Well, it’s election night over in Tulsa. The important races are still neck and neck. Bill Martinsen should lose, but he may squeak it out. I am sad that Mautino’s race is so close. He has worked hard for Tulsa and beaten recall. He may not make it. Looks like the charter amendments will all pass except for number 1, which should have.

LaFortune has run behind all night. He’s close, but never in the lead. This has been a truly contentious mayoral race. And, I don’t think either of them should be mayor. However, there are only four names on the ballot. Discounting Paul Tay (due to him being Paul Tay), there remain LaFortune, Taylor, and Faulk.

I have discussed the candidates before, and I am not doing that now. What I do want to observe is this: Conservatives, you must get your house in order! Taylor will probably win; however, if LaFortune wins he’s not much better. That means conservatives have exactly 2 years until the council races again and 4 years until the next mayor’s race to get unified and active and return the Republican party to its values. You must root out the good ole boys and the corruption. All the media will tell you that everyone wants you all to play nice. We don’t. We want you to act. Get something done. Rebuild some bridges. Raise some money. Sometimes there is nothing to build conservative support and unity like a Democrat administration. Use this opportunity, and quit pushing people like LaFortune on us.

In closing, I continue to refuse to attribute any malice or "selling out" to some real conservatives who threw their support to LaFortune as a strategic move, and I know some people I really like and respect disagree with me. I guess it’s the Baptist in me, but I am a believer in a free church in a free state. I never have any illusions that the POLITICIANS I am voting for for or supporting are lily white. They are politicians, and they will–at times–make choices that are expedient. Since we elect our leaders, I believe every Christian has a responsiblity to reflect their beliefs in those they elect. However, I also know that these people are our temporary civil leaders. If we make a mistake, or if our opponents out-do us, it may be bad for a while, but our God remains sovereign. When there is no perfect on the ballot, and Christ is never on any ballot, we are always choosing the lesser of to evils. Period.

And let’s be honest here, most of us conservatives love, respect, and admire a hero by the name of Ronald Reagan. He and Margaret Thatcher are the two humans most responsible for the defeat of communism in this world. He exhibited characteristics we all love. However, he also made mistakes, literally broke the law at times, and–if you read his autobiography–he also understood the value of compromise in certain situations. I guess what I want us to see is that as long as we are electing humans, they will be flawed. I see it as a public service to try to defeat the most flawed. That’s just the way it is. Not all compromise puts your mortal soul at danger. The reason we should elect good people is that they have to be able to determine when should and should not compromise.

Just heard 2900 votes makes Kathy Taylor the winner. Bill LaFortune is off the table now. He’s not our problem anymore. Conservatives, get to work! Now! The clock is ticking.