The 2002 Tulsa mayoral election was held on 12 March 2002 in order to elect the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Partisan primary elections were held on 5 February 2002. Incumbent Democratic mayor Susan Savage decided not to run for re-election. The subsequent open seat was won by Republican nominee Bill LaFortune.[1]
Eight Republicans ran in the primary on 5 February 2002, with Bill LaFortune emerging as the frontrunner and winning the nomination with an undisclosed number of votes.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Gary Watts
James Alexander Jr.
Accountability Burns
James O. Desmond Jr.
Results
Four Democrats ran in the primary on 5 February 2002, with Gary Watts emerging as the frontrunner and winning the nomination with an undisclosed number of votes.
Independents
Candidates
Milton T. Goodwin
Paul C. Tay
Lawrence Kirkpatrick
General election
The general election was held on 12 March 2002. Republican nominee Bill LaFortune won the election by a margin of 18,045 votes against his foremost opponent Democratic candidate Gary Watts, thereby gaining Republican control over the office of Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma.[2]