Mayoral candidate Dewey Bartlett

[RecycleMichael]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090625_11_0_Oilman564358

Bartlett announces candidacy for mayor

By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
Published: 6/25/2009 

Oilman and former city councilor Dewey Bartlett Jr. on Thursday announced his Republican candidacy for mayor, saying he wants to end partisan bickering and unify Tulsa. "We must focus on our basic infrastructure and public safety priorities, while trimming our budget responsibly and conservatively," he said. "I am a conservative businessman and I know how to create jobs and grow industry. I'm not interested in growing government. I'm interested in growing jobs."

Bartlett, 62, said the city has to "finance our needs before our wants." "In the current economy, we cannot afford to make the same mistakes that the liberals in Washington, D.C., are making," he said. "Tulsa must live within its means and still achieve its goals. Together, we can make this happen."

Bartlett is president of Tulsa's Keener Oil & Gas Co. and served on the City Council from its inception in 1990 until 1994. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor in a 1992 special election and for the Oklahoma Senate District 33 seat in 2004. Bartlett is the son of the late Dewey F. Bartlett, an Oklahoma governor and United States senator. Following his announcement, Bartlett praised Mayor Kathy Taylor's leadership and pledged to continue her business approach to government. Taylor has decided not to seek re-election. Even though Taylor is a Democrat, Bartlett backed her 2006 mayoral campaign. He said he would not have run if she had gone for a second term.

He should be a strong contender...

[TURobY]

Of those that have thus far revealed their intentions to run, Bartlett is worth consideration for my vote.

[FOTD]

A good guess: http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=13584.msg133422#msg133422


Nice guy....but

[waterboy]

I spoke with him during the 2004 run. I am always impressed when a Republican reaches out to a solid Democrat and can actually find common ground.  He is someone who could avoid partisan bickering and manage the city.

[swake]

A good guess: http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=13584.msg133422#msg133422

Nice job patting yourself on the back for something most people already knew was going to happen.

Careful so as to not pull a muscle, mkay?

[Conan71]

Here's my hope:

Continues with the vision of Mayor Taylor but is a less polarizing individual.  I hope his idea of ending partisan bikering doesn't mean capitulating to Hissy-Fit Martinson.  I think Dewey could be a very capable mayor, let's see who else jumps in.

Has anyone heard any more whispers about Councilor Eagleton running?

[sgrizzle]

If I had to pick a Republican, of the names in the hat so far it might be Bartlett.

[tim huntzinger]

Nice job patting yourself on the back for something most people already knew was going to happen.

Careful so as to not pull a muscle, mkay?

'Most'? 'Most' people have no idea who he is but I do:  the scion of another 'blue blood' family.  We had that with LaFortune.  Great.

[Conan71]

If I had to pick a Republican, of the names in the hat so far it might be Bartlett.

Let's just hope Bartlett meets expectations a lot better than the last Mayor who got elected by coming from an old Tulsa political/oil family.

[PonderInc]

This is pure gossip, but...

I heard he was concerned about having the time to be mayor and run his business at the same time.  Was asking people if they thought he could do 4-day work weeks as mayor...

Uh...off the top of my head?  No.

Mayor Taylor works 24/7 for free.  Lafortune played pick-up basketball and went jogging during work hours.  There is a difference between the two.

[rwarn17588]

Has anyone heard any more whispers about Councilor Eagleton running?

Eagleton shouldn't bother because he can't keep his mouth shut. Loose cannons such as him don't get elected mayor.

[FOTD]

I spoke with him during the 2004 run. I am always impressed when a Republican reaches out to a solid Democrat and can actually find common ground.  He is someone who could avoid partisan bickering and manage the city.

You're using aren't you?

[FOTD]

Nice job patting yourself on the back for something most people already knew was going to happen.

Careful so as to not pull a muscle, mkay?

We all have skeletons in the closet.....but FOTD is not running for anything. And know nothing knows something true too...

[waterboy]

You're using aren't you?

No, just had a brief, personal conversation with him in front of my house and I liked what he was saying. This was during the peak of republican power and yet he was not strident and rather embarrassed at local party behaviors.

The better question is why no better candidates have stepped forward from either side.

[shadows]

Dewey was of the earliest councilors. 
At this time he did not show the leadership that was expected as a representive of the majority of the people which was a purpose cited as a charter change.  He ran for mayor and was defeated by Savage in the winner take all.  He depended on the name more than the duties implied.

At the installation of Savage, where the big hole now stands in the old central park, I stood under the aged trees with this city elite who had an expression on his face liken a child who's toy had been taken away.  I said to him "I'm sorry you didn't make it" to comfort him.  He replied with "There will be another time".  As we enter into a possibly "winner take all" there are some very dedicated persons on the council too that would perform more efficiently than one elected for a namesake.

Or is this another time?