Mayoral COS Simonson and son

[Townsend]

Per Tulsa World FB post:

Mayoral Chief of Staff Terry Simonson's son received special treatment by being squeezed into the testing cycle for the Tulsa firefighters academy after he failed to secure a spot, emails obtained by the Tulsa World indicate.

doh

[Hoss]

Per Tulsa World FB post:

doh

That's going to leave a mark.  Probably not as bad as a burning cellphone, but you get the picture.

[MH2010]

I guess Simonson forgot about the City of Tulsa nepotism rule. It's the same rule that caused Counselor Westcott's son to resign from TPD after he had completed the academy.

[swake]

I think the thread needs a new title, "Mayoral POS Simonson and son"

[Conan71]

I think the thread needs a new title, "Mayoral POS Slimonson and son"

Post of the week

[Teatownclown]

TW did a lousy job of reporting on the back grounds of the committee of three and their "indirect" links to DB in todaze paper.

[Conan71]

TW did a lousy job of reporting on the back grounds of the committee of three and their "indirect" links to DB in todaze paper.

Lovely.  Who did they put on the committee?

Did anyone listen to Bartlet's (sic) director of communications on the radio yesterday?  What a babbling buffoon he is.

[DolfanBob]

And this kind of thing never goes on in business right ? The old nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Frankly I'm shocked. 

[AquaMan]

And this kind of thing never goes on in business right ? The old nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Frankly I'm shocked. 

The taxpayer doesn't (knowingly) pay for that behavior in businesses. Surely you don't condone this practice in local government?

[DolfanBob]

The taxpayer doesn't (knowingly) pay for that behavior in businesses. Surely you don't condone this practice in local government?

Not condone, but surely understand that it goes on. Same as with anything else. Did he qualify for the position and pass the tests or was he pushed through on Daddy's influence ?
So far it sounds like he just got a spot in a already full academy. I would like to see if he has the ability to actually make it on his own. That to me would be a far bigger story than Daddy getting me in the class and actually helping me pass it. Meh ! more kindling smoke than a actual fire.

[Conan71]

Not condone, but surely understand that it goes on. Same as with anything else. Did he qualify for the position and pass the tests or was he pushed through on Daddy's influence ?
So far it sounds like he just got a spot in a already full academy. I would like to see if he has the ability to actually make it on his own. That to me would be a far bigger story than Daddy getting me in the class and actually helping me pass it. Meh ! more kindling smoke than a actual fire.

Here's where it becomes more than "just" a problem, considering it looks on the surface as if he got a spot which was not available to anyone else.  And I did finally read the Tulsa World article.  Initially Screwy Dewey had appointed Dick Cagle, a former fire fighter who is reported to be good friends with Chief LaCroix, to the committee.  Nah, Dewey wasn't trying to stack the deck now, was he?

Oh, and as it relates to nepotism, apparently the state law deals with family members of elected officials.  Since Simonson is our un-elected silent mayor, it doesn't seem to present an issue.

[AquaMan]

Not condone, but surely understand that it goes on. Same as with anything else. Did he qualify for the position and pass the tests or was he pushed through on Daddy's influence ?
So far it sounds like he just got a spot in a already full academy. I would like to see if he has the ability to actually make it on his own. That to me would be a far bigger story than Daddy getting me in the class and actually helping me pass it. Meh ! more kindling smoke than a actual fire.

DB, did you see the guy who recently was awarded a medal for combat from the president? Turns out he now wants to be a fireman and by going to the awards ceremony he had to miss the cut-off for the next firefighters class. He was offered a chance to go around the rules since he was a hero and be put in the class. He refused to do so. Said he would wait his turn and expected no extra treatment.

It goes on in business but its not the norm and shows a lack of integrity by those involved.

[tulsa_fan]

I think the problem became when Simonson called AFTER THE TESTING GROUP WAS FILLED.  Networking and who you know is what we all do to get things done, whether for our benefit or someone else's.  The firefighter's practice was random, so references and recommendations mean nothing.  Simonson is way out of line on this one. 

Plus, no one is talking about him using his employee badge to gain access to the training facility.  They were trying to get into a locked tower to practice.  If they had done that at the police academy on the firiring range, they likely would have been shot.  Can Simonson REALLY claim with a straight face that entering the practice facility after hours was not wrong? 

At least maybe this time Bartlett will let him fall on his own since it appears there's no way Terry can take Barlett down with him.  It appears he did all this on his own.

[Conan71]

I think the problem became when Simonson called AFTER THE TESTING GROUP WAS FILLED.  Networking and who you know is what we all do to get things done, whether for our benefit or someone else's.  The firefighter's practice was random, so references and recommendations mean nothing.  Simonson is way out of line on this one. 

Plus, no one is talking about him using his employee badge to gain access to the training facility.  They were trying to get into a locked tower to practice.  If they had done that at the police academy on the firiring range, they likely would have been shot.  Can Simonson REALLY claim with a straight face that entering the practice facility after hours was not wrong? 

At least maybe this time Bartlett will let him fall on his own since it appears there's no way Terry can take Barlett down with him.  It appears he did all this on his own.

But then who would be mayor if Simonson gets jack-booted for this?

[Townsend]

But then who would be mayor if Simonson gets jack-booted for this?

I understand Roscoe's looking for something to do.