District 4 - 2008 City Council Elections

[Admin]

If you are unsure of your current council district, look here.

Questionnaires were sent to all of the candidates, those responses can be found by clicking their name:

The current candidates are:
   Rocky Frisco
Maria Barnes(i)
Eric Gomez (No Response)
Jay Matlock (No Response)
John Nidiffer (No Response)

   

Thoughts, opinions?

[FOTD]

Wish I lived in this district so I could vote for Rocky. He'd be our first hippie on the council.....

[Steve]

I have lived in the far eastern fringe of District 4 for 25 years.  (The dividing line to district 5 is just 8 houses east of me.)

I don't know what to think about Maria Barnes.  She has seemed to be an invisible member of the city council.  You never hear much mention of her unless the discussion is about the Kendall/Whittier neighborhood, of which she is the neighborhood association president.  My perception is that 99% of her focus is Kendall/Whittier, at the expense of the rest of District 4.  Other candidates have made this point about her tenure too.

I will probably be voting for someone else next time.  Her questionaire answers seemed just OK to me; I can't dispute any of her responses, but I think District 4 needs a more visible, vocal representative.

[tulsasignnazi]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Wish I lived in this district so I could vote for Rocky. He'd be our first hippie on the council.....

No doubt.  Roc's my man!  Instead of starting Council meetings with some stupid prayer, Roc would probably start with a jam session.  []

[Nick Danger]

quote:Originally posted by FOTD

Wish I lived in this district so I could vote for Rocky. He'd be our first hippie on the council.....

He'd have my vote also...

[TURobY]

From Mr. Frisco's responses, he sounds like he has no interest in actively improving District 4. If that is the case, then what purpose has he with running for council? Perhaps someone can elaborate more about the candidate...

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

From Mr. Frisco's responses, he sounds like he has no interest in actively improving District 4. If that is the case, then what purpose has he with running for council? Perhaps someone can elaborate more about the candidate...

I agree Turoby.  Frisco sounds like he wants to sit back and do nothing; let the free capitalistic markets take over, and what will be, will be.  Maria Barnes has been an invisible, do-nothing representative to me.  I will probably vote for Gomez.

I wish city council elections were non-partisan.  The whole Dem/GOP/Independent distinction seems irrelavant on the local level.

[TURobY]

I still like Maria Barnes, but I'm also considering Jay Matlock. I'm intrigued after reading Matlock's site, but I need to do further investigation.

At least I've already narrowed it down. It makes it a lot easier. LOL

[PonderInc]

I don't live in District 4, but I'm curious how someone can say that Maria Barnes is "invisible."  I go to a lot of community and neighborhood meetings, and she is the one councillor that I consistantly see.  She's not getting paid to work every night, but she certainly dedicates a lot of her free time to staying in touch with her constituents (at least those who care enough to attend community meetings).

[akupetsky]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

I still like Maria Barnes, but I'm also considering Jay Matlock.

I don't dislike Barnes, but her invisibility over the past 2 years bothers me.  I will investigate all the alternatives, and then make my choice.  This is the first District 4 council election since the conversion from commission to council gov't. form that I have taken much interest in.

My impression of Maria is that she is not one of those city councilors that grandstands on issues.  She focuses on neighborhoods, meets with them often and seeks to improve the city by working to seek accord on potentially contentious issues.  The very fact that you haven't heard about her has nothing to do with inactivity and everything to do with the careful and difficult work she does to bring neighborhoods and businesses together to resolve issues before they perculate into high-profile issues.  To me, that seems to be an effective strategy, as the district has made significant progress during her tenure, and she has maintained significant credibility on the Council that will help District 4 going forward as we carefully balance creative infill development and homeowners' interests.

[akupetsky]

I know that she worked with Yorktown and Lewiston Garden to enact a special district along Lewis avenue to protect that neighborhood.  I have heard she frequently attends Florence Park neighborhood meetings to address some concerns they have with Quicktrip coming in.  She worked with the Cherry Street Merchant association to get crosswalks put it.  She attends Pearl District meetings, as well as numerous other neighborhood association meetings.  In fact, I haven't heard of any neighborhood association that hasn't gotten a response from her when they asked.

So my question to you is this--have you called her?  What specific actions would you like to see her take?  What does your neighborhood need, and how can she help?  My guess is that if you call her, you will get a quick response.

[Double A]

Although I've had my problems with Maria, after taking stock of all the others in the field of candidates she is head and shoulders above all the rest.

Rocky Frisco is just another perennial joke candidate out for attention.

Eric Gomez is well on his way to becoming one. If you want to talk about invisible, he dropped off the scene and active involvement as soon as he lost to Baker.

Jay Matlock basically promises to do what Maria has already been doing. His educational initiatives are false promises, because he will not be able to accomplish any of those things as a Councilor. School Board member, yes. City Councilor, no. He's just pandering to a issue popular with voters, knowing full well he won't be able to deliver.

Matlock and Gomez are both special interest puppets for the Metro Chamber and the Realtors. That is where their true loyalties can be found.

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by Double A

Although I've had my problems with Maria, after taking stock of all the others in the field of candidates she is head and shoulders above all the rest.

Rocky Frisco is just another perennial joke candidate out for attention.

Eric Gomez is well on his way to becoming one. If you want to talk about invisible, he dropped off the scene and active involvement as soon as he lost to Baker.

Jay Matlock basically promises to do what Maria has already been doing. His educational initiatives are false promises, because he will not be able to accomplish any of those things as a Councilor. School Board member, yes. City Councilor, no. He's just pandering to a issue popular with voters, knowing full well he won't be able to deliver.

Matlock and Gomez are both special interest puppets for the Metro Chamber and the Realtors. That is where their true loyalties can be found.

There's hope for you AA! Good to see that you understand that all of politics is choosing the lesser of two evils. Or like I posted elsewhere, if you don't vote at all even for the lesser of two evils you are actually saying you're willing to be led by the worst of two evils.

This was Maria's first term. Maybe she'll be more comfortable and take more of a leadership role.

[Steve]

It seems Maria Barnes is making herself more visible, especially in regards to the Tulsa neighborhoods conservation districts issue.  No coincedence, I suppose, that it is close to reelection time.

[RecycleMichael]

She is doing exactly what her constituents are saying is important to them.

No councilor is as closely tied and fully supported by neighborhood activists than Maria.