City Clerk admits signatures weren't verified
This morning, at a Tulsa City Council committee meeting on the recall of Councilors Jim Mautino and Chris Medlock, City Clerk Mike Kier testified that he has not verified the signatures on the recall petitions against signatures in the Tulsa County Election Board registration records. Article 7, Section 3 of the City Charter states:
The signature of each petitioner on the supporting petitions shall correspond with that appearing on the official voter registration books applicable to the city.
Kier stated that he compared the names and addresses on the petitions with names and addresses in the Tulsa County voter registration database, but no comparison of signatures was performed. He stated that he is relying on the sworn statements of the circulator on each petition that the signatures have been verified. The circulators were either volunteers for or paid by Coalition for Responsible Government 2004 to collect signatures.
Both Councilor Roscoe Turner and Councilor Jack Henderson expressed reservations about the Council voting to affirm Kier's finding that the recall petitions are sufficient before the required verification of signatures has been performed. Non-Councilor Randy Sullivan, who does not even live in the district he purports to represent, spoke of the Council's duty to defer to the wishes of the citizens who live in Districts 2 and 6. Councilor Bill Christiansen also spoke of the Council's duty to set the election.
The Council committee room was packed with citizens in opposition to the recall, and there were outbursts of applause in response to statements by Councilors Henderson and Turner.
Affirmation of the City Clerk's findings of sufficiency and resolutions calling for recall elections on May 10 will be considered at a special Council meeting set for 2:30 p.m. in the Council committee room, 2nd floor, City Hall.
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Those three quick quips in the title above by Roscoe Turner, sums up the Recall Initiative brought forward by non-councilor Randy Sullivan at the Urban and Economic Development Committee Meeting this morning. In context Roscoe summed the whole issue up... Read More
Despite the extremely short notice given for the 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. meetings of the City Council today, there was great attendance by those opposing the recall of Councilors Jim Mautino and Chris Medlock. (See Michael Bates articles on... Read More
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It’s interesting that so little effort went into verifying the signatures for recall when so much effort went into rejecting the valid signatures against F&M Bank.
the general uproar over the counselors recalled is puzzling. if a citizen (counselor) determines that government has committed an act that is unethical or questionable, he or she has a responsibility to raise questions and expect answers, and further to expect the problem to be corrected. conflicts of interest are legitimate questions. medlock and mautino are questioning the way the city transacts business. in the current situation, who is to blame? the people who asked the questions and demanded resolution? thats what citizens are supposed to do. who is to blame? the people who are recalling those who question? yes. at a time when voter participation is plummeting, this recall is sending a message that the indvidual citizen's vote only counts if he or she votes in favor of the existing power sturcture. if thats the case, lets just dig the old mayor daly and run him agin down here.
As Mike Kier, City Clerk, indicated....he is "relying on the sworn statements of the circulator on each petition that the signatures have been verified."
We all know this is public record now and should be available to all citizens. After obtaining copies of the original petitions from the City Clerk's office, here are the circulators, on the "Supporting Petition for the
Recall of James E. Mautino, Sr., District 6":
1) James L. Burge....2634 S. Urbana Ave./ Tulsa
2) Thomas G. McBay, Jr....1636 S. 117 E. Ave./
Tulsa
3) Teresa A. Endres...P.O. Box 9854/ Tulsa
4) Daimeon James.....13029 E. 27th Pl/ Tulsa
5) Erika Flores.....13029 E. 27th Pl./ Tulsa
6) Steve Thompson...P.O. Box 1186/ Sapulpa
7) Jon Davidson.....10918 E. 41st St./ Tulsa
8) Jermaine M. Burkhalter,Sr...
12321 E. Archer # B/ Tulsa
9) Steve Edler (Stuts Ellen?)..1000 W. Vandever
Blvd./Broken Arrow (no printed name listed)
10)Keith Mestas...11806 E. 83rd Pl. N./ Tulsa?
(address in Owasso?)
11)Jill Carlson...13306 E. 84th St.N. Apt. 205/
Owasso
12)Trevor J. Carlson..
13306 E. 84th St.N. Apt.205/ Owasso
13)Ron McBee..9915 E. 23rd. St./ Tulsa
14)Jimon Johnson..2712 W. College/ Broken Arrow
15)Jerald E. Summers..4029 S. 135 E. Ave./Tulsa
16)Mary Kay Salchert..2414 S. Jackson #6A/Tulsa
17)Sherman F. Gray..11842 E. 16th St./Tulsa
18)Roy L. Hubbard..12522 E. 15th Pl/ Tulsa
19)David L. Caywood..1605 S. 116th E. Ave/Tulsa
Signatures of the Circulators have a Notary Public indicated along with signatures of Acting Tulsa City Attorney, Alan L. Jackere and Tulsa City Clerk, Michael P. Kier, verifying the petitions.
EACH OF THESE FOLKS ARE PLACING THEIR CREDIBILITY AND PROFESSIONAL CAREER ON THE LINE, IF THE PETITIONS ARE FALSIFIED!! WE WONDER IF THEY REALIZE THE PENALTY FOR THAT OFFENSE?? SO FAR, THEIR ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS ARE NOT IMPRESSIVE.
THANKS, TO THE CITIZENS AND COUNCILORS WHO CONTINUE TO UNITE TOGETHER, DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY!!