Municipal elections in Tulsa, Oklahoma (2016)

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Scions of two Tulsa political families drew the most attention in the primary election for mayor and three seats on the Tulsa City Council. Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. lost to City Councilman G. T. Bynum after a contentious campaign. The mayoral race focused on the city's economic fortunes and efforts to spur job growth. Learn more about issues in the mayoral race and trends in city council elections by clicking here. Three city council seats were decided at the candidate filing deadline with incumbents automatically re-elected without opposition. Races in Districts 1, 2, and 9 took place on November 8, 2016.

The filing deadline was April 13, 2016, and there was a primary election on June 28, 2016. Candidates for mayor and Districts 3, 4, and 6 won their seats outright in the primary by winning 50 percent or more of the vote. In races where there only two candidates per seat, the election did not require a primary and advanced to the general election.[1]

## Contents

* 1 Elections
* 2 General election
* 2.1 City Council
* 2.1.1 District 1
* 2.1.2 District 2
* 2.1.3 District 9
* 3 Primary election
* 3.1 Mayor
* 3.2 City Council
* 3.2.1 District 3
* 3.2.2 District 4
* 3.2.3 District 5
* 3.2.4 District 6
* 3.2.5 District 7
* 3.2.6 District 8
* 4 Polling
* 4.1 Primary election
* 5 Campaign finance
* 5.1 First quarter of 2016
* 5.2 Issues
* 5.2.1 Heavy hitters in the mayoral election
* 5.2.1.1 Economic development
* 5.2.1.1.1 Tulsa's job market in context
* 5.2.1.2 Endorsement by the Tulsa World
* 5.2.2 City council trends
* 5.3 About the city
* 5.3.1 City government
* 5.3.2 Demographics
* 5.4 Recent news
* 5.5 See also
* 5.6 External links
* 5.7 Footnotes

## Elections[edit]

# General election[edit]

### City Council[edit]

#### District 1[edit]

☐ Jack Ross Henderson (i)
☑ Vanessa Hall-Harper

#### District 2[edit]

☑ Jeannie Cue (i)
☐ Aaron Bisogno

#### District 9[edit]

☑ Ben Kimbro
☐ Eric McCray

# Primary election[edit]

Note: Candidates who faced no opposition following the April 13 filing deadline were automatically elected to their seats. They are indicated by a ☑ and their names are italicized.

### Mayor[edit]

☐ Dewey Bartlett Jr. (i)
☐ Lawrence Kirkpatrick
☑ G. T. Bynum
☐ Paul Tay
☐ Tom McCay

### City Council[edit]

#### District 3[edit]

☑ David Patrick (i)
☐ Jim Rice Jr. (withdrawn but still on ballot)
☐ Araceli Tiger

#### District 4[edit]

☑ Blake Ewing (i)
☐ Sam Walker (withdrawn but still on ballot)
☐ Michael Haskins (withdrawn but still on ballot)
☐ Josh Starks

#### District 5[edit]

☑ Karen Gilbert (i)

#### District 6[edit]

☑ Connie Dodson (i)
☐ Skip Steele
☐ Allen Branch

#### District 7[edit]

☑ Anna America (i)

#### District 8[edit]

☑ Phil Lakin Jr. (i)

|

# Polling[edit]

#### Primary election[edit]

2016 Tulsa Mayoral Election (Primary)

Poll | Dewey Bartlett Jr. (i) | G. T. Bynum| Lawrence Kirkpatrick| Tom McCay| Paul Tay| Undecided| Margin of error| Sample size
TulsaWorld/Fox23/KRMG
(June 20, 2016)
| 40.8%| 37.7%| 3.1%| 2.5%| 2.0%| 14.0%| +/-4.0| 598
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

# Campaign finance[edit]

### First quarter of 2016[edit]

Candidates for mayor and city council were required to file campaign finance reports for all contributions and expenditures through March 31, 2016. The Tulsa World reported $284,152 in contributions received by candidates during the first quarter of 2016. Mayoral candidates Dewey Bartlett Jr. and G. T. Bynum reported $262,612 in contributions, representing 92.4 percent of total contributions in the race.[2]

Candidate  | Contributions

|

Mayor
Dewey Bartlett Jr. (incumbent)  | $121,402.00
G. T. Bynum | $141,210.00
Lawrence Kirkpatrick | $0.00
Paul Tay | $0.00
Tom McCay | $0.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 1
Jack Ross Henderson (incumbent)  | $0.00
Vanessa Hall-Harper | $0.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 2
Jeannie Cue (incumbent)  | $1,000.00
Aaron Bisogno | $0.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 3
David Patrick (incumbent)  | $1,000.00
Jim Rice Jr. | $0.00
Araceli Tiger | $0.00

Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 4
Blake Ewing (incumbent)  | $7,325.00
Sam Walker | $0.00
Michael Haskins | $0.00
Josh Starks | $0.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 5
Karen Gilbert (incumbent)  | $5,800.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 6
Connie Dodson (incumbent)  | $1,200.00
Skip Steele | $1,800.00
Allen Branch | $0.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 7
Anna America (incumbent)  | $500.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 8
Phil Lakin Jr. (incumbent)  | $0.00
Candidate  | Contributions

|

District 9
Ben Kimbro | $2,915.00
Eric McCray | $0.00

## Issues[edit]

### Heavy hitters in the mayoral election[edit]

Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr.

G.T. Bynum

Incumbent Dewey Bartlett Jr. and challenger G. T. Bynum emerged early as the frontrunners in Tulsa's 2016 mayoral election. Bartlett and Bynum raised 92.4 percent of the total campaign contributions in city races through March 31, 2016. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R) endorsed Bartlett prior to the June 28 primary, while Bynum received endorsements from Tulsa's police and firefighter unions.[3][4][5] Bartlett's father, Dewey Bartlett Sr., served as the Governor of Oklahoma and a U.S. senator in the 1960s and 1970s. Bynum also has roots in local politics, with his grandfather Bob LaFortune (1970-1978) and uncle Bill LaFortune (2002-2006) previously serving as mayor.[6][7]

#### Economic development[edit]

Tulsa's economic prospects generated the brightest sparks in the race between Bartlett and Bynum. On May 19, 2016, both candidates participated in a radio debate on 1170 KFAQ. Bynum criticized Bartlett for his lack of effort in promoting economic growth, citing Tulsa's lagging job growth compared to Oklahoma City. This line of attack echoed Bynum's previous criticism of Bartlett as a passive partner in developing the Tulsa Vision tax plan.[8] Bartlett noted that voters approved a sales tax extension by a large margin in April 2016, continuing downtown development and business growth promoted during his tenure as mayor.[9][10]

Bartlett and Bynum also clashed over an agreement with the Muscogee Nation to fund a dam on the city's south side. The project required $13 million for completion and the Muscogee Nation agreement was not completed as of May 20, 2016. Bartlett suggested that Bynum and other city councilmembers endangered the agreement by implying that the tribe would need to pay a higher amount than originally negotiated. Bynum countered that the agreement was on track and Bartlett was attempting to create a campaign issue out of the negotiations.[9]

##### Tulsa's job market in context[edit]

Bynum's criticism of Bartlett's record on job creation raises the question of how Tulsa stacks up with comparable U.S. cities based on population. Nonfarm employment data are used by the U.S. Federal Reserve System and other agencies to track the strength of the nation's job market.[11]

Tulsa experienced a 0.4 percent decrease in nonfarm employment from April 2015 to April 2016. The only city in Ballotpedia's study with a greater decrease in nonfarm employment during this period was the 0.5 percent decrease in Anchorage, Alaska. Oklahoma City's nonfarm employment increased by 1.01 percent during the same period. This increase exceeded growth in Wichita (0.74 percent), but lagged behind growth in regional competitors like St. Louis (1.84 percent) and Kansas City (1.11 percent). An economic comparison between Oklahoma's two most populous cities is incomplete without noting that Oklahoma City's population (631,346) was 56 percent larger than Tulsa (403,505) as of a July 2015 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau.[12]

#### Endorsement by the Tulsa World[edit]

The Tulsa World, the city's daily newspaper, endorsed Bartlett on June 26, 2016. The following statement was made in the paper's editorial endorsing the incumbent:

“  |

Bartlett eats, breathes, drinks and lives Tulsa. He fights for what’s best for the city every day, and he is a good and decent public representative of our community here and on the national stage.

The mayor’s work on the recently passed Vision tax extension is representative of his leadership style.

He kept his focus on the big picture, insisting that the package could not involve a tax increase and that it had to include permanent funding for public safety, including more police officers, more firefighters and better road maintenance. Both of those stances brought considerable static from those who had an interest in going different directions. But Bartlett was committed because he judged (rightly) that those two points were essential to the people. The package ultimately included the needed public safety funding without a tax increase, and it passed with a strong majority. We are convinced that would not have happened had it not been for Bartlett’s tenacity and that the city will be safer and more prosperous because of it.

Bartlett has shown the same perseverance in demanding county jail management accountability. When the mayor first raised questions about how the sheriff’s office was spending jail funds, he was dismissed, but again and again he has been proven correct in his suspicions. Like Bartlett’s steady management of the city’s budget crisis when he first came into office, the jail episode has shown him to be a tireless defender of the taxpayers’ money, something we can’t have too much of in public office.

We have been impressed with the mayor’s engagement in efforts to keep Williams Cos. independent and based in Tulsa. Bartlett recognizes the enormous impact that losing a Fortune 500 headquarters with a long-standing tradition of civic leadership would have on our city, and has worked tirelessly, and everyone should hope effectively, to change the course of events. If Tulsa loses Williams, it won’t be because Dewey Bartlett wasn’t fighting for the city every day with every connection he can call to the table. [13]

| ”

|
|

—Tulsa World (2016), [14]

### City council trends[edit]

Tulsa City Council Votes, January-May 2016

Tulsa's city council elections have been overshadowed by the mayoral race due to the council's harmonious inner workings and multiple cycles of uncompetitive races. Ballotpedia reviewed city council minutes from regular meetings held between January 7, 2016, and May 5, 2016. This review determined that 335 of 344 votes (97.4 percent) decided at these meetings were unanimous, including procedural votes, budget items, and zoning decisions. The lone vote during this period where more than one councilmember voted no on an issue was a rezoning request passed by a 5-4 majority. A review of city council minutes did not reveal a governing majority or dividing lines based on particular issues.

City council races in 2012 and 2014 featured one race out of 12 seats on the ballot with a single-digit margin of victory. In 2012, the District 4 race did not require a general election, while the margins of victory in Districts 1 and 7 were 49.8 percent and 14.2 percent, respectively.[15] The 2014 election was the first to feature all nine city council seats on the ballot following voter approval of the change in November 2009. This election led to two uncontested seats and three seats decided during the primary election. Districts 3, 6, and 9 were decided by margins of victory of 12 percent or more, while the District 7 race ended with a 5 percent margin.

## About the city[edit]

See also: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma. With an estimated population of 398,121 in 2013, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area.[16] The city serves as the county seat of Tulsa County, the most densely populated county in Oklahoma, and extends into Osage, Rogers, and Wagoner counties.

### City government[edit]

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Tulsa uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[17]

### Demographics[edit]

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic data for Tulsa, Oklahoma (2015)

| Tulsa| Oklahoma
Total population:| 398,082| 3,907,414
Land area (square miles):| 197| 68,595
Race and ethnicity[18]
White:| 65.1%| 73.1%
Black/African American:| 15.1%| 7.2%
Asian:| 2.8%| 1.9%
Native American:| 4.3%| 7.3%
Pacific Islander:| 0.1%| 0.1%
Two or more:| 7.6%| 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino:| 15%| 9.6%
Education
High school graduation rate:| 86.9%| 86.9%
College graduation rate:| 30.5%| 24.1%
Income
Median household income:| $42,284| $46,879
Persons below poverty level:| 20.2%| 19.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Tulsa election city 2016. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Municipal elections in Tulsa, Oklahoma (2016) - Google News

## See also[edit]

Tulsa, Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Municipal government | Other local coverage

|
|
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* 2014 Tulsa elections
* Tulsa, Oklahoma
* Cities in Oklahoma

* 2016 Oklahoma elections
* Public policy in Oklahoma
* Influencers in Oklahoma
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## External links[edit]

| Suggest a link

|

* City of Tulsa
* City of Tulsa municipal filings

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Tulsa World, "3 councilors re-elected as city filing period ends; 1 more enters mayoral race," April 14, 2016
2. ↑ Tulsa World, "Dewey Bartlett, G.T. Bynum say they are happy with fundraising in race for mayor," May 9, 2016
3. ↑ Tulsa World, "Coburn endorses Bartlett's re-election as mayor," May 21, 2016
4. ↑ Sun Times, "Police Union Endorse Bynum After Tulsa Mayoral Debate," May 18, 2016
5. ↑ KTUL, "Tulsa firefighters endorse Councilor Bynum for mayor," April 29, 2016
6. ↑ Tulsa World, "Who is Dewey Bartlett? A man with a legacy of serving his city," May 22, 2016
7. ↑ Tulsa World, "Who is G.T. Bynum? A man with deep family roots in Tulsa politics," May 22, 2016
8. ↑ KTUL, "Mayoral candidates meet at 1st debate," April 12, 2016
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 KJRH.com, "Tulsa mayoral candidates Dewey Bartlett, G.T. Bynum debate on The Pat Campbell Show on 1170 KFAQ," May 20, 2016
10. ↑ News on 6, "Tulsa County, Municipalities Approve All Vision Sales Tax Propositions," April 5, 2016
11. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, "Why does the Federal Reserve consider nonfarm payroll employment to be an important economic indicator?" June 2004
12. ↑ Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment Summary," June 1, 2016
13. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
14. ↑ Tulsa World, "Tulsa World editorial endorsement: For Dewey Bartlett," June 26, 2016
15. ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "General Election-November 6, 2012," accessed May 31, 2016
16. ↑ U.S. Census, "State and County Quick Facts," accessed September 2, 2014
17. ↑ Tulsa City Charter, "Art. II & III," accessed September 2, 2014
18. ↑ Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

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