Thank you very much. That was my nephew Forrest.  He thinks I am literally running in a race to become Mayor.

This election comes at a time when we are at a crossroads for the City of Tulsa, and we must make some very serious choices about which direction we should choose.

I believe Tulsa has the potential to be one of the most dynamic cities in the country.  But like many cities Tulsa also has its problems.  A rising crime rate.  Underperforming schools.  Inadequate roads.  Economically underdeveloped neighborhoods.

So thank you for showing your interest in being a part of the solution by coming out tonight to hear the first of many speeches.

I see a lot of friendly faces out there, and also some new ones who are curious about who I am and what I stand for.  I am Mark Perkins, a 4th generation Tulsan who believes that we must make some fundamental decisions right now about the kind of city we want to live in, the kind of city we want to raise our kids in, and the kind of city we want to grow old in.

Like many of you, this city is in my blood. I am passionate and opinionated about how this city can survive and thrive.  For years I have been out there as a citizen, working for causes, serving on boards and organizations, and engaging my friends and fellow citizens.

What I have learned is that there are scores of people in the community who share my opinions on how the city should progress and conduct its business, and what kinds of choices the leaders and the citizens should make to improve the quality of life for every citizen and every family in every neighborhood.

But as the election picture began to develop a few weeks ago I noticed that my views and opinions, which are shared by many, were not adequately represented in this collection of the same old political types with the same old ideas and talking points.

So I decided it was my civic duty to run for Mayor so that pragmatic and forward thinking Tulsans could have a voice in this public conversation that will set the course for Tulsa’s future.

Depending on how well you know me, you are either a little surprised I am doing this, or not at all.  I am doing this because I feel I have to do this.  My decision to run for Mayor sprung out of necessity, and consequently is a testament to the worthiness of this endeavor and the value of my message.

So last Wednesday I submitted a petition of nearly 500 signatures so I could run as an independent candidate for the Mayor of the City of Tulsa.

I take this decision very seriously, and I intend to win.  If I am able to attract and organize the support of all like-minded people I know and don’t yet know, I believe I will win.

But we must decide right now, in this election, whether we want to become the 21st century city of national relevance and economic prosperity we have the potential to be…a city of healthy and educated citizens…and a community we will be proud to pass down through the generations.

Together we must forge a path that focuses on finding creative and intelligent solutions to our municipal challenges.  We want to bring civility, respect, and a collaborative spirit back to City Hall.

We understand that there are talented and selfless individuals from all political persuasions who can and will contribute to a better city plan and a better city government and the result will be a better city.

My friends, it is time for a non-partisan voice that is not indebted to or dependant on a particular political party.  It is time for a leader driven by passion and a sense of civic responsibility, not one motivated by ambition or an attraction to the political pulpit.  In this age of political expediency we need to fight back with a little statesmanship.

My kind of approach makes common sense if the goal is to solve problems and engender cooperation, progress, and development.  But my kind of approach terrifies the entrenched party people, the status quo types, and the naysayers.

But let me tell you something.  This is about local government.  We are not setting policy through legislation.  We are managing a city.  Our job is to ensure the safety of our citizens, to properly educate our children, to adequately maintain our infrastructure, and to undertake responsible and intelligent economic development initiatives that will provide  benefits for all the citizens in every part of Tulsa.

You can have your party allegiances and believe in their state and national platforms and initiatives.  But we need to get all the malicious language and corrosive attitudes created by disagreements over national issues out of our local civil discourse because they create far more obstacles than solutions.  And at the city level, they are counterproductive.

Let me be clear.  The time is now for this city and its citizens to move beyond the antiquated and misplaced partisanship that feeds on fear and distrust, dividing us and holding us back from reaching our potential.  And I believe the only way to accomplish this is to elect an independent citizen with fresh ideas, a principled posture, and the freedom to act and govern for all of Tulsa, not just red Tulsa or blue Tulsa, or rich Tulsa or poor Tulsa.

We are One Tulsa.

Tulsa needs someone who understands that the most important thing we can do for the city and its citizens is to create conditions that encourage economic development and investment by the private sector.  Tulsa needs someone who understands the interconnectedness between a healthy local economy and the challenges facing our city.

Tulsa needs someone who understands how initiatives that spur growth and redevelopment increase property values, often in blighted areas, and the direct beneficiaries of those increased property revenues are our schools and our public health officials.

Tulsa needs someone who understands that we can make decisions as a city that will attract and nourish businesses and create centers of economic activity that will bring increased sales tax revenues to the city coffers, and the direct beneficiaries are our infrastructure, our roads, and our public safety officials.

Tulsa needs someone who understands that it is the fundamental responsibility of all elected officials to respect every taxpayer dollar by maximizing efficiency in all government functions.  This starts at the top, with the Mayor appointing only the most qualified and best individuals for each job, period, without regard to their political affiliations, or whether they contributed to the campaign, or whether they come from the public or private sector.  Also, the operating costs of all government activities must be minimized through intelligent planning, increased efficiency, and an ongoing review of all funding activities.  Nothing should be done a certain way simply because it was always done that way…

Tulsa needs someone who understands that the city cannot afford to do everything on its own.  If generous individuals, foundations, or corporate citizens want to contribute to projects and initiatives that further the goals of the city and have a positive impact on the community, then it makes good business sense to develop such relationships and welcome such partnerships so long as our principles are not compromised and the best interests of the city remain paramount.

As Tulsans we need to understand that there is always a better way of doing business, and we need to believe in what this City can be.

I hold many beliefs and have many opinions that I will share in detail over the course of this campaign.  But as this is your introduction to me today I feel I should briefly touch on a few.

I believe in the power of education.  I believe early childhood education is critical for developing the cognitive framework necessary to maximize a child’s learning potential.  I also believe our public schools need a lot of help.  The same schools that are underperforming now are mostly the same schools that were underperforming 15 and 30 years ago, and that is unacceptable.  We are not doing our job.

Until we can properly fund every school, pay every capable teacher and hold them to appropriate expectations, and enhance the effectiveness of educating our children…until we make these things a priority our city will be caught in a generational  cycle that includes poverty, crime, despondency, and racial and geographical tension.

The better the education, the more educated.  The more educated, the more job opportunites.  The more job opportunities, the less likely to turn to crime.  And any neighborhood with low crime and an educated citizenry is more likely to enjoy economic prosperity.  In theory it is simple, but true.  What we have to do is a better job of figuring out a way to move from theory to reality.

I also believe that a vibrant and developed downtown Tulsa is an economically intelligent undertaking and is critical to our ability to attract and retain companies and young professionals.  You can look to dozens of cities who have redeveloped and updated their urban centers, and they are reaping significant economic benefits.  You can also look to cities that have neglected their urban centers, and they have empty buildings and crime problems.

We have already seen a $3,000,000 bump in city revenues as a direct result of the BOK Center, and it has been open for less than a year.  And that is just revenues, not overall economic impact.

But there are those with the misplaced belief that if we invest to intelligently develop one part of the city, then another part of the city pays the price.  That is not true.

Aside from the quality of life benefits, the increased revenues generated through responsible redevelopment provide the city with more funding for roads, schools, and public safety officers in all parts of the city.  An economic boost for one part of Tulsa, is good for all of Tulsa.  We need to stop this geographical protectionism and work as a united Tulsa to face all of our challenges.  We are One Tulsa.

So I believe downtown is a proper area of focus, but we want it to be a true Urban Core, a walkable and livable center of economic activity, and a focal point of art and culture that is easy to get to from all parts of the city, and is a destination for visitors.

We also need a full spectrum of living accommodations, not just luxury lofts, and we need  the infrastructure necessary to spawn a self-sufficient community…such as a neighborhood grocer and a hardware store.

I also believe in the intelligent utilization of our natural resources.  The quality of life for Tulsans and the overall health of our people and our economy would benefit from the creative and strategic development of our river as a mixed use recreational, retail, and tourist destination.  River development should come soon, under a comprehensive plan that includes using sustainable practices.

I believe that in every part of this city we must create conditions favorable for entrepreneurs and small businesses to set up shop and be successful, because doing so will attract new investment and help contribute to growth for our local economy.  To accomplish this we need a comprehensive re-evaluation of our zoning codes.

I also understand that supporting locally owned businesses and buying local products as much as possible is something we can all do to keep more money right here in Tulsa, and not only will you be helping your friends and neighbors be successful but doing so also helps insulate our city from the fluctuations of the national economy.  I have been making a habit of this for many years, and I think what you will find is products and services that are as good or better in quality, and customer service that is far superior.

I believe in these things and more, and I believe in this city and what it can be, and I look forward to sharing and talking with you more as we walk down this path to a better Tulsa.  But what I need is for you to believe in me.

I need you to keep an open mind and as this all starts to make sense, I need you to have the courage to stand against the status quo in the name of a better Tulsa.

Make no mistake we are the underdogs.  If you believe in this message then please take ownership of your city and help this cause as it gains momentum toward a better Tulsa. We need people who think for themselves and about their city to join this campaign.  If you understand the big picture and would like to help, please contribute your time, your money, or your talent to our cause.

Thank you for coming out tonight.  See you next time.