Mayor Dewey Bartlett and former-Mayor Kathy Taylor are headed to November’s ballot in a general election mayoral contest.  Tulsa’s first nonpartisan city election has generated humor, but little lowering of partisan perspectives.  In fact, the joke going around Tulsa Today’s office is the question, “So how NOT nonpartisan are you?”  The feeling that Tulsans made a mistake in changing to this nonpartisan form is a growing opinion throughout the city.

Dewey Bartlett

Taylor captured 42 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s primary election, taking a lead over Bartlett’s 34 percent and former-Councilor Bill Christiansen’s 23 percent.  If Christiansen had not challenged his fellow Republican, Bartlett would have won outright.

No longer a contest between Republicans, the entire slate of elected officials and party members are now expected to rally together Nov. 12 to defeat Taylor, well-remembered for her aggressive governing style and many expensive controversies.

Kathy Taylor

Election Results:  Mayor
Kathy Taylor (24,495)          42%
Dewey Bartlett, Jr. (19,937)  34%
Bill Christiansen (13,476)     23%
Lawrence Kirkpatrick (204)    0%
Jerry Branch (136)                 0%

A Democrat challenge to the incumbent city auditor also took advantage of two Republicans in the race with Cathy Criswell winning 47.4 percent of the primary election votes.  Criswell will also go on to the Nov. 12 general election contest with incumbent-Auditor Clift Richards a Republican.

Josh Lewis, Republican challenger and senior supervisor of the state auditor’s Tulsa office, came in third with 24.6 percent and is eliminated from November’s election.

Election Results:  Auditor
Cathy Criswell (23,938)     47%
Clift Richards (14,123)      28%
Joshua Lewis (12,389)      25%

Ron Peters

Ron Peters survived a strong challenge from political newcomer Brandon Perkins and two others Tuesday to win the Republican nomination for County Commission District 3.

Peters will face Democrat John Bomar in the Aug. 13 special election to fill the seat being vacated by Fred Perry. Peters figures to be a heavy favorite in a district of about 70 percent Republican registration.

Because the primary was for a special election to complete an unexpired term, there will be no runoff.

Election Results: County Comm. Dist. 3
Ron Peters (6,165)           35%
Brandon Perkins (5,738)   32%
John A. Wright (3,720)       21%
Don Crall  (2,197)               12%