City Council District 4

[Double A]

It's official, as predicted by the Indy Gazetter(http://tulsaindygazetter.blogspot.com/2005/11/06-tulsa-electionwatch.html) Tom Baker announced he will run for mayor(lol). The District 4 seat is now wide open.

So far, Kent Morlan(R) is the only candidate to officially announce. What I can glean from his website(www.kentmorlan.com) is that he has the pretty myopic view that District 4 only consists of downtown and the key to it's revitalization is more parking because Tulsans are inherently lazy. He even goes so far as to commend the Tulsa World for tearing down the Skelly Building for parking(fishing for an endorsement?). He praises Home Depot and their suburban scale big box development as a model for redevelopment in downtown(ready the Wal-Mart welcome mat). I wonder if he will apply this seas of asphalt approach for revitalization to the rest of District 4. Rumor has it, another reason he's in the race is to quash the Fire Code requirement for all non compliant hi-rises to be retrofitted with sprinklers by 2010. Anybody remember the fire during the construction of St. John's parking garage that the fire trucks couldn't reach?

I've heard rumblings that Eric Gomez(R) might give it another try, but I doubt he would want to see his criminal record splashed across the pages of the Tulsa World again.

Then, there's this guy, Jack Wing(http://www.mcgrawdavissonstewart.com/photo/agents/4415.htm) who is rumored to be Baker's handpicked replacement on the Democratic ticket. Considering his employer(http://www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr05-032.cfm) and involvement in the sports commission I have to wonder if he will be the MLS East Village Soccer Stadium/Home Builder's Association/Greater Tulsa Area Realtors candidate. His recent departure as director of Tulsa Run pretty much assures he is in the race.

Did I miss anyone?