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Tulsa City Council funds teen sex survey with federal COVID cash

A sex survey targeting teenagers was funded by the City of Tulsa using federal COVID relief funding. The survey was one of 70 non-profit projects selected for funding by a working group of four city councilors who are on next Tuesday's ballot -- Phil Lakin (District 8), Jeannie Cue (2),...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 16, 2022 10:59 PM

Budget-busting Vision Tulsa: "We should have thought through better"

The City Council and the Mayor didn't need to put Vision Tulsa on a special April ballot. The Vision 2025 tax doesn't expire until December 31. They had plenty of time to perform due diligence, get solid estimates, consider consequences and hidden costs, but they wanted it on a low-turnout...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 12, 2016 12:49 AM

Tulsa Election 2011: Democrat Suliburk the conservative in District 8

In the previous entry, I mentioned a candidate survey issued by OK-SAFE -- Oklahomans for Sovereignty and Free Enterprise. Say what you will about OK-SAFE and their views, but the group's questionnaire gets into the details of real questions facing City of Tulsa officials, and they allow candidates to respond...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 7, 2011 11:40 PM

Tulsa District 8: For George Gibbs

District 8, Tulsa's southernmost City Council district, is an open seat this year, as long-time incumbent Bill Christiansen opted not to run for re-election. I'm pleased to endorse George Gibbs for the District 8 seat. George Gibbs has his south Tulsa neighbors' interests at heart. A few years ago, when...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 12, 2011 7:23 PM

Tulsa Election 2011: Progress report

Things are moving rapidly on this last day before the Tulsa City Council primary, and I'm doing my best to catch up. Several developing stories: Oklahoma City-based Majority Designs (the direct mail firm of Fount Holland and Karl Ahlgren) have put out mailers "not authorized by any campaign or candidate"...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 12, 2011 3:28 PM

Phil Lakin, the Midtown Money Belt's candidate for south Tulsa

It's a little better than last time around. Tulsa City Council District 8 candidate Phil Lakin managed to boost the percentage of funds he raised from residents of his own district by a whole percentage point, up to 30% of the $53,500 total amount of contributions over $200, according to...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 7, 2011 2:01 AM

Phil Lakin and G. T. Bynum: The (as yet) unchallenged

At the end of day one of filing for the 2011 Tulsa city elections, two districts had a single candidate with no announced opponent preparing to enter the race. Phil Lakin is the sole candidate so far in far south Tulsa's District 8. Lakin, CEO of Tulsa Community Foundation and...

Posted by Michael Bates on July 12, 2011 1:53 AM

The 2009 District 8 race

District 8 is a tough race for me. During his seven years on the City Council, Bill Christiansen has disappointed me over and over again. Early on, he worked to undermine and oppose some positive initiatives from my reform friends on the Council -- for example, the future growth task...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 7, 2009 10:52 PM

The 2009 Build PAC boys

Build PAC is a political action committee registered with the Tulsa City Clerk. The PAC shares an address with the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Tulsa. In 2005, Build PAC Issues was the single biggest contributor to the attempt to recall City Councilors Chris Medlock and Jim Mautino. The recall...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 3, 2009 2:35 PM

Phil Lakin - The Candidate from District 9

75% of the contributors to Phil Lakin's campaign for Tulsa City Council District 8 do not reside in the district. Those contributors gave 71% of the contributions in excess of $200 (the only contributions required to be reported by name). Lakin is head of the Tulsa Community Foundation and a...

Posted by Michael Bates on September 1, 2009 12:10 PM

KWGS to air District 8 debate

KWGS-FM 89.5 will air a debate between the candidates for Tulsa City Council, District 8, tomorrow, Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Studio Tulsa, the station's daily public affairs program. This is an interesting race: Incumbent Bill Christiansen, first elected in 2002, is seeking a...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 17, 2009 8:31 AM