Thank you for coming out tonight.  I know a month ago you didn’t anticipate making a trip to McNellie’s to hear me talk politics.  I assure you I didn’t anticipate this either.

But sometimes people are motivated from deep inside to do things they didn’t plan to do.  We get butterflies.  Our mind stirs.  We get anxious.  And as that feeling bubbles up inside you realize what you have to do, and then that decision becomes the most natural thing in the world.

Yes this decision was that natural.  How?  Because like many of you my passion for this town runs deep.  This town is in my blood.  I am a part of it.

I work for it.  I fight for it.  I am proud of it.  And I am disappointed in it.  But I care too much about it to sit back and let the status quo control its future.  There is too much at stake.

So there is nothing more important I can be doing right now.  This is my home.  This is where my family and friends live and make a living.  This is where I will raise and educate my kids.  And this is too critical a time in Tulsa’s evolution to leave to chance, or to the same old party driven politics.

We are better than that.  We are smarter than that.  We should expect more than that.  We must stand up and have a say in our shared future.  And this is the time.  This is our time to shape the conversation about the future of our city.

Let me repeat that.   Our time is right now to shape the conversation about the future of our city.  Not a few years from now when it is more convenient, or when the conventional wisdom deems it more acceptable for us to have a political voice.  But right now, in this election, this fall.

Tulsa has the potential to be one of the most dynamic cities in the country.  But we are at a crossroads, and we must make a choice.  Do we want to kick the can on down the road, or do we want to make conscious decisions that will bring out that potential and make it our reality?  Maybe if we make the right decisions during the next few years, then we can elect a caretaker mayor.  But right now we are on the precipice, and we must decide 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 safe, healthy, and educated citizens…and a community we will be proud to pass down through the generations.

Now I understand that I don’t look or talk like the other guys.  But I also know there is a broad base of like-minded people who see things as I see them.  People of all ages and political persuasions.  Pragmatic people with good judgment, foresight, and no agenda other than that which is best for the City of Tulsa.

If I thought one of the other guys shared my perspective on the proper direction for the city, I would save myself this trouble.  I am the underdog of underdogs.  Almost all the cards are stacked against me.  I don’t have piles of money to spend, and it is difficult raising money as an Independent in a partisan town.  But I have some things the other guys can’t buy.

I have a fresh perspective.  I wasn’t groomed by the system.  I have no political debts.  I have no base to satisfy.   And I have the passion that comes from the opportunity of having a say in the kind of city my children will grow up in and I will grow old in.

So I am running as an Independent for Mayor so that I can make sure the things I believe are important are put on the table for all to see.  I will not gloss over them with politically safe answers.  And I can make sure the other candidates can’t gloss over them either.

So let’s get down to business.  Here are some of the things I stand for:

I believe in solution driven politics. I believe in a Tulsa-centric approach that is not tainted by national agendas and divisions. At the local level, partisanship creates more obstacles than solutions. I believe it is important to work with anybody from any party who is willing and able contribute their time or talent to addressing our common challenges.  I will also fill every position with the most talented and capable individual available, without regard to political party.

I also believe it is the primary responsibility of any elected official to respect every taxpayer dollar by maximizing the efficiency of every government function. I will re-examine every protocol and procedure to eliminate waste.  An efficient government is a good government. This is always a priority.

I believe we must undertake responsible and intelligent economic development initiatives that promote sustained growth and the expansion of our tax base. The increased revenues from these initiatives benefit our schools, our roads, and our public safety officials.

I believe one of the most important things we can do is modernize our zoning codes, permitting regulations, and land use policies so it is not cost prohibitive for small business owners and entrepreneurs to open shop. Without raising taxes, we can encourage growth, increase occupancy rates, and attract businesses and consumers to parts of town that otherwise would be home to empty buildings and rising crime rates. The increased revenues created by such redevelopment can be used to repair roads and pay for education and public safety in every part of town.

I will also encourage, nurture, and support our local and small businesses. Small and locally owned businesses are critical generators of city revenue, and supporting these businesses and buying local products is something the city can encourage.  Not only will you be helping your friends and neighbors succeed, but doing so helps insulate our city from the fluctuations of the national economy by keeping more money right here in Tulsa.  The products and services offered by these businesses are as good or better in quality than their counterparts, and the customer service is far superior.

I believe the development of our urban core is of critical importance to the economic health of the entire city. A properly developed downtown will be a self-sufficient community, with a range of living accommodations to fit every budget, and the infrastructure to support its residents, such as a grocery store and a hardware store.  The heart of our metropolitan area should be easily accessible from all parts of the metropolitan area, as it is also a core business district and entertainment destination.

I believe our river is a massively underutilized asset and I will promote responsible and sustainable development initiatives to bring the river corridor to its potential as a mixed use, retail, and recreational area. A public-private partnership to develop our natural community resources will add to the quality of life of Tulsans and the citizens of surrounding communities.  Intelligent development of our river will also expand our tax base and help attract and retain our young professionals.

I believe in the importance of education.  I was asked the other day by a supporter of one of the other major candidates about my platform, and when I mentioned education he tried to tell me that education was a state issue.  Now I know where the funding for education comes from.  It comes from the feds, from the state, and from property taxes assessed by the county.

But let me tell you something…it is our children, in our city, who suffer from the inadequacy of our education system that study after study shows produces unacceptable results, and has been for many, many years.  And until we figure out a way to properly fund every school, pay every capable teacher, and enhance the effectiveness of educating our children…until we make these things a priority our city will be caught in a cycle that includes poverty, crime, despondency, and racial and geographical tension.  So don’t tell me education is a state issue.

I believe in these things and more, and I believe in this city and what it can be.  But like any good leader, I also know that I don’t know everything.  So I need your help.  We all have different experiences and expertise.  But if you believe in these principles, and if you believe in the potential of Tulsa, please don’t be apathetic.

I believe that together we can come up with new ideas and solutions.  So I am asking you to give your time and your talent to this city.  I have formed what I call think-tanks, and I would like for you to be a part of them…to be a part of the solution.  Each think-tank focuses on a specific Tulsa issue I have identified as being critical to the well being of the city.  So my campaign has a think-tank focusing on these issues:

-Public Safety

-Education (Early Childhood, Public Schools, Colleges & Universities)

-Roads & Infrastructure

-River Development
-Downtown and Urban Renewal & Redevelopment
-Public Transportation
-Sustainability Issues
-Small & Independent Business Issues
-Parks, Pedestrian, & Bicycle
-Land Use, Zoning, Permitting
-Manufacturing, Aerospace, Industrial
-Taxes, Grants, & Allocations-Education

I believe that together we can come up with new ideas and better solutions to our challenges.  So if you are in a business effected by any of these issues, or have knowledge or experience in dealing with any of these issues, or just have a particular interest in one of these issues, then please join this important cause.

If you look around you will see some of my volunteers wearing Mark for Tulsa t-shirts and holding clipboards.  On those clipboards are the sign up sheets to help with the campaign.  If you are willing to help this city, please sign up and contribute to these think tanks.  You can also sign up on any page of our website simply by typing your email address into the “Sign Up for Email Updates” box, and checking “Insider”.  Please visit www.markfortulsa.com.

As a campaign driven not by money but by passion, we could use any of the time or the talent you are willing to contribute.  In addition to these think tanks, we have a fundraising committee, a marketing, branding, and technology committee, an event planning committee, and a political strategy committee.  If you are interested in helping in any of these ways, please find a volunteer and sign up on those lists so we can get in touch with you, or send me an email at campaign@markfortulsa.com

If you do sign up, please grab a t-shirt and wear it with Tulsa pride.

And of course, part of getting our message out will require money.  So if you can donate, please visit our website at www.markfortulsa.com.

Now, before we break I want to emphasize one more thing.  If you plan to live in Tulsa, to raise your kids here, and to grow old here, then the next few months may be the most important of your life.  I am dead serious.  As far as creating the kind of city you want to live in, the time is now.  This opportunity to effect your own future will be gone in 3 months, and you will never get it back again.

I am the only candidate who can truly represent your voice.  I am asking you to please understand the importance of this moment.  I am asking you to take ownership of your city at this critical time, because this is your opportunity to leave your mark.  I am asking you to have the courage to make a difference, because you may never get an opportunity like this again.

This will be our legacy.

That we will inherit this city is inevitable.  The question is:  are we going to have a say in the kind of city we inherit?  For once in a lifetime, the choice is truly yours.