What's Martinson's Deal?

[Conan71]

Michael, I appreciate Councilor Martinson's analytical and independent-thinking approach.  One thing I want to know is why he thinks Public Works deserves a free pass and barely a cursory glance after the Martinez scandal.  A lot more people than me claim there's been a pattern of corruption and cronyism toward contractors and vendors at PW for years and years.

[Limabean]

Sorry so late to reply but I do think it matters who a candidate hires to run their campaign.

If a candidate hires a political hack like Burdge, knowing full well that Burge's reputation is he runs a dirty campaign, then I am a little suspect as to the candidate's intentions of running on merit or mud-slinging.

I think Martinson is an intelligent guy but I think hiring Burdge is an act of desperation. Same with Gomez.

[MichaelBates]

Jim Burdge has been Martinson's campaign manager since his first race in 2005. The same is true of Gomez, who had Burdge as a manager in his 2004 race against Tom Baker and again in 2008.  They might be blameworthy for keeping him, but it's not fair or accurate to claim that they are only now hiring him.

And for those who may have forgotten, Jim Burdge was consultant on Karen Keith's county commission campaign last year.

I'm not a Jim Burdge fan, to say the least, but there aren't that many people out there who manage campaigns, particularly low-budget city campaigns. I was very nearly a Burdge client when I first ran in 1998. I was advised to contact him about voter lists, but I decided I couldn't afford to spend the $1,500 he wanted to charge. (As it turned out, I think I raised and spent $1,700 on the entire campaign. I finished second in the primary to Anna Falling.) As a novice candidate, I wasn't aware of Burdge's reputation, which at any rate didn't yet include the nasty 2005 recall campaign.

Conan, if it's true that Martinson thinks PW should get a free pass, I'm disappointed.

[pmcalk]

Chris Trail stays on the ballot:

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090721_11_0_Republ850335

[Conan71]

Go Chris!

[RecycleMichael]

I am glad there will be a race in my district, even as a democrat if I don't get to vote.

It will be interesting.

[sgrizzle]

I've heard they are digging up every piece of dirt they can find on Chris...

[Conan71]

I've heard they are digging up every piece of dirt they can find on Chris...

Well, Duh.  Dirty Burdge.

[DTowner]

That didn't take long - from today's Tulsa World.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090721_11_A5_IkesCh442214&archive=yes

[Conan71]

Chris is a nice guy, but I've got to say the information just released in the Tulsa World reads like the resume of an Obama administration job candidate.

[sgrizzle]

Sounds like he has had some crappy business partners. I can imagine that.

Although I did interpret the question "have you ever been arrested" to mean a police officer putting handcuffs on and taking you to the station and writing you up. (I truthfully answered no, FYI)

The records don't sound great but since th records only give half the story, I'm not swayed too much.

I'm impressed at the amount of digging done into a newcomer so early in the race.

[Limabean]

Burdge, Martinson and Gomez should be careful. Turnabout is fair play and I think there are alot more players on the other team........

[MichaelBates]

So what's Limabean's deal?