.race_header.green {
After a month of ride-alongs with the Community Engagement Unit of TPD, I promise you one thing most officers would prefer not to circumstantially punish the homeless population. }, What's on my ballot? report. There is no single project that will address neighborhood needs it will take continued investments in the absolute basics of community infrastructure. padding-bottom: 3px; We must have our first responders, educators, and business owners backs, and that means not passing the buck on decision-making. Schedule A - June 23 - July 22, 2022. . } They include construction executive Michael Feamster, local business owner Bobby Dean Orcutt, social justice advocate Matthew Fransein, and architect Michael Birkes. } Get any of our free . line-height: 1.5em; Michael Feamster received 25.21 percent of the. He is also a spring sports department intern at ABC 7 Eyewitness News in New . .widget-row.Republican { This contributes to nearly every issue we face as a city. Cities | What our Police Department needs is direct service support through a coalition of providers, city officials, and community leaders dedicated to enhancing the overall capacity to support the safety of our community and citizens and ensure our police can be held accountable while also being directly supported. Within her first six years as leader of the team, Laura has built a powerful agency, strategically attentive to clinical quality. We've created a page with all the city council candidates in one place where you can find links to learn more about them and find their responses to our animal welfare survey. Although the City of Nanaimo tries to ensure the accuracy of all information presented here, please confirm all information before making any decisions based on it. font-style: italic; color: #6db24f; My job leading a public health nonprofit involves working closely with more than 22 health center sites, including one of our local hospital systems. Business Resume: Extensive resume that includes large budgets and portfolio, leadership of large teams, and international experience. overflow-y: hidden; This means deeply investing in public transit, neighborhood infrastructure, fair and stable housing, career training opportunities and more. I want to see my neighbors thrive, and believe that working together in a collaborative manner that is solutions-focused is the only way to meet that goal. } Matthew Fransein: I absolutely believe that our citys shortage in affordable housing is related to our focus on rapid growth into the next destination city, restrictive development processes for homebuilders and developers, as well as being third in the nation for highest percentage of out-of-state landlords. .votebox_bp_logo { You can hear her interview here. padding-bottom: 8px; Another was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant. Elections Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics. With more of these items occurring digitally our city can also better track data related to service access and use that information to streamline and improve utilization of resources. Currently, Yaw is a weekend anchor for 77 WABC Radio. .widget-key { max-height: 580px; clearInterval(nTimer); The mayor, city attorney, city controller and eight out of the fifteen members of the city council were up for election. I am aware the council rejected the charter amendment in March, needing more time to review. .votebox { I never want our health care workers to be abandoned to fight for us alone. Building a city that works for everyone means building a city that is accessible to everyone.All Tulsans should have access to every resource, opportunity and public accommodation our amazing city has to offer. Showing 1 to 1 of 1 entries. font-size: 1.25em; color: #888; Runoff elections, if necessary, will be held Nov. 8. With so much work to do, there is no time to waste. Laura Bellis: Its unfortunate that this issue has become so polarizing, when in reality it is a common-sense, data-driven measure to support both our officers and community as a whole. Public health and safety are a top priority. margin-top: 16px; Andrea Michelle Wade-Catena Results District 12 Candidates John Lee, incumbent councilmember [16] Loraine Lundquist, educator and scientist [17] Did not make ballot Asaad Alnajjar, civil structural engineer [18] Jose Luis Gonzalez, recreation facility director Withdrew Carlos Amador, activist [19] Edward Antonino, labor law attorney [3] Voters elected candidates in a nonpartisan primary, with runoff elections scheduled for May 21, 2013. Laura Bellis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. background: #4c4c4c; As Tulsa grows, we need leadership thats ready and able to find innovative, long-term solutions. We need to change our understanding of manufactured housing to allow for tiny home communities, we need to look at how we approach mixed-use zoning and we need to remove the barriers that are stopping development of these communities in underserved neighborhoods. margin-bottom: 0px; Also, I believe we need to have a very diverse population that in turn will produce a diverse economy. Represent my District well: Spanish speaking, nonprofit volunteer, coffee roaster, Osage Native citizen, artist, and a business person. Day after day, she works for Tulsa as a community organizer, educator, agency leader, and mentor, absorbed in the issues that really matter: public health, education, social policy, and the economy. }. Michael Feamster: It depends upon the data supported at the time of the specific variant. } Truck 4. She was previously employed by the City of Tulsa at Tulsa Transit and is a current member of the bond committee for Tulsa Public Schools. Schedule: Fourth Thursday of each month (except November and December), 4:00 p.m. in 10 North. border-bottom: 1px solid grey; .votebox_legend .non_result_row { https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Laura_Bellis&oldid=9026244, Current municipal officeholder inside coverage scope, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. The filing deadline for this election was June 15, 2022. District 4 | Tulsa City Council District 4 Laura Bellis Phone: 918-596-1924 FAX: 918-596-1964 Email: Dist4@tulsacouncil.org About Laura Bellis is a community health access strategist and organizer who focuses on breaking down social and political resource barriers. They themselves would prefer not to see these individuals in jail but rather given adequate access to the services they require. We must invest in and enact the community-developed A Way Home for Tulsa plan to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring. } text-align: center; width: 100% Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. The mayor is elected by the entire population and each of the 9 Councilors are elected from districts based on population. .outer_percentage { In those races where no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the candidates with the most votes whose total equals 50% will face. Studies have found that its essential for a city to play a strong collaborative role to ensure private investment thrives. .widget-row.value-only.white { .votebox_legend { The data on this is clear: enhanced oversight makes everyone safer. .inner_percentage.Democratic { Amongst every sector, neighborhood, and individual Ive spoken with, they all bring up three issues: policing, homelessness, and mental/physical health. I have overcome extreme poverty to become a business owner and contributing member of my community. font-weight: bold; background-color: #db0000; .votebox-scroll-container { Matthew Fransein: I have difficulties with ultimatums, especially in regard to prioritization of community challenges. We also need to put resources into building up the entrepreneurs and small businesses that make Tulsa incredible. float: right; margin-bottom:16px; overflow-y: auto; You can either: enter an address in the Council District Locator (where it says, "Find address or place") and hit enter or . The following candidates ran in the general election for Tulsa City Council District 4 on August 23, 2022. } if (typeof $ != 'undefined') { We have to address root causes related to mental health, housing shortages and economic turmoil to disrupt this ongoing issue. City Council elections are Aug. 23. They are Laura Bellis, 33; Michael Birkes, 72; Michael Feamster, 39; Matthew Fransein, 34; and Bobby Dean Orcutt, 40. I want to work towards innovative solutions that meet at the crossroads of compassion and practicality. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it. Independent oversight provides layers of trust and transparency that our community needs, while decreasing costly litigation for our city. Laura Bellis (Laura Simon Bellis), Dem, 33, 224 N . Citizens within Tulsa city limits will find a slate of candidates for the nine city districts plus three proposed changes to the City Charter on their August 23 ballot. Micro efforts can address a communitys perceived value and safety, making it a more palatable opportunity for private investors. You can trust her to build a brighter future for the city we loveone where every single Tulsan can thrive. However, the CEU can only do so much and actively seek out experts to jump in such as Family & Childrens Services with more to come in time. .results_text { .inner_percentage.Green { display: inline-block; } The questionnaires were meant to provide insight on where these candidates stand on the issues, while the attached videos were meant to provide a little about them as people. While I may not have the history of partaking in council meetings or city commissions, I am a quick study and doubt itll take me a full year to learn the job. My curiosity has provided me with varied experiences that have allowed me to be adaptable, inquisitive, and willing to seek out experts. text-align: center; Matthew Fransein: District 4 is one of the most diverse amongst the demographic strata in the city of Tulsa. } Michael Birkes: Oversight is a key part of government checks and balances and I believe the Police Department should have some form of independent oversight. } Michael Feamster: Yes. Were experiencing such rapid growth that it can imperil what makes District 4s vibrant neighborhoods so special. Potential strategies to address the problem include: 1. I would like to invest in Tulsa and the neighborhoods of District 4 using the same ideas and principles that have helped guide me through those hard times. While were still cheaper than D.C., were not as far behind as youd think, and we should not even be close. Support local service providers efforts, especially for needs across the city and county of Tulsa and not just limited to our downtown service providers. } Our city must further invest in proactive public safety efforts that address mental health instead of primarily relying on emergency or punitive responses when people are in crisis. Michael Feamster: While I do not think it is the responsibility of the City of Tulsa, the City of Tulsa should be a leader in creating opportunities within the public and private sectors for implementation. } $('#candidate-connection-twitter-141527').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-twitter'); }); width: 43%; width: 50%; display: inline-block; .electionsectionheading { .votebox-scroll-container { In June, reporting came out that 15 of the department's 42 trucks lacked air conditioning, while three others had inconsistent A/C. The following candidates ran in the general election for Tulsa City Council District 4 on August 23, 2022. margin-bottom: 4px; We'll hear about their priorities for the city and for District 4, a district stretching from West Tulsa, through downtown, to the Pearl District, and the Route 66 corridor. color: white; S. They then refused to certify. We have fire trucks without air conditioning. The role of a Tulsa city councilor was birthed in 1989 within the Tulsa amended charter and is outlined by our city as the legislative branch of the Mayors Office that also approves our citys annual budget and overall represents our district. padding-bottom: 7px; [7] On February 28, 2022, Nathan Dahm announced he had switched his campaign to the special election in the Class 2 seat. The three-day filing period for the 2022 City of Tulsa election for City Council and City Auditor has concluded. Matthew Fransein: While our community speaks of compassionate and supportive care for these individuals, we also seek an immediate solution and are unhappy with most options put forth. Laura Bellis: Our Fire Department needs and deserves more funding. margin-right: 12px; Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Meeting Tulsa's City Council District 4 Candidates Published August 8, 2022 at 1:54 PM CDT Listen 29:30 Matt Trotter / KWGS Aired Friday, August 5th. I believe that mask mandates at the peaks we faced over the past 18 months were necessary, regardless of how tired I was of wearing a mask. Here's a roundup of what happened Tuesday. .results_row td:first-child { margin-top: 1em; One of my first orders of business will be to fully understand the budgets of all departments, their responsibilities, rules and mandates before identifying other city departments that should receive more funding. a.communitylink { color:black; font-weight:bold; } 128 votes, 101 comments. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. var nTimer = setInterval(function() { Michael Birkes: I believe a project that could have significant impact on District 4 is the removal of the north leg of the IDL, (Inner Disposal Loop/244/412). I know how difficult the past few years have been for them. 00:04. .inner_percentage, .inner_percentage.Nonpartisan, .inner_percentage.Independent, .inner_percentage.Constitution, .inner_percentage.unknown { Michael Birkes: I do believe we need to have a progressive business and government environment, particularly in attracting and retaining young people. width: 57%; background-color: grey; With immunization rates increasing, unless something changes drastically, I do not foresee mandates ever becoming enforceable due to the public health sector being twisted into a political topic and are therefore not beneficial for community cohesion, unfortunately. Some may be anxious to embrace digitization of information and resources after the ransomware attack, but this effort will also only solidify Tulsas place as a hub for cyber-security opportunities. text-align: center; We should streamline the process of starting a business and ensure red-tape and bureaucratic barriers are removed so entrepreneurs can engage with the city with minimal friction. Click here to read the survey answers. letter-spacing: .03em; .votebox-results-metadata { padding-top: 8px; Michael Feamster: Homelessness and economic development that is impacted due to this, as well as our need to improve our public education rates. It creates accountability and transparency, which is vital in any public facing industry or department. While Tulsa has grown, we should not be facing this issue yet. Laura is running for Tulsa City Council, District 4 to work alongside everyone in our community. In a moment where the cost of living is rising dramatically, our city must do everything within its power to enhance the opportunity for Tulsans to build businesses, purchase a home and build generational wealth for themselves and their family. In the race for District 4, real estate agent Anthony Johnson, Darius Ewing, a growth operations manager for an insurance company, and Don Gray, a computer network technician, are running to. background-color: grey; In my work as a teacher, a nonprofit leader and a community advocate, I have seen first-hand how barriers to all the amazing resources our city has to offer limit opportunities for our kids and families. div.oneoff-scrollbox.short { height:250px; overflow:scroll; margin:20px; padding:10px; border:1px solid gray; } font-weight: bold; I have brought divergent communities together and shown commonality and kinship through my work in the music business, then used those lessons to publicly address and confront injustices. Public safety is also a vital service provided by the Police Department, and I strongly disagree with the Defund the Police movement. In District 4, five candidates have lined up to succeed Councilor Kara Joy McKee, who is the only incumbent not running for re-election. color: #0645ad; } The 2009 elections for elected officials in Los Angeles took place on March 3, 2009, with run-off elections on May 19, 2009. Bobby Dean Orcutt: Access to affordable housing is a growing issue that has an event horizon, and that will leave more and more Tulsans displaced. 5. 0 BELTON Bell County District Attorney Henry Garza on Friday revealed the existence of four new videos containing interviews with two key witnesses in connection with the capital murder trial. This thread is archived. This page was last updated during the official's most recent election or appointment. As the first responders, this unit engages directly with individuals during the most critical times of their lives. Tulsa is the county seat for Tulsa County. }) This does not solve the problem and probably exacerbates the problem. Criminalizing unhoused Tulsans who may be struggling with mental health and other challenges creates a perpetuating cycle of incarceration and instability. Those conditions are unfathomable and inexcusable. As a city with a significant events-based economy, lack of leadership in this conversation will cost us jobs and credibility at best, and lives at worst. .votebox-results-cell--number { } Laura Bellis: I am against this policy. City Council elections are Tuesday. font-weight: bold; DISTRICT FINDER. font-weight: 200; does greenguard gold test for flame retardants. } (Tulsa Police Annual Report 2021, page 57). At the same time, we must also ensure that we are tackling the economic issues at the root of our housing crisis. gytr tuner maps. Purpose: To promote the acquisition, construction and operation of various facilities and public improvements in and for the City of Tulsa. Please. But, every neighborhood in District 4 is impacted by an increased presence of folks living without shelter, and a failing or neglected infrastructure. font-weight: 300; If they failed to show up for their court date, a warrant could be issued for their arrest.). I served our city's youth as a middle school teacher for five years. On this edition of StudioTulsa, we meet the candidates who hope to succeed Kara Joy McKee as the Tulsa City Council District 4 representative. } It may also be required to provide more enforcement language to their official duties. .inner_percentage.CrossFiled { Not only does this compound debt build-up, it creates cyclical poverty even for those once considered middle class. She now serves as Executive Director of an expanding nonprofit, focused on healthcare access and contraception in Tulsa County. This can also provide housing for the homeless, providing a place where service providers, such as health, mental health, and employment agencies can reach them and provide them needed services. Laura Bellis: City councilors serve short, two-year terms. Candidates and results Additional elections on the ballot Also, I would like to get updates on how we are implementing the good practices discovered on trips to other cities, or do these also get put on the shelf and not implemented? } width: 100% !important; Therefore, Id consider that many of the common issues our city regularly identifies fall into a generalized grouped challenge: inequity stemming from a lack of support toward enhancing the efficiency and capacity of core community services. In addition to her work, Laura is deeply involved in the community. Everyone deserves to have stability and safety and these three policy areas are essential in ensuring that for families across our city. For instance, concrete costs more but will last longer than asphalt. } Four candidates are challenging District 5. Professor of Practice, University of Oklahoma, Community Health and Environmental Design, Urban Design Studio. As was the case two years ago, I'm not enthusiastic about any of them. Rather than an independent oversight committee, I believe TPD requires further integration into collaborative models that pull from existing public and private support services and experts. Birkes is an architect and planner. } This leads toward underfunded units that seek to support those affected by homelessness and mental health challenges, road plans that forego traffic density concerns and sidewalks remaining impossibly narrow in favor of big city concepts that arent always an adaptable fit for Tulsas realities. On Monday July 25, we spoke with Laura Bellis about her work leading the Take Control Initiative, but during the course of the conversation, we also spoke with her about her candidacy for the District 4 seat. Worked as planner, community development department, city of Tulsa, and on historic preservation ordinance and Downtown Master Plan, Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Oklahoma State University; Master of Urban Studies, University of Tulsa. .contact_entity {font-size: 1.0em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-right: 0.5em;} We need to listen to the experts on the frontlines of public health. Being a city of resilience and renaissance, we are uniquely positioned to do this and look forward to providing a voice for all District 4 residents and businesses and pushing our Tulsa brand forward. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Ive been civically engaged on the city level for over seven years. City Councilors are assisted in their duties by Council Staff members and by various citizens' committees. District Four Laura Bellis beat five other opponents with 3,206 votes 51.12 percent. Bellis is executive director of Take Control Initiative. Dodson grew up in west Tulsa but settled in east Tulsa in 1991 and has lived here 30 years. .widget-row.Libertarian { Clardy apparently ran unopposed in 2020, after handily winning his initial election in 2016. } overflow: hidden; .race_header.democratic { } Below, the Tulsa World is posting candidates responses to its questionnaire. color: #888; For instance, 2020 was a time when the City of Tulsa did not have much data, so we should be gracious in decision-making and investigation. $('.hideResponses').show(); It is our governments duty to protect lives and livelihoods, and public health measures are a critical tool to protect our city. width: 35px !important; Meet Tulsa's 2022 City Council Candidates. font-weight: bold; Yaw Bonsu is a junior journalism major at Hofstra University. display: block; Tulsa City Council District 4 candidates Laura Bellis (from left), Michael Birkes, Michael Feamster, Matthew Fransein and Bobby Dean Orcutt. $('#candidate-connection-email-141527').on('click', () => { ga('send', 'event', 'surveycta', 'surveycta-click-email'); }); z-index:1; Michael Feamster: Public safety and infrastructure. Information can be confirmed through the City of Nanaimo Fire Rescue . They provide individuals affected by homelessness with fresh drinking water, initiate site clean-ups, coordinate communication between individuals and case workers, and de-escalating situations between TPD officers and individuals theyve known for years. Working to designate tax increment financing (TIF) districts can play a key role in incentivizing affordable housing development. As of the last available statistics, around 40% of downtown remains unoccupied due to the focus on high-end developments in favor of those weighted against community salary averages. I would vote yes and advocate heavily for additional steps to address the root causes. According to the New York Post, Trump goes on toincorrectlyassert that, despite his antipathy towards the onetime Republican presidential nominee, he granted him "the world's longest . Laura Bellis: DEVELOPMENT. Over the past 50 years of working and collaborating with diverse project teams including developers, governments, and residents to achieve successful outcomes. top: -1px; Our firefighters sacrifice for us on a daily basis, and our city must support them. Our firefighters deserve long-awaited raises and the department as a whole deserves adequate funds to address the long-term needs like ordering safety equipment and completing repairs expeditiously. Tulsa has an incredible opportunity to lead the nation in building innovative, community-centered solutions to enhance public safety. DISTRICT 4. We need to include maintenance within our budgets as we know our roads will need to be maintained, but should be analyzing life-cycle costs and not simply initial costs. $('.collapse').collapse('hide'); Bobby Dean Orcutt: District 4 runs nearly the entirety of midtown, downtown and all the way to Charles Page (Boulevard). State executives | .contact_entity {font-size: 1.5em ;margin-top: 0.6em; margin-bottom: 0em;margin-right: 0.5em;} I understand that people who live and work downtown are frustrated and have concerns for public safety and their businesses. } All Tulsans should have access to every resource, opportunity and public accommodation our amazing city has to offer. overflow-y: hidden; Tulsa World Kevin Canfield The five candidates running to succeed Kara Joy McKee as the City Council District 4 representative have one thing in common: They've never run for office. U.S. Congress | Having lived in Japan and Cambodia, I always appreciated the normalization of medical masks when one was sick or had immune issues. border: 1px solid #a2a9b1 !important; .widget-row.Democratic { . Homelessness is a complex challenge that jointly requires compassion and accountability subject to the individual situation usually due to the lack of affordable housing, a need for more mental health services, a need for more substance and drug abuse counseling, situational hardships, and individuals who choose to be homeless. Our city must respond to this issue on multiple fronts and collaborate across sectors and governing bodies to ensure everyone that calls our city home has a physical home and can thrive. The executive offices of Mayor, City Attorney, and City Controller, as well as eight seats of the City Council, were up for election. Mayor [ edit] } A comprehensive plan that unifies city/county stakeholders, service providers, and public safety to implement affordable housing, increase mental health, increase substance abuse counseling, etc. Michael Feamster: Downtown Master Plan and Route 66. With the recent redistricting in west Tulsa to join District 4, I believe we must address critical challenges that west Tulsans have faced most of their lives. Thats why I will work with my colleagues and non-profit leaders to develop first-time homebuyer assistance programs for Tulsans whove devoted their career to public service. This unit, led by Capt. color: white; Michael Feamster: Tulsan that puts Tulsans first. Matthew Fransein: Im treating this election as a job interview rather than a competition. .votebox-covid-disclaimer { To start, reduce the percentages of vacant housing, equitable access to basic services, and adequate public safety measures. letter-spacing: 0.03em; City Council elections will be held Aug. 23. As a member of the private services sector, private agencies and specialized service providers must work together with our Police Department to address the many needs of our most vulnerable community members.