The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

The race to be Tulsa’s next mayor is starting.

Tulsa City Councilor G.T. Bynum said he is running for mayor in 2016 and plans to file committee paperwork with the city clerk on Monday so he can start fundraising.

“I have no interest in just being mayor,” Bynum said. “I would only want to run for it if I think we can accomplish some big things. The dynamics are in place to really unify the city and push toward a couple of big goals.”

Bynum’s announcement is the first major declaration for mayor in the coming election.

Mayor Dewey Bartlett said Friday that he has not officially announced his intention to run for re-election. However, Bartlett said he had a successful fundraiser Thursday night to benefit his campaign.

“I obviously haven’t officially announced,” Bartlett said. “I just kind of wanted to gauge what the public’s perception of me is if I threw a little get-together. It was very positive. We had a number of people from all over the city.”

What to expect

Tulsa’s election laws have changed to a nonpartisan system that necessitated filing deadlines for office in April, followed by a June primary election, then a possible August runoff and a November general election.

In 2009, when he was elected to his first term, Bartlett announced his campaign in June, a month before filing was due and three months before a

September primary, after then-Mayor Kathy Taylor announced she would not seek re-election.

Bartlett, 68, and Bynum, 38, met Friday to discuss their intentions, both officials confirmed.

“He said, ‘You will have been there for seven years,’ and that he thinks it’s time for someone else to be mayor,” Bartlett said. “There’s a lot of people that would certainly like to be mayor. It will be interesting.”

Both Bartlett and Bynum said they don’t foresee Vision renewal efforts being politicized or jeopardized in the mayoral campaign process.

Both have been the leaders in efforts to “put water in the river” — a major portion of the Vision discussion.

Another substantial portion, funding for public safety, is a major effort on Bartlett’s part that Bynum has shared common ground and goals on.

“I’ve been very consistent the last several years on my view for Vision,” Bartlett said. “I think clearly that Vision renewal has to have a serious component of support for public safety.”

Bynum recently said he supports some portion of Vision going to public safety, in line with Bartlett’s position.
The platforms

Bynum said the platform of his campaign has two immediate goals: to make the city have an active role in improving education and to take steps to make Tulsa more competitive nationally.

“If you look at our overall economic development as a region, we’ve been doing pretty good for the last 20 to 30 years,” Bynum said. “Jobs have been coming here. Companies have been coming here. But the problem has been that the employees too often go and live in the suburbs instead of the city.”
Bynum said Bartlett and the city have fallen behind in retaining young professionals and attracting young professionals nationally.

“I don’t think the city government has done a good enough job in the last six years of being focused on national competitiveness, and I don’t think we can afford another four years of that type of approach,” he said.

Bynum said he wants to avoid a negative campaign against Bartlett.

“My focus on this is not about a negative campaign against Dewey,” Bynum said. “The very first campaign I ever worked on was Dewey’s campaign for the City Council in 1990 when he ran for the seat that I have. … I like him a lot, and I’m not interested in a negative campaign.”

On education, Bynum said he hopes to be aggressive in improving education efforts in Tulsa to attract families to reside in the city limits.

“Historically, the city has taken a pass on a leadership role in education,” Bynum said.

“That goes from pre-K through college. We provide crossing guards in schools and in an occasional bond issue we will do some work with them, but there is no comprehensive city education strategy in place. That is why we lose so much of our growth, in my opinion, to suburban communities.”
Bartlett said his two terms have been successful in partnerships with education groups, which he would continue.

“Our aerospace academy is a perfect example of how our administration has involved a variety of educational groups,” Bartlett said. “And that will be replicated. Right now it’s aerospace, but the next focus I believe will be in manufacturing.”

Bartlett’s long goal of meshing Tulsa’s aerospace industry with a high school education program was realized earlier this fall with the first class of the Tulsa Tech Aerospace Academy.

“I’ve always put economic development and job creation at the top of my list,” Bartlett said. “Everything we’ve done in the past we’ve asked the question, ‘Does it create jobs? Does it support economic development? Is it inclusive to the city or exclusive?’ ”

Two Republicans with one being more polished (Bynum). Not voting for either unless Bynum put together one hell of a plan before the election.

Didn't they make it now so that Mayoral elections are no longer party based?

Ewing also pointed out on the Facebook that Bartlett thought Tulsa was getting the Betamax HQ, instead of the BMW headquarters.

So Tom Atkinson, who is Bartlett's brother in law, is the co-chair on Bynum's campaign?

This is just great. Atkinson is also running for Congress.

That there is funny. Gotta be old enough to remember Betamax though.

Politics need new blood in this city.

I thought Blake might be the guy to step in since his district is affluent and he has been a leader in downtown growth. Bynum looks the part but sounds like he might be the youngest and smartest of the old guard.

So where are all of the candidates? Why is it a race between two people?

Ewing also pointed out on the Facebook that Bartlett thought Tulsa was getting the Betamax HQ, instead of the BMW headquarters.

That's almost as funny as Ewing (or is it Cannon Fodder?) thinking Tulsa was getting the BMW headquarters, instead of the BMX headquarters.   ;)

but the BMW HQ would be a much bigger deal. I think big.  ;D

I'm voting Tay.

...an unhinged tool with no rational ideas.  He’s combative and confrontational, that is all he understands...

Had to double check,  for a second there I thought you got Tay confused with Trump...  (I guess the appeal is about the same for some folks.)

Why?

What if Tay and other fringers managed to suck up enough votes in the primary that Dewby ended up winning in June, rather than forcing the run off with Bynum in November?

Tay is an unhinged tool with no rational ideas.  He’s combative and confrontational, that is all he understands.  You think Tulsa is lacking now, how on earth could you justify a candidate like him ever being a mayor or councilor?

Look at Tays hat...hes running for Sheriff.  The mayors race is still between Doobie and the FOP's lap dog.

Why?

What if Tay and other fringers managed to suck up enough votes in the primary that Dewby ended up winning in June, rather than forcing the run off with Bynum in November?

Tay is an unhinged tool with no rational ideas.  He’s combative and confrontational, that is all he understands.  You think Tulsa is lacking now, how on earth could you justify a candidate like him ever being a mayor or councilor?

Protest the establishment in office. I'm sick of it.

Makes as much sense as staying home and not voting to protest the establishment.

Can GT pull this off despite Dewey's negative ads?

I'm rooting for GT! it's time for Dewy to go, he's no conservative and he served 2 terms re-electing the same guy over & over is part of the problem, Dewy seems a bit dim. IMO it's time for a change someone new. Dewy did not really earn a 2nd term but we had no choice back then with Kathy it was a matter of the lessor of two evils. Time to go Dewy!

wait...... what?

I've been actively following local politics since the mid 90's when Susan Savage was mayor.  This is the first time I can remember a sitting mayor/major candidate giving the bird to the League of Women Voters and blowing off their mayoral candidate forum.

Really, Dooey?  Given three potential dates, you can't even bother to respond to them?  This is a non-partisan group that simply works to provide unbiased information to voters.  It's a forum with no agenda other than to allow citizens to hear the candidates respond to questions.

Blowing off the League of Women Voters, and avoiding public forums and debates with GT is ridiculous.  It proves to me that Dooey doesn't believe he can win a debate on the merits of his positions. Dooey likes sound bites, negative ads, and little feel-good get-togethers with "patriots."  That's not what we need in a mayor.  We need a mayor who can have a coherent discussion about identifying important issues, solving problems, inspiring citizens, and working together with all Tulsans... not just right-wing republican buddies in town.

Having a mayor who refuses to appoint democrats to boards and commissions is just flat out weird.  The fact that his staff looks for people who attend his church or give money to his campaigns when deciding who to appoint is scary.

GT is not perfect, but he is head and shoulders above Dooey when it comes to dedication to the broader Tulsa community, basic intelligence, and willingness to listen to different perspectives and discuss the issues.  I respect him even when I disagree with him.  Having Dooey as our mayor embarrasses me.

he was answering the questions based on his perception of the audience.

^^This.

I notice the Bartlet (sic) camp sent out a mailer yesterday with an endorsement of “conservative” Dewby from Tom Coburn on one side and saying Kathy Taylor “sponsors” GT on the other.  It’s an obvious angle to paint GT as a liberal.  I have noticed, however that many progressives are backing GT.

He seems to either have progressed on some issues like transportation and planning or he was answering the questions based on his perception of the audience.

New poll from June 20:  http://soonerpoll.com/wpcontent/uploads/2016/06/TulsaMayoralElection_FINALREPORT-1.pdf

Topline:

Bartlett 41
Bynum 38
Other 8
Undecided 14

Broken down by party:

GOP: Bartlett leads 54-31
IND: Bynum leads 45-25
DEM: Bynum leads 47-25

Other relevant information:

Barlett favorability: 57/41
Bynum favorability: 56/29

Would a Kathy Taylor endorsement make you more or less likely to vote for a candidate:
More 25
Less 48
No diff 27

Would a Tom Coburn endorsement make you more or less likely to vote for a candidate:
More 40
Less 31
No diff 29

I was talking to my boss this morning who is an arch conservative on most issues.  He says he’s voting for Bartlett because Bynum is too much of a progressive since he is a "tax-and-spend liberal" since he supports the 1% education sales tax.  He also said since he’s a LaFortune, his administration would be just like Bill LaFortune’s.  Never mind that there is no basis in reality to assume GT would be the same as LaFortune was.  As I recall Bob LaFortune is looked on quite favorably, so why would his admin necessarily resemble Bill’s admin rather than Bob’s if DNA has something to do with it, which we all know it does not?

I did remind him that Dewey was on the same side on the Vision extension as far as being “tax-and-spend” and doing a bait and switch on the public safety tax.

I don’t know if I should be surprised that a Taylor endorsement is seen as such a negative or not.  There’s little based in reality of the public’s negative perception of her time in office as Mayor.

Wow!  Sorry Conan...and I am being very sincere about this...that you work for such a mentally limited/challenged boss!

He is actually one of the brighter people I know, yet he is one of these Glenn Beck conservatives which just boggles my mind.  It’s sort of like how many people with high IQ’s can solve about any problem but socially they are just complete morons.

I’m very much a moderate, so I’m equally put out by the contard far right and libtard far left.

Also worth pointing out that 46.2% of the respondents were 65 or older. Are these surveys done only on landlines?

I also wish the polling firm knew the difference between "you're" and "your", and "counselor" and "councilor".

Also worth pointing out that 46.2% of the respondents were 65 or older. Are these surveys done only on landlines?

It really ticks me off when I read about young people not voting because they're "disillusioned."  

I'm an old guy and I am disillusioned about the choices for President.

Almost certainly.  Something like 13% of Tulsans are 65 or older, but a heck of a lot of them vote.  

It really ticks me off when I read about young people not voting because they're "disillusioned."  

"Oh, gosh, I wonder why nobody represents me in a representative democracy when I never bother to participate or vote.  Hmmm...  I'll show them (stamping my foot), I'll snub them with my complete absence and silence, and that will really hurt their feelings, and make them change."

We have about the same number of millennials as we have old geezers in town.  Sadly, the old geezers will continue to decide things as long as the youngins can't be bothered to participate.  Which is sad, because the young folks could rule the world, if they ever decided to step up.

But I'm sure voting for someone on The Voice is important, too.

This is why voting for a legitimate candidate is so important and why I was rather harsh on one of our other members for saying he was voting for Tay.  If you really cannot stand the state of things at City Hall not voting or voting for a fringe candidate who runs as a joke is a huge mistake.  That’s almost guaranteeing there will be no change.

Even us not so old guys are disillusioned about the choices for president.

It is disappointing to see just in the time I’ve been eligible to vote (1984) how elections in general have gone from something dignified and professional to a complete clown show.

Dewey is no conservative, his first term was a dis-appointment, Deweys 2nd term was a default   we could not have Kathy, after two terms it's time for Dewey to go- Dewey is getting old and pretending to be a conservative does not cut it. I think we should take a chance on GT we have nothing to lose, neither guy is a conservative, Let's try GT and see how things go.

Former Mayors Susan Savage, Kathy Taylor, Terry Young, Dick Crawford and Robert LaFortune all are behind Bynum.

Mayor Bartlett's (...) endorsements include former mayor and current U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe

http://www.newson6.com/story/32301608/five-former-tulsa-mayors-announce-their-endorsement-for-gt-bynum

Jim Inhofe endorsing someone is reason enough for me to vote for the other candidate.

http://www.newson6.com/story/32301608/five-former-tulsa-mayors-announce-their-endorsement-for-gt-bynum

Jim Inhofe endorsing someone is reason enough for me to vote for the other candidate.

The Tulsa World Newspaper supports Dewey. I became sour on Dewey shortly in his 1st term, the trash system change and those big trash cans, Dewey never cut any taxes, the road construction under Dewey is a mess you can't drive mid-town without construction going on and bottled necked traffic, today with Riverside Drive closed it's even worse. Dewey made a big fuss about not wanting to build a sidewalk on Riverside Dr. He thought people could just cross the street and walk on the Riverside jogging trails instead, made no sense to me. Dewey seems to be a big globe trotter  he went overseas many times and that did nothing for Tulsa. IMO he just pretends to be a conservative, if he was a republican he'd be called a "RINO". It's time for Dewey to go after two terms anyhow. We have nothing to lose with GT he can't be much worse. Dewey did not earn a 3rd term so why reward him with one? He was a big disappointment to me.

Your stupidity really knows no boundaries.

I'm not a supporter of Dooey by any means, however, your reasoning is horrible.

1st, the trash system change was approved in the previous mayor's run.  Most large cities do their trash this way now.  I like it and my bill is less than it was before.  Plus, the trucks now don't look like death traps and smell of a dumpster.

2nd, the road construction NEEDS to be done.  It sucks that we're doing it all at once, but that's a result of the City ignoring its infrastructure for at least 40 years.  We consistently rank at the bottom in driveable roads.  I get sick of dodging potholes.  Memorial between 11th and Admiral is glass smooth now that they've redone it.  Same with I-244.  If you don't like the construction, then choose alternate routes.  There's this thing called Google Maps now...

3rd..mayors races are no longer partisan.  R & D doesn't matter to me on the local level.  I like GT mainly because he's closer to my age and I've heard what he has to say about moving this city forward.  Unlike people like you, who would rather see this city (and nation, for that matter) stay in the 1960s.

The Riverside construction is for a better cause.  The Gathering Place is going to add appeal to the city that wasn't there before.

If you are so incensed with this city, then leave...oh, wait...never mind.

Posted this on Facebook regarding my vote:

GT Bynum directly called me on Election Day to my surprise. I asked him questions about the city funding public education, more bike lanes in town and funding a soccer stadium. While he hasn't been involved in the soccer stadium issue, he said he'd like to be and understands there is a desire for one. On public education he said he would like to start pushing for local funding of city schools to help with the state education crisis so schools such as TPS can compete. He said he's very much in favor of bike lanes and that they will be a part of a proposed "complete" streets package from now on. I was going to give a protest vote today but was so impressed by both the phone call and answers that I'll be giving my vote to GT Bynum today. If you haven't voted, go and do it! Local politics matter the most.

Ahem, WILL be a great mayor.

Glad to see this..was wondering if either candidate was going to make light during concession/victory speeches about the confusion regarding non-partisan mayoral races and some of the electorate not getting the white sheet ballot.  

GT doesn't sound like a Republican.  He sounds like a citizen who wants to see this city move forward.  I was impressed every time I saw him and his campaign commercials always impressed me.  Points awarded for not going negative (would have been SO easy with Dooey).  Wish they'd make the Sheriff's race non-partisan also.

And replaced with "conservative", "liberal", "libertarian", "progressive", "anti-immigration", "lobbyist", etc? Politicians live by labels as they are an easy distillation of complex issues that the worker bees can process. You can change it to non-partisan but we all know a liberal when we hear them make complete sentences after thoughtful deliberation.

I totally dig the non-partisan aspect of this election.

I’m curious what hurt hapless Dewby the most in the election in the psyche of voters:

1) Two terms is enough
2) Poorly handled issues like: Turkey Mountain, Helmerich Park, and the blatant lying on the sidewalk along Riverside
3) Last link to Tulsa’s GOB politicians
4) Nasty campaign ads

Opinions, esteemed TNF postees?

And replaced with "conservative", "liberal", "libertarian", "progressive", "anti-immigration", "lobbyist", etc? Politicians live by labels as they are an easy distillation of complex issues that the worker bees can process. You can change it to non-partisan but we all know a liberal when we hear them make complete sentences after thoughtful deliberation.

Yes, because we know all conservatives are mouth breathing morons, right?

Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

Yes, because we know all conservatives are mouth breathing morons, right?

Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

Must have hurt plenty when you landed after such a huge jump to that conclusion. Not all conservatives are mouth breathing morons, but all mouth breathing morons profess to be conservatives.

Not correctly identifying and addressing problems is the problem. You think renaming the issue as a partisan problem is going to be a solution? That is the current vogue. I don't.

Yes, because we know all conservatives are mouth breathing morons, right?

Be a part of the solution, not the problem.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives. John Stuart Mill

In your mind there was no other interpretation. That is your box, not mine.

Changing names doesn't solve anything. When Gingrich changed "inheritance tax" to "death tax" it didn't solve the issue of whether the tax was fair or useful. It just swayed opinion.

The problem is defining people with labels that don't adequately represent their views in order to accomplish their own goals. It doesn't matter whether there is truth or fact to back up those labels. It doesn't matter if its in the people's interest. Labels will always be used to sway opinion.

More importantly, the problem is that we elect people based on the wrong criteria. I didn't care that GT Bynum might be a republican, a conservative or Christian. He seemed to be COMPETENT! He championed a controversial v2025 vote and did so with straight forward logic, intelligence and belief. He is smart. He makes complete sentences after deliberative contemplation. Yet, because of that, Conan's boss didn't quite trust that he wasn't (shudder...) a progressive.

We all know competent people when we meet them. The busy people who still have time to talk but do so judiciously. The one mistake Atkinson made against Bridenstein was in not being himself. He tried to out conservative him and people saw through it. If he had merely spoken the obvious earlier in the campaign, quote, "He hasn't done anything in the last four years" which I heard him say during his watch party, he would have struck a chord.

Competence is the issue being ignored when labels are easier.

BTW, I totally agree on either eliminating party identification as criteria for being on the ballot, or, opening the party affiliation to include numerous smaller parties. That way coalitions are formed with folks of diverse competencies.

John Stuart Mill

Again, I take exception to your comment about being able to identify liberals by their use of complete sentences. It is a slap at conservatives and is exactly the type of insulting "my side is better than yours" crap that has gotten us to where we are today as a city, state and country.  It sounds like a funny quip, but is really the "we are better than the other side because of who we are and what we believe" attitude that I find off-putting. I know many highly intelligent conservatives, just as I know many nearly illiterate ones. The exact same can be said about the liberals I know. Some are highly intelligent, some I am certain cannot tie their own shoes. Neither side has an exclusive contract on brains or the lack thereof.

Great, now I have Bruce's Philosopher's Song stuck in my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9SqQNgDrgg

Guys, please take the liberal v. conservative banter to a PM, if it must continue...please!

It matters so little at the local level.

What matters is that a mere 14% of registered voters under the age of 40, actually voted. And that is an increase from the average of 10%. Probably all posters from TN.

Curious as to how that compares with other age groups and the city in general.

Total turnouts for the county vote was about 15% and for the city was 29% I think I heard.

And likely those people in the 71% who didn’t vote are the ones who grumble the loudest about how bad our city government sucks.

Dewby made the comment in his concession speech the other night about still having plenty of work to do.  I wanted to call his smoking cell phone and say:  “Please!!! Don’t do anything else!!!”

He said that crazy smile again when interviewed by a local...he needs to just leave it the hell alone. 

He stated he didn't know why Tulsa chose Bynum...dammit dude...it's because you're doing more damage than good.

Apparently Inhofe is also confused about the nature of the non-partisan election.  He was quoted as saying Bynum being elected shows how well the Democratic Party is doing in Tulsa these days.  :o

Yeah....well just about anyone with two or more functioning brain cells knows what Inhofe is....

A doosh?