Press
Tulsa World: Candidates Debate Management Styles
Mayoral Candidates Come out Against Profiling
Tulsa World: Mayoral Candidates Mum for Once
Tulsa World: Hopefuls: Preserve Police Force
Tulsa World Mayoral Q&A: Budget, Revenues
I will make budget decisions like I make all decisions: after thorough consultation with knowledgeable professionals, armed with all the information and carefully calculated to produce results. My approach: 1) What are the primary expectations of the taxpayer citizens? 2) Is the funding directly related to fulfilling those expectations? 3) Are the allocated funds being used efficiently and effectively to satisfy those expectations? 4) Can we make modifications that enable us to produce the same results at a lower cost?
Tulsa World: Mayoral Hopeful Puts Finance First
He said his administration would immediately examine “our municipal protocols, contracts, positions, and procedures so they can make recommendations to me for improving efficiency and eliminating waste.”
“The financial health of the city is my first priority,” he said. ”I believe it is the fundamental responsibility of government to respect every taxpayer dollar by maximizing efficiency in every government function.”
Perkins said the city needs to support “intelligent economic development initiatives” designed to increase revenues.
NPR: Listen to the Entire Kiwanis Club Mayoral Debate
CLick Here to Listen to the Debate
Tulsa World: Hopefuls Address Strife
Perkins said he favors energy audits, discussions with the state about tapping the “rainy day” fund, and modifying permit regulations and zoning codes to ease the way for businesses.
[Actually, what I said, after days of hearing Bartlett's "outside the box" energy audit "proposals", was that energy audits are nothing new but already city law under Title 12. Of course there was an article about Bartlett's "proposals", silence when I pointed out they were already city law...]
“If you want to expect different results, you need to elect a different kind of leader,” he said. “I want to unite Tulsans in a nonpartisan way to overcome our nonpartisan challenges.”
GTR: Negativism Puts Pall on Mayoral Race
And then there’s independent candidate Mark Perkins offering ideas and plans for how he would like to see the city evolve under his tenure as mayor and refusing to enter into the nasty little war, something not interesting to most Tulsa media outlets judging from the coverage his candidacy has received to date.
Tulsa World Q&A: Roads, City Hall, South Tulsa Bridge
The city is just beginning its $451.6 million, five-year, Fix the Streets initiative. As mayor, would you lay the groundwork for a second phase to continue the effort beyond that and what else would you do to improve the condition of streets in the city?
The effort must continue. The Fix the Streets package only improves existing streets, does not pay for widening projects, and will only raise our overall Pavement Condition Index to a “D” grade equivalent. My goal is to craft a comprehensive, long-term game plan incorporating best practices and addressing prevention, maintenance, repaving, construction, planning, operations, and funding. The forthcoming independent performance audit of the Public Works Department will yield helpful information for getting started. There is no magic bullet. A smart, systematic, long-term strategy is required to pull us out of this failing road-to-tax package cycle.
We need more boots on the ground,” Perkins said, “but we also need to look at the way we allocate them. A presence will do a lot to deter crime.”
Perkins said neighborhoods “are a critical component of the city.”
“I’m a big supporter of neighborhood watch programs, too,” he said. “I think they would help us with our public safety efforts.”
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Tulsa World: Rotary Club Debate: Tulsa Budget, Streets, Public Safety Top Issues
“It starts with education. If we educate the kids properly, they’ll have more economic opportunities and be less likely to turn to crime,” said Mark Perkins, (I) mayoral candidate.
Each candidate talked about improving public schools. Perkins wants more magnet schools. Adelson wants the city to help recruit new teachers to Tulsa. Bartlett wants to have a fulltime person work with the Tulsa school board.
Perkins was the only candidate solidly against consolidating city and county government.
Tulsa World: Mayoral Q & A on Economic Development
With suburban communities whittling away at Tulsa’s sales tax base, what would be your specific strategy to minimize this trend?
[List not intended to be in a particular order...] “1. Reduce crime and improve our public schools so we are more attractive to families and businesses looking to relocate. 2. Maintain parks and open pools. 3. Get the politics out of the development process. 4. Work to cut layers of bureaucracy and multi-step permitting, i.e. INCOG involvement in Tulsa zoning, some permitting, etc. The city of Tulsa can handle this like most cities. 5. Facilitate proper implementation of the Infrastructure Development Process. Time is money. 6. Sensible code modifications [see No. 2] 7. River development. 8. Infrastructure improvements (South Tulsa). 9. Support our colleges and universities.”
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Urban Tulsa Weekly: Pulling the Strings
“I don’t know if there is a so-called handler out there I wouldn’t clash with, just because these are professional political people, and to me, this isn’t–obviously, it is politics–but it’s not the traditional kind of politics. Mine comes from the heart, and it’s for the city.
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Tulsa World: Mayoral Q & A on Public Safety
“I believe in a multifaceted approach to public safety involving short- and long-term solutions. I supported the increase in manpower provided by the federal grant. I also support utilizing technology to assist our resource allocation. CompStat is a step in the right direction. We should also build relationships with residents through a visible and interactive police presence in the neighborhoods and by supporting watch programs. These tactics can yield the valuable intelligence used to prevent or solve crime. Since crime is usually about money, the key to long-term reduction in crime is through educational and economic opportunity.”
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TULSA NEEDS TO HEAR THIS
There are articles and commentary about my speech yesterday, but its always best to read exactly what I said…check it out!
“…As a citizen, I fear we have forgotten our principles. I fear we have disengaged. I fear we have traded our passion for apathy, our conviction for indifference, and our fortitude for the false comfort of partisan fraternity.
But as a candidate I am here to lead us back from the edge of mediocrity. I have a better approach, I have a better plan, and I am ready, willing, and able to lead us to a better future…”
Tulsa Press Club, September 30th, 2009
Click Here to Read the Full Text
NPR: Check Out My Interview with Rich Fisher on Studio Tulsa
When you have 20 minutes or so, listen to my interview from Studio Tulsa with Rich Fisher….
Perkins Accuses Bartlett of Ducking Debates
I believe Tulsans deserve to hear candidly from the candidates who will be on the ballot on Nov. 10. I know for a fact that both you and Sen. Adelson’s campaigns are trying to keep me from being invited to the forums and debates. They know I have supporters from both parties, and they know I know the issues and make some good points. But rather than be open with the public, and earn their votes, they would rather hide behind their political parties, their money, their produced commercials, and their handlers. I can’t blame them…it is a good political tactic. But Tulsa deserves better. Lets be open, talk about and debate the issues, keep it respectful not personal, and show Tulsa its options.
KFAQ: Thanks for the Interview Pat Campbell
Check out my interview on the Pat Campbell Show on 1170 KFAQ
Hopefuls Back Density: Its About Options That Save the City Money, and Bring the City Revenue
Check out Wednesday’s Tulsa World article entitled “Hopefuls Back Density” As a city, we can embrace population growth, prepare for an increase in density, and attract residents and businesses, or we can ignore it, increase our problems, and lose out on revenues that pay for our schools, our public safety and health personnel, and our roads and bridges.
Someone who has thought the issues through and has firm opinions about those that are in the best interest of the city “can appeal to a lot of people who do feel that they’re not represented by the status quo system”. . .
“I have people that started out in either camp and have now moved to mine. They are smart people with creative ideas who want new solutions to our old problems.”
Independent candidate Mark Perkins says the city needs to expand the tax base in Tulsa by offering citizens more revenue sources.
“To do that it’s going to require economic development. We need to tap into new sources of revenue. We need to make Tulsa a business friendly city that allows private endeavors to go in and open up shop and attract consumers,” said Independent candidate Mark Perkins.
KJRH Channel 2
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