Tulsans Defending Democracy

The following questions were submitted to Kathy Taylor, Democratic candidate for mayor, by Tulsans Defending Democracy. Taylor has yet to respond.

1. If elected would you support a change in Tulsa's form of government?

Specifically, what is your current position regarding the recent proposal regarding "at-large" councilors?

2. The formation of Tulsans for Better Government (TBG) and its petition drive to amend Tulsa's city charter by adding at-large councilors was announced on October 20, 2005 and reported in the Tulsa World on October 21, 2005.

During 2005 did any person ask for your support or otherwise discuss with you this proposal?

If your answer is yes, please indicate who and when, provide the substance of the communication, and include any written record.

3. On or about October 27, 2005 your name appeared on the web site of at-large charter change proponents TBG, listing you as a member of its Advisory Board under the heading "Who We Are."

Were you a member of TBG's Advisory Board?

If your answer is NO, when did you become aware that your name was listed?

4. On October 27 and 28, 2005, Don McCorkell indicates that he mailed or delivered the attached letter to all the members of TBG's Advisory Board that were identified in the Tulsa World or on the TBG web site, including yourself, telling them he was against the at-large petition and asking them to reconsider their support.

Did you receive this letter from Don McCorkell and if so when?

5. Don McCorkell indicates that he spoke with Jim East, your former campaign coordinator, on or about October 28, 2005 regarding the TBG at-large petition drive and your role as a member of TBG's Advisory Board. Mr. McCorkell indicates that he asked Mr. East why you were supporting the at-large charter change petition and that Mr. East stated he did not know why and that he thought it was a bad idea.

Did Mr. East inform you of this conversation and if so, when?

6. It appears your name was removed from TBG's web site on or about January 9, 2006. Please explain the facts and circumstances that lead to your name to being removed.

7. In an email dated January 9, 2006, provided by TBG Advisory Board member Howard Barnett, he makes the following statement to the persons in charge of TBG's web site:

"Ted and Barrett:
As I’m sure you saw in the paper, Kathy is running for Mayor. I don’t know who talked to her about letting us use her name on our petition’s website (it could have been me – I just don’t remember!!), but she does not remember giving that permission and is certainly not ready to commit that this is the right solution – though she is certainly willing to discuss it and is not closed minded about any of the issues we’ve discussed. However, in light of this, would you please remove her name from our website? Thanks"

Did you receive a copy of this email and is it accurate?

8. In an Oklahoma City Journal Record article regarding your candidacy dated January 10, 2006 you are quoted as follows:

"Taylor said Monday that changing the city charter . . . or recalls of city councilors won't help Tulsa move forward."

Is this quotation accurate? If yes, in referring to "changing the city charter" are you referring to the at-large charter change petition drive of TBG?

9. In a letter dated January 19, 2006, to Tulsa County Democratic Party Chair Patti Bassnett you state:

"Dear Patti,
As you requested at the supper on Saturday evening, I am writing to confirm that I am opposed to the charter change for at large candidates. I continue to believe that while there may be those who are well intentioned, the charter change is an attempt to overcome the lack of decisive and proven leadership in the Mayor's office."

Is this statement an accurate statement of your position regarding the at-large proposal for charter change?

If your answer is YES, when did this become your position?

10. On 2/5/06 on an Oklahoma Democratic web forum (www.okdemocrat.com) a person identified as J. Hayes stated the following:

"She [Taylor] was listed as the Secretary of Commerce and Tourism on that site [Tulsans for Better Government] as was clearly shown here weeks ago. Upon seeing her name listed many concerned citizens called her office in October and November to let her know they did not appreciate her supporting such an organization in her official role as a member of Governor Henry's cabinet. The governor's office was called as well."
See: http://64.176.73.100/OKDemocrat/posts/98754.html#98754

On 2/20/06 a person also identified as J. Hayes, on the same web site indicates that he/she personally called Taylor’s office and complained.
See: http://64.176.73.100/OKDemocrat/posts/99351.html#99355

Do you have any knowledge about persons contacting you or your office and/or the Governor or the Governor's office regarding concerns about your name appearing on the TBG web site?

If your answer is yes, please identify the substance of the calls, the person(s) who made them, when they were made and what response they were given.

11. Are you prepared to say the initiative petition process proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was NOT a good way to change the city charter?

12. Do you think the proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was divisive?

13. If elected, what will you do to prevent or stop bad or divisive proposals?

14. If you are opposed to changing Tulsa's form of government by adding at-large councilors, please describe your past efforts and future plans to stop this proposal.

15. If you are opposed to changing Tulsa's form of government by adding at-large councilors will you commit now to this position even if the Citizen’s Commission on the Structure of Tulsa’s government appointed by Mayor LaFortune recommends some form of at-large council representation.

The following questions were submitted to Mayor Bill LaFortune, Republican candidate for mayor, by Tulsans Defending Democracy. LaFortune has yet to respond. The questions were provided to LaFortune's campaign on February 20. His campaign referred TDD to City of Tulsa communications liaison Kim McLeod.

Note: Several hours after this was posted on March 1, another of LaFortune's City Hall assistants contacted TDD to say that LaFortune now wanted to respond to the questions and planned to submit answers later today.

1. If re-elected would you support a change in Tulsa's form of government?

Specifically, what is your current position regarding the recent proposal regarding "at-large" councilors?

2. When Chip McElroy announced the formation of Tulsans for Better Government to promote the initiative petition to change the City Charter by adding 3 at-large councilors and reducing the number of district-elected councilors from 9 to 6 he was quoted in the Tulsa World on October 21, 2005 as follows:

McElroy said there is "a sentiment of people who strongly support Mayor Bill LaFortune and have had great disappointment with the City Council's discharge of duties.". . . "[I]t [the charter change] has the support of the mayor."

Was this statement true at that time? If your answer is NO, what was inaccurate about the statement?

3. Please describe any communications you had and with whom regarding the proposed at-large charter change prior to the announcement of the formation of Tulsans for Better Government by Mr. McElroy in October of 2005.

Please provide any records in your possession and/or under your control of such conversations and/or communications, including memos, letters, emails, minutes, notes, recordings, calendars or other records. If necessary, please consider this a request under the Open Records Act.

4. In the Tulsa World on October 27, 2005 you are quoted as follows:

"LaFortune said he remained very protective of district representation and that it is very important to continue that. But I also firmly believe that at-large representation will enhance the council's ability to do business and help the city grow," he said. At-large representation will bring a broader perspective to city issues as opposed to just district viewpoints, he said."

"If anyone says at-large members dilute district representation, I disagree because it actually gives the six individual districts a greater voting power by giving them a broader constituency with a more powerful voice," he said.

Was this quotation accurate? If your answer is NO, what was inaccurate about the quotation?

5. In a Readers Forum column you authored in the Tulsa World on December 11, 2005 you stated with regard to the at-large petition drive:

"While I agree that reviewing our form of government from time to time is appropriate, I was concerned that the initiative petition process might not be the best approach. Without judging the merits of the proposal by Tulsans for Better Government, it seemed that a process that involved all Tulsans might find a solution that can be embraced by everyone."

Are you prepared to say the initiative petition process proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was NOT a good way to change the city charter?

6. Do you think the proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was divisive?

7. If re-elected, what will you do to prevent or stop bad or divisive proposals?

County Commissioner Randi Miller, Republican candidate for Mayor, has responded to several questions from Tulsans for Defending Democracy:

TDD: If elected would you support a change in Tulsa's form of government? Specifically, what is your current position regarding the recent proposal regarding "at-large" councilors?

Miller: No I would not.

TDD: On or about October 27, 2005 your name appeared on the web site of at-large charter change proponents Tulsans for Better Government (TBG), listing you as a member of its Advisory Board under the heading "Who We Are." Are you a member of TBG's Advisory Board and do you support their petition drive?

Miller: No I am not a member.

TDD: On November 10, 2005, you attended the press conference announcing the formation of Tulsans Defending Democracy (TDD). Members of TDD report that you told them that you were going to announce that you were not in favor of the at-large petition drive of TBG, and request to have your name removed from the TBG web site. Is this accurate?

Miller: Yes.

TDD: If your answer is yes, are you aware that your name is still identified as a member of TBG’s Advisory Board on its web site? If your answer is yes, why did you not have your name removed?

Miller: Yes I am aware it is still on there, but to my knowledge that board does not exist. So there was no need to have it removed. I am not on the new one.

TDD: In his Urban Tulsa Weekly column for 1/26/06, Michael Bates states the following:

If your answer is yes, please explain why your serving on the advisory board of TBG means you do not necessarily support the petition drive proposed by TBG.

Miller: I am not serving on the board. I was only willing to look into the possibility of a city manager form of government.

TDD: What you were told and by whom that caused you to authorize TBG to include your name as a member of its advisory board.

Miller: I was asked to be an adviser for a more efficient government which in my opinion was city manager form.

No answer provided by candidate.

TDD: In connection with you being a member of TBG’s advisory board, please disclose what advise and recommendations you have given to it.

Miller: I have not ever had any contact with them other than the original phone call.

TDD: Are you prepared to say the initiative petition process proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was NOT a good way to change the city charter?

Miller: I need more information on this.

TDD: Do you think the proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was divisive?

Miller: Yes, it appeared to be.

TDD: If elected, what will you do to prevent or stop bad or divisive proposals?

Miller: I would take that on a case by case basis.

City Councilor Chris Medlock, Republican candidate for Mayor, has responded to several questions from Tulsans for Defending Democracy:

TDD: If elected would you support a change in Tulsa's form of government?

Medlock: I pledged the day I announced for office that I would commit to a two year study to determine if Tulsa would be better suited with a Strong Council/City Manager form of government, like Oklahoma City has. I will only commit to a study, as I believe that our current form of government is just now starting to mature.

TDD: Specifically, what is your current position regarding the recent
proposal regarding "at-large" councilors?

Medlock:No. I would not support any form of city council that altered the current make up of the city council, under a strong mayor form of government.

TDD: Are you prepared to say the initiative petition process proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was NOT a good way to change the city charter?

Medlock: I support the use of initiative petitions, even when I don’t agree with the effort behind the petition.

TDD: Do you think the proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was divisive?

Medlock: Given the timing of the petition, just before filing for a very important mayoral city election, their actions were very divisive. It would have been more appropriate to wait until after the election to work with the new council and mayor.

TDD: If elected, what will you do to prevent or stop bad or divisive
proposals?

Medlock: What any good mayor would do. I would try to meet with the group behind the effort, listen to their proposal, and if I disagreed with their effort, to take a strong stand against it.

TDD: If you are opposed to changing Tulsa's form of government by adding at-large councilors, please describe your past efforts and future plans to stop this proposal.

Medlock: I have spoken publicly against the effort and signed my name to a petition of opposition. I have attended several meetings of the opposition, too.

TDD: If you are opposed to changing Tulsa's form of government by adding at-large councilors will you commit now to this position even if the Citizen's Commission on the Structure of Tulsa?s government appointed by Mayor LaFortune recommends some form of at-large council representation.

Medlock: Yes. I believe the commission’s effort will produce some interesting positions to be added to any future study, but I would not support their conclusions, without considerably more study.

Former State Representative Don McCorkell, Democratic candidate for Mayor, has responded to several questions from Tulsans for Defending Democracy:

TDD: If elected would you support a change in Tulsa's form of government?

McCorkell: No

TDD: Specifically, what is your current position regarding the recent proposal regarding "at-large" councilors?

McCorkell: Strongly Oppose

TDD: Are you prepared to say the initiative petition process proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was NOT a good way to change the city charter?

McCorkell: Emphatically yes…

TDD: Do you think the proposal by Tulsans for Better Government was divisive?

McCorkell: Yes

TDD: If elected, what will you do to prevent or stop bad or divisive proposals?

McCorkell: We would fully engage the City Council & employ other methods to re-animate public participation in Tulsa City Government. We are intrigued by the so called “Deliberative Democracy “ movement—see “The Deliberative Democracy Handbook: Strategies for Effective Civic Engagement in the Twenty-First Century” John Gastil (Editor), Peter Levine (Editor) -2005

TDD: If you are opposed to changing Tulsa's form of government by adding at-large councilors, please describe your past efforts and future plans to stop this proposal.

McCorkell: DM campaign wrote all Tulsans for Better Government board people expressing D. McCorkell’s opposition to the concept. The DM campaign has written all democratic precinct officials expressing our opposition to this effort. Senior staffer R. Pearcey has been leader in TDD efforts. If elected we will dismantle the current “charter” change commission” —we will also explore forward looking concepts for augmenting democracy in Tulsa—by rethinking key boards and commissions, vastly improving citizen involvement in the capital process, ratcheting up neighborhood participation in the zoning regime and other initiatives.

TDD: If you are opposed to changing Tulsa's form of government by adding at-large councilors will you commit now to this position even if the Citizen's Commission on the Structure of Tulsa’s government appointed by Mayor LaFortune recommends some form of at-large council representation.

McCorkell: Yes –we are completely opposed to this effort