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Tulsa - Mayor-elect Dewey Bartlett won't be sworn in until next month, but he is already making decisions that affect Tulsans.
Today, he met face to face with current Mayor Kathy Taylor for the first time since the election. It is the first of many meetings to get Bartlett up to speed and ready to take over.
At today's press conference, the two smiled and shook hands. It's the beginning of a change in power at City Hall. Today, we sat down with Bartlett to find out what he will be doing differently.
Some of the first changes you'll see is a smaller staff, since Bartlett will be taking a salary of just over 100-thousand dollars. But, does that include a new police chief? Bartlett says that depends on Chief Ron Palmer.
"I talked to both candidates prior to the election about staying on," Palmer said. "And he indicated he would like for me to stay on and I plan to do that. But, at the same time how long that will be into 2010 remains to be seen."
And, what about those police helicopters that were grounded by budget cuts? Bartlett said during his campaign he hopes to get them back up and running without raising taxes. Palmer says that won't be easy.
"One could be up part-time," Palmer said. "But, we still have to staff it. Issues about staffing, the unit and the officers that are out there. I think it remains to be questioned and answered yet."
There is no doubt Bartlett's biggest challenge will be the budget. His answer? Focusing on businesses in Tulsa.
"We also at the same time have to begin a process of encouraging our businesses to grow, encouraging our businesses to maintain their position in Tulsa and get businesses to move to Tulsa," Bartlett said.
Bartlett will be sworn into office on December seventh.
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