Changes ahead for Tulsa city council

There were several upsets in the Tulsa city council primary race Tuesday.  Four of six incumbents were defeated, and two won their primaries.  It looks like a new face for Tulsa city government come November, when seven new councilors will take their seat.

Councilor Jack Henderson of North Tulsa's district one will keep his seat.  Councilor Chris Trail of east Tulsa district five loses his seat to Tulsa Public Schools administrative employee Karen Gilbert who narrowly defeated former councilor Sam Roop.  Districts one and five were the only districts in which there will be no general election. 

Voter turnout was average, according to the Tulsa Co. Election Board, and no real troubles were reported with the new voter ID law.  Most voters provided a photo identification.

In district two, Jeannie Cue took the Republican nomination.  She faces Democrat Phillip Oyler in the general election on Nov. 8. 

Incumbent Roscoe Turner was defeated by David Patrick, who has held the district three seat in the past.  Patrick faces David Bell in the general election, who won the Republican primary in that race.

In district four, incumbent Maria Barnes lost by a narrow margin to Kenneth Brune.  Tulsa businessman Blake Ewing won the Republican primary and he faces Brune in November.

Byron Steele III defeated incumbent James Mautino in the district six Republican primary.  Steele faces Democrat Robert Gwin Jr. on Nov. 8.

Republican Thomas Mansur and Democrat Michael Rainwater, both newcomers, will be on the ballot for district six in November.

In District 8, Phillip Lakin Jr defeated George Gibbs.  The winner will face William Suliburk on Nov. 8.

Incumbent Republican GT Bynum took his Republican primary for district 9.  He faces Mike Batman on Nov. 8.

Tulsans we spoke to say they're tired of bickering at city hall between councilors and Mayor Dewey Bartlett, and they say they hope for change. 

Tuesday afternoon at a polling place in district one in North Tulsa, Jeanetta Williams said that, overall, she's been happy with what Councilor Jack Henderson has done for her North Tulsa Community. But she wants the bickering at city hall to stop.

"I'm ready for some cohesiveness," Williams said. "We need to move forward. Now, my community... there's some things that need to be changed in this community. So, I'm just ready for them to get together and come up with a real plan for Tulsa. Not just North Tulsa, but all of Tulsa."

District one voter Dejuan Smith says he likes Henderson, but is ready for someone new.

"I don't pay attention to the bickering or anything like that," Smith said. "I just see what is happening in North Tulsa, and I feel like we just need to do something different. People that hold political positions, they are more like diapers. They need to be changed often."

Smith did not get his wish of replacing Henderson, but he was also interested in seeing several new councilors, a wish that did come true.

Jackie Stoker was also looking for change as she headed to the poll, but she thinks Tulsa needs to wait and make significant change in a different area than the council.

"First we need to get rid of the mayor," Stoker said. "Keep the councilors. You know, they're doing their job. But they need somebody that's a go-getter, you know, work as a team."

Whatever the outcome of the election, Williams said she hoped voters would send a message of change to city hall.

"The bickering is not for the greater good," Williams said. "We're at a standstill, and we need to be moving forward."

With four incumbents getting voted out, it appears the majority of voters were ready to send the same message as Williams.



Under a new city charter charter change, future council elections will be staggered so not all nine seats will be up at one time.

Continuing coverage on FOX23 News and FOX23.com.