Lunch with the Candidates: Dewey Bartlett

Tulsa mayor Dewey Bartlett comes from a political family. His father Dewey Bartlett Sr. was both a United States Senator and Oklahoma's Governor.

Even though he knows how hard politics can be on a family he’s running again for one reason “I think it is the best gig in the world.”

Bartlett was the third in our series of “Lunch with the Candidates” series, he came to KRMG to visit with us about the race.

Bartlett was quick to respond when we asked what he thinks the key issues will be “its streets or crime” he shot back.

The mayor went on to break that down to just one thing. “I’d say generally streets because we all drive and we see either the bad condition of the streets or the construction on the streets.”

Bartlett said he’s pleased with how the roads are coming but understands there is more to do.

When asked about his most proud moment Bartlett said “without a doubt getting our state back on good financial footing.”

The mayor also made it clear he thinks the city needs to maintain momentum by not changing leadership.

“We lose two or three years every time we change mayors and that doesn’t make any sense to me” he began. “

Oklahoma City, they haven’t done that they’ve kept the same mayor two, three, four, five terms sometimes.”

He said OKC wasn’t alone. “Louisville, Indianapolis, Charlotte, so many other cities that have become poster children about how a city can be run and become a big deal.”

Listen to the extended interview with Bartlett here and remember you can also find the "Lunch with the Candidates" visits with Kathy Taylor and Bill Christiansen at KRMG.com.