City Council District 7

[sgrizzle]

seat left open by John Eagleton
Republicans Steve Roemeran, Thomas Mansur and Elliot Parker face off on Tuesday. The winner faces the winner of Bobby Bookout and Michael Rainwater in Tuesday's Democratic primary.

Thoughts?

[sgrizzle]

Roemerman is a longtime political blogger and somewhat of an unconventional candidate. I talked to him a bit about his campaign before filing day and I've seen quite a few signs for him. I'm not in 7, and know nothing about his opponents, but he seems solid.

[TheArtist]

  I will have to check them out.  I am "officially" in district 7 though I have no idea why.   IMO the district 7, northern most line should be just south of the highway.  For some reason it includes this sliver of homes just north of the highway.  I feel more connected to everything north of the highway, where I live, with the mall, the university, the shopping and businesses, schools and neighborhoods, etc.   My district has me having concern for Woodland Hills Mall, when I can walk to the Promenade 4 houses away, but thats not my district and I can't have any say in it vote wise. For what reason did they include that tiny strip of homes just north of the highway into district 7?   District 7 and whats in it on the other side of that highway might as well be the other side of the universe imo.  

I would like to push for and work to help create a "Small Area Plan" for the area around 41st and Yale, the Promenade and the University.  But hey, thats not in my district, though I live, shop, go to the movies, walk, get groceries, etc. right there and almost never go south of that highway unless I have to lol.  I could give a rats arse for what happens south of the highway. But THAT is my district?  Really?

[sroemerman]

@TheArtist

It is strange that those houses between 31st and 41st are in District 7, but the powers that be made that District 7 and if I'm elected I'll do my best to represent that area and it's unique needs.

With regard to the area around 41st and Yale, the Promenade and the University, we need to coordinate our efforts with the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa for development in this area.  I know they have plans of their own, and we need to make sure that the City of Tulsa, the University and the community aren't in conflict. 

Check out my web site at www.steven4tulsa.com.

[sgrizzle]

 I will have to check them out.  I am "officially" in district 7 though I have no idea why.   IMO the district 7, northern most line should be just south of the highway.  For some reason it includes this sliver of homes just north of the highway.  I feel more connected to everything north of the highway, where I live, with the mall, the university, the shopping and businesses, schools and neighborhoods, etc.   My district has me having concern for Woodland Hills Mall, when I can walk to the Promenade 4 houses away, but thats not my district and I can't have any say in it vote wise. For what reason did they include that tiny strip of homes just north of the highway into district 7?   District 7 and whats in it on the other side of that highway might as well be the other side of the universe imo.  

I would like to push for and work to help create a "Small Area Plan" for the area around 41st and Yale, the Promenade and the University.  But hey, thats not in my district, though I live, shop, go to the movies, walk, get groceries, etc. right there and almost never go south of that highway unless I have to lol.  I could give a rats arse for what happens south of the highway. But THAT is my district?  Really?

William, I think you're reading the map wrong. District 7 doesn't go west of Sheridan.

http://tulsacouncil.org/district-finder/district-finder-2011.aspx
http://www.tulsacounty.org/tulsacounty/ebmaps/citycouncil.pdf

[TheArtist]

  I googled "Tulsa City Council District Map"  and got this....   2009- 2011 CURRENT  Council District Map    http://www.tulsacouncil.org/district-finder/map.aspx

I type in my address there and I am in district 7.   Apparently that has changed but didnt realize that Current didn't actually mean current and that you had to look elsewhere to get the most current, current map. lol

[sgrizzle]

Well now you have a few hours to decide what you think about a completely different set of candidates.

[RecycleMichael]

@TheArtist

It is strange that those houses between 31st and 41st are in District 7, but the powers that be made that District 7 and if I'm elected I'll do my best to represent that area and it's unique needs.

With regard to the area around 41st and Yale, the Promenade and the University, we need to coordinate our efforts with the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa for development in this area.  I know they have plans of their own, and we need to make sure that the City of Tulsa, the University and the community aren't in conflict. 

Check out my web site at www.steven4tulsa.com.

Thank you for posting on this forum. You are a good guy and I have read your blog for years.

[Townsend]

The new coucilor was just let go by his employer due to appearance of conflict of interest.

TW:

Being a city councilor has cost Tom Mansur his civil engineering job of 11 years.

Mansur, 65, said Tuesday he is disappointed that his employer, SAIC Constructors, would not allow him to keep his job, and hopes to regain employment somewhere else.

However, his "laid off" status does free him to participate in trash discussions as the city moves toward implementing a new controversial trash service, he said.

"They were concerned with a conflict of interest or even the appearance of one," Mansur said about the company officials.

Mansur said SAIC had warned him that if he took the council position that he would be terminated even though he received permission from local supervisors prior to filing his candidacy for office.

The newly elected District 7 councilor said that the corporate office had concerns that his political position would cost the company city contracts.

"I don't believe the company is trying to mess with me individually," he said. "Any company has a concern with how an employee may reflect on them."

By the City Charter, the council has no role in the selection or hiring of contractors; that falls to the administrative staff and mayor.

The council does approve contract change orders seeking more time or money, or to reallocate funds when the project is completed under the bid amount.

If a potential issue did arise, Mansur said he could recuse himself, a move many past councilors have made to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Mansur said he urged SAIC lawyers to talk to the city's Legal Department to learn what issues, if any, existed with his council service that would prohibit the company from getting city contracts.

SAIC has and continues to do contract work for the city. Mansur was involved in a water project for the city's Utility Board, but relinquished the project to another employee after being elected.

R.W. Beck consulting firm, which has a contract with the city's trash board, also is owned by SAIC. Beck's contract involves everything from crafting the trash bid documents to evaluating the submitted bids.

Mansur said after he filed an ethics disclosure with the city because of the Beck and SAIC connection, the attorney for the trash board sought to have him recused from council trash discussions.

Mansur also has been publicly opposed to the proposed trash system, but agreed to the recusal request.

The councilor said he thought he had resolved the employment issue with SAIC by completing a company ethics form that had a category for political office.

But, Mansur said, the company came back saying the termination would occur if he remained in the post.

Vernon Guidry, SAIC vice president for media relations, said he could not give the status of Mansur's employment.

But in a prepared statement he stated the SAIC employees are free to seek and hold elective office, but cannot accept actions that represent a conflict of interest.

"Employees may recuse themselves to avoid a conflict, or they may leave the company, but action must be taken to avoid a conflict," he wrote.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=667&articleid=20120104_11_A1_ULNSbL371067

[AquaMan]

I'm guessing he didn't do a cost benefit analysis of his own options when he decided to run. Or, the benefits of holding office must exceed what is described in public.

[Conan71]

I'm guessing he didn't do a cost benefit analysis of his own options when he decided to run. Or, the benefits of holding office must exceed what is described in public.

+1

Doesn't sound like a very sound economic decision, though if you look at someone like Clay Bird, seems like you can end up with all sorts of patronage positions after leaving the council.