A Campaign Confession

Greetings,

As you may know, for the last few months I have been a candidate for Tulsa’s City Council District 4. I’m running as a Republican in a primary race against Rocky Frisco and Liz Hunt. Tomorrow, District 4 Republicans will decide which of us will move forward into our November general election against Ken Brune or Maria Barnes.

This campaign has produced a number of firsts for me. In my 32 years, I had never sent out a bulk mail piece, walked neighborhoods in 107 degree heat, been the recipient of political donations, etc. This is all very new territory. While I’m used to promoting my businesses and trumpeting what they have to offer, I’ve never had to do it for myself.  It feels funny to self-promote in such a way. Most of us have been taught not to talk about ourselves. It’s rude, right?

With just an evening left to campaign, what is there left to say? I’ve sent out mail pieces talking about my qualifications. I’ve woken up early to talk to be on the radio. I’ve done Tulsa World interviews. The information is out there. If you look and listen, you can learn about us.

As I walked around District 4 neighborhoods, I discovered an interesting trend. The discord at City Hall has affected people in two very different ways. For some, it inspired them to care more. It caused them to fight to find new elected leaders. It’s made them pay attention. They are more engaged in their local political scene than ever. They knew who I was when I knocked on their door and the opinions had been formed. They’ve researched. They’ve talked to their friends. They’ll be at the polls tomorrow morning. For some, however, a different thing has happened. The embarrassment at the behavior of those who represent them has had the opposite effect. It has caused them to care less. It’s had the saddest effect of all. It’s made them lose hope.

The doors I knocked were those of Republican voters who vote often. In a campaign like mine, it’s actually possible to meet a large number of the voters face to face, so we hit the streets, knock on doors, and do our thing. It works. When I knocked on the doors of many of these voters, they told me they didn’t know what was going on. They confessed that they’ve stopped paying attention. They didn’t know their district, their councilor, the issues, etc. All they know is that what they hear and what they read is not okay and they don’t care to know the details. They confessed that they don’t care.

It’s not shocking to me that in a busy life, full of stress and obligations, it’s easy to give up caring about something like city government. After all. The police are still on the street, the firefighters are still on the truck, the roads are still there (mostly), and things seem to be going okay. It’s going okay, right?

Here’s why I care. I’m convinced that Tulsa has this potential to be the greatest city anywhere. We’ve got this incredible history full of culture, and entrepreneurship, and success and failure, and dark secrets, and bold accomplishments. Our landscape is beautiful, our architecture unique, our parks are plentiful and lush and green.

All those things are great, but what really makes us special is our people. We’ve got bold, passionate, incredible people. I’ve met them. I’ve heard their stories. We’ve got historic preservationists fighting to save beautiful homes and neighborhoods and developers working to bring new businesses and homes to Tulsa. We have artists who are passionate about growing a culture of creativity, and public servants who are dedicated to building a sound infrastructure. We’ve got entrepreneurs sacrificing to build a Tulsa that is unique, exciting, and buzz-worthy. I’m running for office because of these people. I’m running for office because of my friends and my family who have chosen to call Tulsa home. I’m running because of you.

The decisions made at City Hall may not always seem so important in the grand scheme of things, but I ask you to consider your favorite places. What’s your favorite city to visit? The things about that place that make it special are all affected by what happens at  their own City Hall. If you imagine, like I do, a Tulsa that attracts people from around the area to come enjoy our shopping, nightlife, and entertainment, please vote. If you imagine a Rt. 66 running through our city that Rt. 66 travelers from around the world can enjoy, please vote. If you imagine an Arkansas River that attracts people to come and play and enjoy it, please vote. If you imagine a vibrant growing downtown that serves people from around the area and that houses a new generation of Tulsans who value dense urban living and pedestrian friendly lifestyles, please vote. If you imagine creative arterial development in midtown that works in concert with the historic neighborhoods around it, please vote. If you value public transit and envision a Tulsa where people can get around without an automobile, please vote. If you imagine smooth streets, mowed parks, and well staffed police and fire departments, please vote. If you value the benefit young creative people bring to a city and want to make sure we attract and retain them, please, vote. If you’re passionate about preserving Tulsa’s rich history and want to make sure that new developments don’t carelessly destroy that which can’t be rebuilt, please vote.

Tomorrow, Sept 13^th, the polls will be open. You’ll have to take an ID or a voter ID card to vote this year, so don’t forget that. I ask you to please join me in caring about our great city. Get involved. You deserve the kind of Tulsa that can only be built by an engaged and impassioned citizenry.

This process has been one I’ll never forget. It was fun and frustrating and exciting and tiring. It was incredible. I’d like to thank the other candidates for caring so much and for conducting themselves with so much class. I look at other districts and the mud-slinging that’s happening and I’m so grateful to be in District 4, where we campaigned on our strengths, not our opponents’ weaknesses. You guys are great and I thank you.

Hope to see you out there tomorrow. If you’d like to come bite your fingernails with me at the watch party, it will be at Back Alley Blues and BBQ at 6:30. It’s come and go, so feel free to swing by.

Thanks so much for reading my blog.

Blake

Advertisement