Rick Westcott officially announced today that he will seek a third term as Tulsa’s District 2 City Councilor. He first announced the news via Twitter, a new media tool akin to Facebook.“It’s been an honor to represent the District that I’ve lived in for more than 20 years,” said Westcott. “I look forward to another campaign and the opportunity to continue to talk with the citizens in District 2 about the issues which affect us as a community and those which affect all of the citizens of Tulsa.”
“I am dedicated to helping solve Tulsa’s problems. Sometimes, a Councilor has to take a stand on an issue that draws criticism. However, nothing will turn my focus away from my responsibility to the citizens of District 2 and the citizens of the city of Tulsa.”
As a City Councilor, Westcott has tackled a number of issues over the last four years, including keeping the City’s golf courses open and saving money on their operation, and helping Red Fork Main Street get off to a successful start. He opposed the improper funding for the downtown baseball stadium and continues to work for development of the west bank of the Arkansas River and the long-overdue construction of the Gilcrease Expressway. Westcott is clear, however, that the Council must refocus on fundamental city government services.
“The financial downturn is having a serious impact on the City’s budget. Our sales tax revenues are down by more than $3 million over the last three months alone. We must take a long-term approach to solving the City’s financial problems by looking beyond the next fiscal budget or the next election cycle.”
“The City Council, as the legislative body of the city government, is faced with problems that have been growing for years, such as the condition of city streets and properly staffing the Police and Fire Departments. These are issues that not only affect District 2, but they also affect the entire city and we must all work together to help resolve them.”
As co-chairman of the City Council’s subcommittee on the Tulsa Police Department, Westcott has been at the forefront of the debate over public safety issues in Tulsa. He strongly believes in, and will continue to fight for, more officers and better streets for all of Tulsa.
Along with these core issues, Westcott will continue his effort to extend Amtrak service from Oklahoma City to Tulsa and beyond, to major metropolitan cities like Kansas City and St. Louis.
Rick is married to Tammy and they have two sons, a daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. To learn more about Rick and his campaign, visit http://www.rickwestcott.blogspot.com/ and follow Rick on Twitter at @rickwestcott. (END)
