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.”

Tulsa World, 10/11/09

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As you may be aware, I am a firm believer in the value of early childhood education.  ”I believe early childhood education is critical for developing the cognitive framework necessary to maximize a child’s learning potential.” (from my “We are One Tulsa” speech, 7/21/09)  So this morning I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Community Action Project’s Skelly Early Childhood Education Center to read to the preschool children.  I absolutely loved it.  Please support this organization.

“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.     (Illustration by Dave Simpson)

Urban Tulsa, October 8th

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Mark on Olympics, what Tulsans want to hear from the candidates…

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“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.”

Tulsa World 10/4/09

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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

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I am the only candidate talking about Tulsa.  I have a large and growing group of supporters.  Why do some organizations want to hold closed forums with only the partisan candidates?  Why do the Democrat and the Republican spend all their time and their contributors’ money tearing each other down, while avoiding candid discourse with the one leader who is trying to build Tulsa up.

Doesn’t Tulsa deserve public debates, with media present, in front of all of Tulsa, about Tulsa issues, so the voters can make an informed choice on November 10?  Isn’t that what democracy is supposed to be all about?

Have we given ownership of our city to private interests, partisan politics, handlers, and the status quo?  Have we lost the courage and conviction to stand up and support what is right?  Have we lost our principles?

When you have 20 minutes or so, listen to my interview from Studio Tulsa with Rich Fisher….

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