Rick Westcott: "I am not seeking reelection to the Tulsa City Council"

[AngieB]

I am announcing, today, that I am not seeking reelection to the Tulsa City Council.

Serving the citizens of District 2 for the past three terms has a great honor and privilege.  I'm grateful for the strong support that I've received from a lot of people over the years.  But, I am most grateful for the unfailing support that I have received from my son, Brandon and my daughter-in-law Bekah, and my wife, Tammy.  Some people may not understand the important role that a strong family plays in public service.  I've been blessed to have them by my side.  But, I believe that it's time for me to devote more of my attention to my family and my law practice.

Over the past five years, with a lot of help from a lot of people, we've accomplished a great deal in District 2.

We've seen some major street reconstruction and rehabilitation all over District 2, from Southwest Boulevard to the Tulsa Hills area to South Lewis.  We've just seen the completion of Tulsa's first non-emergency twenty-four hour construction project at 71st & S. Union Ave.   The South Lewis street project, from 61st to 73rd streets, which had been planned for years, finally began construction a few months ago and will be completed this year.

We've seen organized, responsible, quality development, both residential and commercial, in Tulsa Hills and the surrounding area.  Several projects have already been built and several have been approved and will soon start construction.  Commercial development means new jobs, not just for those who live in District 2 but for all Tulsans.  Residential development means that new residents, new families are moving into the area.

The strength of our police force is on its way back to where it should be.  After our financial troubles of the past year, one of the biggest rookie classes in years in currently training at our police academy.  We aren't yet where we need to be, but we're making progress.

With your help, we were able to help secure the approval of House Bill 1686, which is a major step towards extending passenger rail service from Oklahoma City to Tulsa.  My grandson, Noah, and I attended Governor Fallin's ceremonial signing of that bill yesterday.

With a broad-based response from residents of District 2, we were able to persuade Mayor Taylor to retain ownership of our golf courses and hire Billy Casper Golf to manage them for us.  That has proved to be a great success.

We were able to help Red Fork Main Street secure its accreditation and funding for the first three years.  It is now a strong, viable group of business owners who are successfully working to revitalize the economy along Route 66 and are creating new jobs while restoring the historic architecture of the area.

With the help of numerous Southwest Tulsans, Councilor Bynum and Mayor Bartlett, we recently issued a Request for Proposals for the development of the west bank of the Arkansas River, a project that has been discussed for years.

I have met so many people in District 2 over the past five years, people whom I didn't know before but who have now become good friends.  I am confident that those people, those hard-working neighbors who volunteer their time for so many activities, will continue the successes and the progress that we have seen.

I am announcing, now, that I am not running for reelection so that, perhaps, one or more of those hard-working neighbors may consider stepping up and running for City Council.  I will continue to work, as a private citizen, to help make District 2, all of Tulsa and all of Oklahoma a better place to live. And to the next Councilor from District 2, I will offer to you whatever support I can to ensure we keep moving forward.

Rick Westcott

[Conan71]

Good riddance.  Angie, you should run for this post.

[AngieB]

Haha. Conan, you so funny.

[RecycleMichael]

I would support Angie.

I have had many discussions with Rick Westcott over the years. I usually disagreed with him. I was furious with him over the ballpark votes.

All that being said, I am sorry he is not running. He did his homework, made time to listen to crazies like me, and voted his conscience. He was also a tireless worker for his district. We should be thankful for his service.

[Gaspar]

I think they all have received the message. 

The antics of the counsel over the last year makes it an increasingly hostile environment for logical discourse.  Once a place where political futures were born through public service and direct connection with community, the counsel has now become a shelter for buffoons wanting to establish a name for themselves by seeing who can make the most noise. 

Without new blood, only buffoons will remain.

[rdj]

I've always found Rick to be an engaging and gracious man.  Regardless of his stance on his issues I thought he was always prepared and spoke his position well.  One of my favorite Tulsa memories was right after the contentious process and vote for the city to purchase OTC.  Immediately following the vote he and two other councilors went to McNellie's, found a table downstairs and enjoyed a beer together.  I walked over to say hello and they invited me to join them.  We had a couple of pints and the discussed the potential now that the city was moving into OTC.  I had never felt so close to my elected officials as that moment when you could see they were regular guys who had genuinely anguished over whether the decision was in the best interest of the city.

We can agree or disagree with policy or decision making, all I ask is that we have a honest, citizen to citizen, civil discussion about the issues.  It is that sort of statesmanship that has been lost in Tulsa politics.

[Conan71]

I've always found Rick to be an engaging and gracious man.  Regardless of his stance on his issues I thought he was always prepared and spoke his position well.  One of my favorite Tulsa memories was right after the contentious process and vote for the city to purchase OTC.  Immediately following the vote he and two other councilors went to McNellie's, found a table downstairs and enjoyed a beer together.  I walked over to say hello and they invited me to join them.  We had a couple of pints and the discussed the potential now that the city was moving into OTC.  I had never felt so close to my elected officials as that moment when you could see they were regular guys who had genuinely anguished over whether the decision was in the best interest of the city.

We can agree or disagree with policy or decision making, all I ask is that we have a honest, citizen to citizen, civil discussion about the issues.  It is that sort of statesmanship that has been lost in Tulsa politics.

I've done the same thing.  All was fine until Martinson started shooting off his mouth when I was quizzing him about his $2bln road plan FAIL.  

Westcott would hear nothing of a suggestion of malfeasance at Public Works either.  I didn't find him to be very charming or engaging at all.

These were all things brought up in a very logical manner.  They seemed rather closed-minded, IMO.  Bynum on the other hand was quite engaging and actually followed up with me on some of the things which we discussed.

[rdj]

You do have to give Martinson some credit for seeing (& shouting to the hills) that the city was in for a rough go in the next few years and the public safety budgets would have to be addressed.

I don't know that charming is a word I'd use for Rick, but I think he is a great guy.

[Bubblehead]

With Westcott, Christiansen and Eagleton not running, there are 3 seats the Chamber can easily fill.

Tulsans may not have liked the bickering between the council and the mayor but how much will they like a city council run by the Chamber of Commerce?

[rdj]

Do you think an opposing group will stand up and raise funds against the "chamber" candidates?

[Bubblehead]

No.