The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Tom Adelson will be making an announcement at Braden Park in White City at 8am Weds, July 1.

This is very good news.

I am impressed that a republican (Conan) likes a democrat (Adelson). I like Tom Adelson as well. He has been very effective as a state senator and is well liked by both sides of the aisle.

The 2004 race between him and Dewey Bartlett for the open seat was very close (less than 1,000 votes). It will be interesting to see the two of them in a city-wide contest.

I always got the impression that Conan was more of a Libertarian who had right leaning tendencies, but probably did what I did.  Registered Republican (me Democrat) so he could vote in the primaries.  Oklahoma needs to open the primaries, but I'm guessing that will never happen.  At least anytime soon.

I dunno, this guy has a bad track record for me. While in state senate he did nothing to abolish the ABLE Commission and its laws.

You actually believed that old meme I keep putting out there?   ;)

Just like that old meme that while I'm a social liberal, I'm a fiscal conservative, who is more like a libertarian but just doesn't subscribe to the 'flat tax' theory?

 ;D

What a waist of good talent. Dewey will kill him....

Should have run for Sully's seat.

Dewey's got to get past Christiansen first.  Dewey has to also get past the stigma of old political blue blood.  Everyone still remembers Bill LessFortunate.  If Tom doesn't win this race, there's a whole year to prep for the '10 mid-term elections, don't fret.

Adelson will likely have Mayor Taylor's endorsement and many of her backers will jump on board, that's a good list of financial and social support.  She would have won another term pretty easily.  I don't believe her endorsement would be a stigma, her naysayers are a minority.

I emailed Adelson about his vote to exempt DHS from the Open Records Act, and asked if he would favor restoring the act to it's intended form, and never got a response.

If you liked Mayor savage, you'll love TA....it's all the same crew.

PASS!

In your opinion, what was so bad about the Savage administration?

Great Planes? Arrogance beyond the pale?

Basically, all these oligarchs will continue to allow the Chamber and the Public Werks Dept. to drag our sity down....

Safe to say you are supporting Tom, Conan?

That is going to be an interesting race. I can't think of a single example where a south Tulsan was Mayor and every time a councilor has run, they have lost. But Christiansen has lots of connections through his aviation business. Other prominent political pilots (unnamed by me) can get money and votes in this town. Christiansen also voted against most of the other republicans on the recent budget was won him adoration from the fire and police unions. I expect him to get both endorsements.

Christiansen has, unfortunately for him, been recorded on many topics over the past few years. Think of all those newspaper quotes and videos from council meetings. Even if you were the most cautious councilor ever, a competitor campaign consultant can cut and splice it to make it look like you support kicking puppies.

I think this could be a race for the ages. Both candidates have it all and both want to win. This could be as exciting (and as expensive) as McCorkell v. Taylor was for the democrats three years ago.

He has also fiercely supported his louder constituents (not a bad thing) which has put him in a position of being staunchly against some high profile projects without offering viable alternate sollutions.

Like he did for the State Senate?  Adelson has already shown he can beat Dewey.  It will be an interesting race, and, regardless of who wins the republican primary, it will be a close race.

Relevance and accuracy aren't FOTD's strong points.

Pimp Tulsa, vote Tay.

Flaming Liberal? Don't think so, more like a Boren Democrat.

I take it you mean a different type of flaming . . .  ;D

No, but it worked for Karen Keith in her County Commission campaign.  Why don't you run, Paul?  You know you want to.

Dick Crawford, who lived at about 103rd & Sandusky if I recall correctly, was mayor from 1986-1988. But that was a strange election: Tom Quinn beat incumbent Terry Young in the Democratic primary, then Water & Sewer Commissioner Patty Eaton filed as an independent along with dozens of other candidates. (Under the old charter you could file as an independent up to 10 days before the general election.) Crawford won with less than 50% of the vote.

A green sign won a State Senate race in 2004, but not by much. The problem with a green campaign sign is that it blends in with the grass and the McGraw real estate signs.

Neat picture -- looks like the view from 16th and Detroit in Maple Park. A cynic might say it indicates an intention to govern from a Maple Ridge point of view.

I took that to be the Council Oak tree in the foreground with downtown buildings in the back. 

But now, I'm thinking the white stuff is supposed to be the river...which would put the tree on the west side of the river.  (Unless the white stripe is Boulder Ave?)  (Analysis paralysis alert!) 

I'll just go with my first impression: green space, architecture, nature and downtown. 

I like the vibe so far...  What's reality?

Remember this is not the first time Bartlett has run for Mayor.  He ran in 1992 and lost big-time in all areas to Democrat Susan Savage.

Savage led voting in all areas of Tulsa
http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=344217&archive=yes

He also stooped to some less than truthful campaigning that caused the Tribune (who had endorsed him) to call him out on a falsehood:

Bartlett's charges false
http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=343632&archive=yes

I'd wondered if anyone was going to run that I could truly get behind. I was afraid that I would have to settle for Bartlett, but I'm actually excited about Adelson!

I like Tom. He's my State Senator. I think his time and talents are wasted as Mayor, though. I would rather see him run for state AG, which he was rumored to be interested in at one point. This mayor thing kinda makes me wonder if there was a deal struck with K.T. Maybe AG is the run at higher office that Taylor the Tyrant is gearing up for?

KT will not run while Ed's in the race.

Conan, since when did you start backing elitist female dawgs?

You obviously have sexist issues, FOTD.  This devil has always supported the best candidates.

Well, the best candidates may end up having the worst staff. KT has had a tremendous staff. TA's will be a bunch of creeps from early indications. Yes, it's personal. This will be more evident as time goes on and these support staff for TA will be his undoing and be bad for our city. Unless he makes dramatic changes, you and everyone here will be p.o.ed at the level of arrogance and lousy decision making. Just what experience does TA have on this managerial level? His election staff are like palace guards with their noses so far up in the air they can't think like the citizenry. These will be the folks running Tulsey.

And there are people who would argue Mayor Taylor's staff was a big part of the arrogance problem in that administration.  There simply is no way to satisfy every member of the electorate, especially in a city where about 7-10 families wield the most influence and can get anything done they want, up to inserting their own candidates into office.

Don't take it personal you little demon, it's politics.

Apathy settles in.....

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090701_11_0_Democr250049

Democratic senator announces Tulsa mayoral candidacy
 
By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 7/1/2009 

Democrat State Sen. Tom Adelson announced Wednesday that he will run for Tulsa mayor. His declaration came before a crowd gathered Wednesday morning at Braden Park in midtown. "I have a vision for the city that I think all of us share where we all feel safe and secure in our homes, where our children are well educated and our seniors well cared for, where we travel to and from work on neighborhood streets and city roads that are in good condition and repair," he said. Adelson said Tulsa has been the home of his family for five generations and "we love it here."

He said through his service as state senator, "I've learned one central lesson - the best way to get things done is to work together, to find a common ground." "I want to bring that spirit of cooperation to the mayor's office," he said. He said as state senator he has knocked on the doors of thousands of Tulsans.

"I know what we're made of," he said. "We're still the sort of city that will invite a stranger in for some shade and a glass of water." He said Tulsa is a special city because it is filled with kind, generous and hardworking families and people who care about the city's future. "I want to listen to you and learn from you, and I want to work together to build a brighter and better Tulsa in all of its beauty and in all of its grace," he said.

Adelson said he would continue to serve as senator pending the outcome of the mayoral race. Filing for municipal office is July 13-15. The primary race is set Sept. 8 and the general race is Nov. 10.

Very good turn-out.  I saw neighbors of mine from Lortondale, other TNF members, city dignitaries, and our own Recyclemichael is always good about introducing people to each other.  I nominate him the new city social chairman.

Any word if any other Democrats are jumping in?

It was a very diverse cross-section of Tulsa.  I think Tom has a lot of appeal to all ages and people from all walks of life.  He should be able to attract a fair amount of independent and GOP votes.