Oklahoma Poll: Tulsa lacks leadership
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Dissatisfaction with the city's leadership is at a four-year high, according to the most recent Oklahoma Poll.
Thirty-four percent of the 508 likely Tulsa voters surveyed Oct. 27-Nov. 1 named lack of political leadership the city's No. 1 problem, easily putting it at the top of the list.
It's by far the largest share that response has received in the five times since 2007 that the Oklahoma Poll has asked Tulsa voters the same question.
The previous high was in October 2008, when 13 percent named leadership as the city's most pressing problem.
"Who could not view whatever the council's been up to for however many years and say we've had adequate leadership?" asked poll participant Neal Kirkpatrick.
Kirkpatrick primarily blames the City Council, but Jimmie Pryor thinks it's Mayor Dewey Bartlett's fault.
"I think he's disruptive," she said. "He wants to be commander-in-chief. He's more of a dictator than leader."
Another respondent blames both parties.
"The old council was out for a power grab," Virginia Richard said. "The mayor was not the best for bringing the sides together. I'm sure Dewey Bartlett is a bright and intelligent man, but I'm not sure he has the people skills needed."
