fifteen minutes is how I read this. Kudos to KTUL! Seems as if Westcott and Eagleton - two Bar-certified loyyahs - felt that the Mayor was not redirecting or answering the question. If this were testimony would that qualify as contempt? Walking out is contemptible on its face, but then to use that tired 'let me answer' when there is not an answer forthcoming shows poor executive skills. Sorry she is used to folk just catering to her but that is why this is a story.