Citizens for Fair and Clean Government

[T-Town Now]

Press Release:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press. I want to personally thank all of your viewers and listeners for the thousands of signatures and words of encouragement we received. We could not have had the impact we did without their support.

Individuals who wouldn't even identify themselves collected many thousands of dollars from various individuals and companies to launch their frivolous recall efforts against Councilors Mautino and Medlock. They cost the taxpayers over $30,000. David O'Connor and I felt strongly about one thing; no one from outside our council district and city, is allowed to steal our vote and deprive us of representative government. To attempt such an action required an answer from us. They believed no one was watching. They were wrong.

David and I promptly formed Citizens for Fair and Clean Government and started our own recall campaign to heighten citizen awareness of these recalls and to show that it is possible to stop this "vote theft" by money. As a result of our efforts and the efforts of many others, our Councilors, Jim Mautino and Chris Medlock were retained by an overwhelming margin. Our goal of preventing vote theft by the "good ole boy network" succeeded.

Phase one of CFCG has been completed. We are ending our efforts to recall Mayor Lafortune, Councilors Christiansen, Neal, Baker and Sullivan, and we are joining the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, the Republican and Democratic parties to call for reform of the recall provisions of the City Charter. Recall should be about criminal or fiduciary responsibilities while in office. To that end, we support the proposed changes before our City Council to revise the Charter. It should be brought before a vote of the people.

We believe the Mayor and the above mentioned Councilors will not be re-elected in the next election and the City would be spared the expenses of 5 separate recall elections. However, we are committed to giving voice to the thousands of Tulsans who have expressed deep concern over the Mayor and the four Councilors handling of the Public Trust

We are starting Phase II of Citizens for Fair and Clean Government. Our goal is to reform City & County Government to be more responsive to the citizens whose lives and properties are affected by the decisions of people that aren't elected and have no effective oversight by our elected representatives. I am referring to the many boards and commissions that deal with zoning and traffic, parks, airports and public works, whose members are appointed and not elected. Citizen's rights have been trampled by the unseemly and uncaring attitudes of the individuals appointed to these boards

As we transition from the "recall movement" to a citizen driven reform organization, we will need the help of the thousands of Tulsans who have expressed a deep concern for our beautiful city and its continuing vibrancy. We are in the process of changing our website content at www.takebacktulsa.com to give Tulsa citizens the opportunity to join the Citizens for Fair and Clean Government. You will be able to give us your e-mail address and telephone numbers so we can muster a huge response to political questions and show our politicians our power. The internet gives us the ability to provide a rapid and focused response to an issue and can determine the success or failure of any issue. Visit the website often for news.

Our goal is to bring other organizations such as Homeowners for Fair Zoning, Stop that Bridge, Oklahomans for School Accountability, the Home Owners Associations and others, under one umbrella to multiply the power of our individual votes. David and I want the Citizens for Fair and Clean Government to be an inclusive organization that is dedicated exclusively to the City of Tulsa.

Thank you.