Tulsa Mayor Race 2013

[RecycleMichael]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20130123_16_A1_ULNSbE246757

Taylor to seek second shot as mayor

Tulsa's mayoral race went from tepid to tantalizing Tuesday with the announcement that former Mayor Kathy Taylor plans to try to reclaim the office she held from 2006 to 2009. Taylor, 57, chose not to run for re-election after serving one term, citing the need to focus on the operations of the city during the Great Recession instead of on campaigning. "I feel passionately that this is the right place for me to hopefully - if the voters agree - use my talents," Taylor told the Tulsa World on Tuesday. Taylor, a Democrat, is the second announced candidate for mayor. Former City Councilor Bill Christiansen announced his candidacy last year.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Tuesday that he is not yet ready to announce whether he will run for re-election. However, like Taylor and Christiansen, he has filed the initial paperwork required of candidates. "Rather than focus on politics, my dedication to Tulsa will remain unchanged, and I will focus on moving our city forward," he said. Bartlett and Christiansen are Republicans.

Taylor's announcement sets in motion a sprint to the Mayor's Office that could end as early as the primary election on June 11. Under the city's new nonpartisan elections, if more than two candidates file but one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the votes in the primary election, that candidate is elected. If more than two candidates file and no one gets more than 50 percent in the primary but two together total more than 50 percent, then those two top vote-getters would advance to the Nov. 12 general election.

Taylor said her candidacy would not be about Bartlett or any other candidate but about her vision for the city. "The overriding vision for me is making the city a place our kids and grandkids choose to come back to," she said. Since leaving office, Taylor has served as an education adviser in former Gov. Brad Henry's administration, completed a fellowship at Harvard University, practiced law, and worked with the foundation she and her husband established.

Taylor said she used her time away from City Hall to ponder how she might use her talents and skills to best make an impact in Oklahoma. "And I became convinced that the Mayor's Office is where that is," she said.

Christiansen described his relationship with Taylor as good and said he welcomes her into the race. "I look forward to a good public dialogue of the issues that affect the citizens of Tulsa the most," he said.

State Rep. Eric Proctor, who had previously said he would consider running, said Tuesday that he has decided against it so that he can concentrate on fighting a proposed 11 percent rate hike by American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will vote on the hike in April. "This has not been an easy decision because I strongly believe Tulsa needs a leader who can help our city lead the state in job opportunities, public safety and education," Proctor said in a statement.

Businesswoman Sharon King Davis, another potential candidate, also took herself out of the running Tuesday, telling the Tulsa World that she will instead support Taylor's candidacy. "She has some unfinished business that she'd like to complete, and I think some of her ideas are good for the city of Tulsa and would bring more excitement to the city," Davis said.

Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission member Bill Leighty said he is still mulling a run and should decide within 30 days.

Taylor said she will formally announce her candidacy in the next month or so.

The filing dates for municipal candidates is April 8-10.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The nonpartisan process
City voters approved a City Charter amendment in 2011 to have nonpartisan races. The item was placed on the ballot through an initiative petition process by the local nonprofit group Save Our Tulsa.

Here's how it works:

If only two candidates file for the post, they automatically advance to the general election.

If more than two candidates file but one candidate gets more than 50 percent of the votes at the primary election, that candidate is elected.

If more than two candidates file and no one gets more than 50 percent in the primary but two together total more than 50 percent, then those two top vote-getters advance to the general election.

If more than two candidates file but no two total more than 50 percent, then the top candidates whose votes total more than 50 percent go to a runoff election. The top two vote-getters in the runoff advance to the general election.


Key election dates
April 8-10: Municipal filing period

June 11: Primary

Aug. 13: Primary runoff (if needed)

Nov. 12: General election

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Potential candidates
Name: Dewey Bartlett

Age: 65

Party: Republican

Political experience: Mayor, city of Tulsa, 2010-present; state Senate candidate, 2004; mayoral candidate, 1992; city councilor, 1990-94. Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and Grand River Dam Authority trustee

Name: Bill Christiansen

Age: 65

Party: Republican

Political experience: District 8 city councilor, 2002-2011

Name: Kathy Taylor

Age: 57

Party: Democrat

Political experience: Mayor, city of Tulsa, 2006-2009; education adviser for former Gov. Brad Henry, 2010; secretary of commerce and tourism for Henry's administration, 2003 to 2006.

[Gaspar]

Read
Kathy Taylor Returns

[nathanm]

I see Bates is still being Bates. It's good to be reminded of him from time to time.

[Townsend]

I see Bates is still being Bates. It's good to be reminded of him from time to time.

Seems like a nice enough guy but I can't take him seriously on the subject of Kathy Taylor ever since his screaming fit.

I seem to remember him to be a Michael Delgiorno and Chris Medlock fan too.

[Conan71]

Interesting they are dragging out old dirt on Kathy when it didn't affect her winning the '06 election.

She's a hard worker and I'm glad she's going for another term.  Maybe I can finally get this time capsule out of my back lot 

[TheArtist]

Interesting they are dragging out old dirt on Kathy when it didn't affect her winning the '06 election.

She's a hard worker and I'm glad she's going for another term.  Maybe I can finally get this time capsule out of my back lot 

Ugh, I keep forgetting about that time capsule lol.  We have got to do something with that.  Whenever I mention it to someone "in power" they give you that "Really? I have soooo many other things to do, not gonna take this one on." look.  In about a hundred years time they will open it up thinking there will be a fancy motorcycle in it and find a note from Conan scribbled on a piece of paper saying "WOW! what a ride!" 

[Conan71]

Ugh, I keep forgetting about that time capsule lol.  We have got to do something with that.  Whenever I mention it to someone "in power" they give you that "Really? I have soooo many other things to do, not gonna take this one on." look.  In about a hundred years time they will open it up thinking there will be a fancy motorcycle in it and find a note from Conan scribbled on a piece of paper saying "WOW! what a ride!" 

And a beat up Brinkman smoker in place of the Hasty Bake.

[sauerkraut]

I'm no fan of either one. Color me out.

[Townsend]

I'm no fan of either one. Color me out.

You can't vote in Tulsa elections if you live in OKC anyway.

[shadows]

Read
Kathy Taylor Returns

Wonderful, wonderful, Taylor can step in city hall and from her first day fit in the present operation with "this is the way we have always done these things for you, like it or not."

[carltonplace]

Maylor is back

[Townsend]

Maylor is back

Oh yeah, forgot "Maylor".

[sauerkraut]

Pat Campbell called her "TulsaKitty". She's no good for mayor and Bart is no good. Pick your poison "T" Town! Two losers!

[Teatownclown]

Pat Campbell called her "TulsaKitty". She's no good for mayor and Bart is no good. Pick your poison "T" Town! Two losers!

Sour, who do you think should lead us out of our vision?

[sauerkraut]

Anyone see that thread about the  OKC video and how OKC is moving ahead and  leaving Tulsa in the dust? Now Tulsa has two clowns running for mayor is it any wonder OKC is clobbering Tulsa? The best person for mayor would be "None Of The Above".. Let's hope someone new can run for for mayor and win... If any one of those two clowns win, Tulsa may as well kick in the towel. It's over for Tulsa.