- Working with the Mayor and The Council
I pledge to work with the Mayor and the other Councilors. I'll be honest and open; willing to compromise when the occasion calls for it and respectfully standing firm when necessary. I will be courteous, polite, kind and thoughtful.
I pledge to remain responsive and accessible to my constituents and their concerns and communications.
It is important that our budget adequately fund public safety, our infrastructure, our parks, and the day to day operations at City Hall. Tulsa needs to focus on reducing duplication of effort and increasing efficiency. I want to invest in technology as a means of accomplishing that goal.
I believe Tulsans are Taxed Enough Already. I will never support any sales tax increase that will take our combined city, county, and state rate above the current level of 8.517% or any bond issue that will raise our property tax rate above its current level. If and when a proposal comes up to extend a current tax, I will only support it if there is demonstrated public need. I will only support fee and utility increases if they are fair and absolutely necessary.
- Economic Development and Zoning
Small businesses employ 80% of the Tulsa workforce. The City government needs to make every resource available to encourage growth and job creation in the small business community. One of the key ways we can spur that growth is with a clear, easy to understand, up-to-date zoning code. Tulsa has adopted a new comprehensive plan, and will adopt zoning changes to help implement it. This process should be measured and deliberate so that zoning protects property owners and adjacent property owners. Our zoning code should be clear in its intentions but it should not over-regulate so that development meets the needs of the users and the community.
I will never use eminent domain as a tool for private gain. Eminent domain should only be used for public use.
- Authorities, Boards and Commissions
One of the most important roles of the council is to approve or deny nominations into Tulsa's authorities, boards, and commissions. These bodies constitute a significant part of the City government. They control areas such as water, sanitary sewers, storm-sewers, parks, airports, ambulance services, trash, zoning & planning, urban development, parking, and mass transportation. I pledge the following: To ensure that Tulsans from all districts are represented on these authorities, boards and commissions and to provide independent judgment on all nominees to these important boards and commissions.
Anyone who has tried to go to the new City Hall knows that Tulsa takes its physical security very seriously. I want to make sure that the City of Tulsa takes its cyber security just as seriously. Working in the technology industry for 13 years, I know that the only way to ensure security is to regularly audit information technology systems for lapses. I will call for a top to bottom review of the security procedures of our City’s technology infrastructure. We need to make sure that our personal data housed by city systems is secure and encrypted. In addition, we need to make sure that the city’s systems are hardened and protected from cyber attack.