Candidates debate management styles, green issues: An early morning forum has mayoral hopefuls giving details.

Oct. 30--The leading candidates for mayor described their differing plans for managing the city during a forum Thursday.

Democrat Tom Adelson said he would approach the city like a "nonprofit, public-service" entity and bring his legislative experience with appropriations to allotting public funds.

Although Adelson has some experience in his family's oil and gas business, Nadel and Gussman, he said his work as a state senator has taught him how to decide between "your needs from your wants" and to prioritize government services that best serve the public.

Republican Dewey Bartlett Jr. said he would manage the city like a business, but in a transparent manner.

He said he'd bring his knowledge from serving as president of Keener Oil and Gas Co., which has eight employees. He also touted his experience as a member of the Grand River Dam Authority and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

Independent candidate Mark Perkins, an attorney, said that being neither a legislator nor the owner of a small oil and gas company is a prerequisite for the Mayor's Office.

"It requires judgment, leadership and the ability to collaborate with partners at the county, state, and city council levels," he said. "A lot of it

is brains and attitude."

Perkins said he has managed a payroll of about 15 employees and has stressed that he would surround himself with talent that would enhance his ability to govern.

The election is Nov. 10. Also on the ballot is independent candidate Lawrence Kirkpatrick.

The three participated in a 7 a.m. forum Thursday at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and sponsored by the Tulsa Metro Chamber.

The moderator asked whether candidates would keep a director of sustainability because young professionals often choose where to live before they chose their jobs with the focus on "green" cities.

Perkins said that if the budget would allow, he would have such a position because it is an important role not only to protect the environment but to identify cost savings.

Adelson said that he, too, would have a director of sustainability. He added that he would identify a "green district," such as from the University of Tulsa to downtown between Sixth and 11th streets.

He said the area would require structures "to be developed consistent with preferable standards," allow residents to have their children attend any school in the city, and provide a property-tax abatement through a tax-increment financing district.

Bartlett said he likes to lead by example, noting that his business was the first in the state to install solar panels that generate 30 percent of electric needs.

"I understand alternative energy and also understand the mayor can have a lot of influence over the greening of the city," he said, citing installation of natural gas filling stations and plugging stations for electric cars.

The three all said they would encourage river development and support completing the Gilcrease Expressway by turning it into a turnpike. They oppose changing the city's form of government and differ on nonpartisan municipal races, with Adelson and Perkins in support and Bartlett opposing the idea.

P.J. Lassek 581-8382 pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com

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