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GT Bynum's transgender executive order

I will be on with Pat Campbell on AM 1170 KFAQ tomorrow morning, August 29, 2019, just after the 8 a.m. news, to discuss Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum IV's executive order adding gender identity and gender expression to the city's non-discrimination policy. (UPDATE: Here's the podcast of my August...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 28, 2019 11:19 PM

Tweedledee IV appoints Tweedledum Jr to Port Authority

Newly sworn-in Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum IV has appointed outgoing mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr. to the City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority. The Tulsa World published a list of 52 appointments by Bynum IV to authorities, boards, and commissions. By my quick count, 23 are reappointments to the...

Posted by Michael Bates on December 13, 2016 5:24 PM

Oklahoma primary 2016: Why Dewey Bartlett Jr lost

You can make enemies in politics, but the actions that make enemies had better also win the loyalty of new friends. Dewey Bartlett Jr managed to alienate every city councilor that ever worked with him and plenty of other people besides. It appears that Tulsans decided that, if you have...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 3, 2016 9:04 PM

Bartlett Jr vs. Bynum IV: KFAQ mayoral debate

On Friday, March 20, 2016, 1170 KFAQ hosted a debate between the two most prominent of the five candidates for Tulsa mayor: Incumbent Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr., and City Councilor G. T. Bynum, IV. KFAQ morning host Pat Campbell moderated the hour-long, uninterrupted debate. If you'd prefer to listen,...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 20, 2016 11:43 PM

Wanted: conservative candidates; Tulsa, county, state, federal 2016 filing periods this week

City of Tulsa candidate filing is this week, and we don't have any conservatives running for mayor, nor any conservatives currently on the city council. I am praying that solidly conservative candidates will step forward to run for city office. I hope you'll join with me in prayer, that you'll be open to the possibility of running, and that you'll think through your list of friends and consider whom you might encourage to run.

Posted by Michael Bates on April 13, 2016 8:34 AM

Langenkamp on Helmerich Park deal: "Grand Juries have been impaneled for less."

Save Helmerich Park posted the following comment from R. Dobie Langenkamp, former Director of the National Energy Law and Policy Institute and Chapman Distinguished Professor of Energy Law at the University of Tulsa Law School, about the business flaws of the Tulsa Public Facilities Authority effort (with Mayor Dewey Bartlett...

Posted by Michael Bates on April 11, 2016 11:10 PM

Bartlett Jr vs. Bynum IV: Tweedle-dee vs. Tweedle-dum

Tulsa Mayor Dewey F. Bartlett Jr. has announced his intention to run for a third term. Federal lobbyist and City Councilor G. T. Bynum IV has announced his intention to run against Bartlett. My one-word take: Feh. Tulsa needs better choices. (I won't say "deserves better"; as Mencken wrote, "Democracy...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 24, 2015 10:34 PM

Dewey Bartlett Jr: "As Mayor, I rely on The Weather Channel..."

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. was quoted in a web advertisement for The Weather Channel, part of the cable network's pushback in its battle against DirecTV's decision to replace the channel with WeatherNation on its satellite lineup. KJRH meteorologist George Flickinger posted a screenshot the ad on his Facebook page....

Posted by Michael Bates on January 14, 2014 10:46 PM

Voting for image, not understanding

There's a thought-provoking story from last week's local elections in Houston: An elderly, white, conservative man won a non-partisan race for a six-year-term on the board of Houston Community College, defeating a four-term African-American incumbent in a heavily African-American district. The victorious candidate, Dave Wilson, used stock photos of African-Americans...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 10, 2013 5:27 PM

Terry Simonson: Tulsa murder rate isn't so bad, when you don't count all the killings

Terry Simonson, Dewey Bartlett Jr's former chief of staff, writes that Tulsa's murder rate isn't all that bad, if you don't count all the murders: It's hard for the community to be concerned about the number of homicides when it's gang members killing gang members. When you think about it,...

Posted by Michael Bates on October 26, 2013 5:28 PM