Forget Everyone Else It's Medlock vs. Bartlett

[MDepr2007]

From a KOTV interview this morning.

Since Bartlett has already lost once to Adelson a few years ago, for a different office. Does a win against Medlock make Adelson an easy winner against Bartlett ? Would the better chance of an Adelson lose be a Medlock win against Bartlett?

[sgrizzle]

With so many GOP candidates I'm thinking the Republican winner will have 40% whereas Adelson will probably get 85% in the Democrat primary. It's going to be an uphill battle for any GOP candidate considering how far the primary will be split and the fact the current Democrat mayor has such a high approval rating.

[Grizzle4D8]

Posted on twhrld:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=262&articleid=20090826_11_A11_Tulsam591258

"The Republicans can't possibly win unless I win," Tay, a Democrat, said about capturing the nomination in the primary race.

[swake]

Posted on twhrld:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=262&articleid=20090826_11_A11_Tulsam591258

"The Republicans can't possibly win unless I win," Tay, a Democrat, said about capturing the nomination in the primary race.

Quoting yourself,

Nice.

[RecycleMichael]

I think Dewey Bartlett would be a way more formidable opponent than Chris Medlock in a race against Tom Adelson. Many traditional republicans would break rank than vote for Medlock.

The real challenge to Adelson would be Anna Falling. She is the real outsider and if she could somehow win the republican nomination, it would mean the evangelical voter base is energized for this election.

[sgrizzle]

I went to the Tulsa Area Republican Assembly nominating convention (yes, it's as fun as it sounds) and TARA is made up of republicans of the more conservative side. Candidates such as Bartlett and Lakin are not popular there. Each of the Mayoral candidates (except Bartlett who wasn't there of course) were asked if they would endorse Bartlett if he wins the republican nod and while some were expectedly vague, they all leaned towards endorsing no-one if Bartlett wins.

[MichaelBates]

Bartlett couldn't beat Adelson in 2004, a year in which George W. Bush won all 77 counties and won Senate District 33 by 8 percentage points. It's hard to believe he'd do any better as the top of the ticket, with no coattails whatsoever.

I know exactly one person who is voting for Anna Falling who is not a member of her immediate family. At the Republican candidate events I've been to, I've seen lots of people wearing Medlock stickers and a few Streetman supporters. Even Nathaniel Booth seems to have a bigger following than Falling. If Anna had a following among conservative Christian voters, she would have won the Tulsa Area Republican Assembly endorsement, or at least would have drawn enough support to prevent Medlock from getting it. You have to get the votes of two-thirds of the membership to get the Republican Assembly endorsement, a high threshold in a crowded field.

[rwarn17588]

It seems like there's a method to Falling's madness, though. She keeps coming up with cockeyed ideas that get her name on the media and get people talking about her (for good or ill). Plus the fact she was a former city councilor will give her no small amount of name recognition, which is also important.

I'm not saying she's going to win. But I'd say she'd definitely peel a substantial number of GOP votes away from other candidates who need them.

[MichaelBates]

And what I'm saying is that whatever media attention she's getting doesn't seem to be winning her any votes. I know a lot of Republicans -- and I'd guess that most of them are conservative evangelical Christians -- but I only know one that's supporting Falling. That one person is Dan Hicks, the guy that designed the creation display Falling wants to put at the zoo.

[brianh]

I would like to see a "no mayor" option on the ticket, don't they just duplicate the work of the council? Are we legally obligated to have one? Failing that, which mayor will work best to thwart and hamper the ABLE commission?

[swake]

I would like to see a "no mayor" option on the ticket, don't they just duplicate the work of the council? Are we legally obligated to have one? Failing that, which mayor will work best to thwart and hamper the ABLE commission?

No, the mayor does not duplicate the work of the council. A lot of the problems with the council recently is that they seem to think they do have the same powers and duties as the mayor. It's the whole separation of powers thingy. She is the chief executive of the city, they are a part time legislative branch that is only supposed create ordinances, set budgets and advise and consent on mayor appointees.

As for the Mayor "thwarting" the ABLE commission, state law trumps city ordinance, the city can't legally do anything to thwart ABLE. 

What I think we need to see is a stronger auditing department and the various department heads being at will employees of the mayor. Some people need to be fired for what's happened over multiple mayors in Public Works, Police and Fire. Tulsa seems to have a bureaucracy that is out of control and along with Police and Fire unions with too much power.

[rwarn17588]

And what I'm saying is that whatever media attention she's getting doesn't seem to be winning her any votes. I know a lot of Republicans -- and I'd guess that most of them are conservative evangelical Christians -- but I only know one that's supporting Falling. That one person is Dan Hicks, the guy that designed the creation display Falling wants to put at the zoo.

I guess we'll find out how big the Hicks-ish vote is.

[Wrinkle]

Which makes Medlock's platform of installing a City Manager meaningful. If change is what we want, that'd be a big step in the right direction.

Bartlett would be more of the same, only not as good.

[Conan71]

TARA is made up of republicans of the more conservative side.

Not exactly the kind of place you'd expect to see me, eh?

[swake]

Which makes Medlock's platform of installing a City Manager meaningful. If change is what we want, that'd be a big step in the right direction.

Bartlett would be more of the same, only not as good.

You can install a city manager now, I'm talking about removing civil service protection from the top levels of city government.