TULSA’S GOVERNMENT
 
THE PROBLEM
 
Tulsa has been adrift without direction since we adopted our current council-mayor form of government some twenty years ago. The problem was not obvious until the "Gang of Five" dominated the Council in 2004. The constant bickering over issues, many inconsequential, destroyed Tulsa's reputation as a progressive city and discouraged most qualified candidates from running for the city council. At that time many concerned citizens discussed how to fix our dysfunctional city government. The basic problems identified were "ward politics" and apathy among voters because of voter disenfranchisement and under qualified candidates. Subsequently, consultation with current and former councilors and mayors of both Tulsa and Oklahoma City has led to the understanding that the separation of the mayor from the council is the basic flaw in our city charter.
THE SOLUTION
 
Adding at-large councilors responsible for the entire city helps fix "ward politics". Non-partisan voting giving everyone a candidate to vote for and the two best candidates in the general election helps fix voter apathy. Both fixes increase voter turnout and attract higher quality candidates to the elections. Mayor LaFortune’s 50 person blue ribbon committee studied and debated these proposals for six months. Recommendations were made to the City Council. The City Council ignored them. See also, under news “LaFortune’s Blue Ribbon Committee Report June 9, 2006”
 
Action on these proposals was sidetracked until 2009. The City Council continued squabbling restarted efforts to amend the City Charter. Former councilmen and mayors from both cities believe that having the mayor separate from the council is the reason for the disconnect and that the mayor should be on the council.
 
The result of all of this effort was Petition 2010-1 which corrects the flawed organization and expands the council by three at-large councilors plus the mayor. Petition 2010-2 Returns the city councilor's term of office to two years to be elected on the even number years when the State and Federal officials are elected. This will increase the turnout, enable the voters to change the city council in one election and prevent special interest from controlling the council. Petition 2010-3 will change to non-partisan voting which will prevent special interest control, encourage more and better candidates and should elect the best candidate in each district.
 
Some believed electing outstanding councilors will solve the problem. It hasn't worked. Some of the early councilors were outstanding. The quality declined until 2007 when most of the troublemakers were thrown out. In the next election they were back.
 
Some think a regional government would solve it. None of our nearby cities will agree to a regional government until Tulsa solves its dysfunctional city government.
 
Opposition to these solutions comes from "special interests" who believe it will dilute their influence and other groups because it was "not invented here". Are these changes in our city council perfect? Nothing is perfect! If one is opposed to the petitions he must be satisfied with the status quo. No one else has offered a realistic solution.
Collectively we believe these three petitions solve most of the dysfunctional problems in our City Government. Because of the cost of initiative petitions the November 8th election will probably be the last opportunity in many years to break the cycle. This is our best chance. Let's keep Tulsa the best place in the world to live! On November 8, VOTE YES OR KEEP THE MESS.