Tulsa World: Whither Kathy Taylor?

Mayor Kathy Taylor has revealed her immediate plans, but it doesn't do much to clear up the mystery of what lies ahead for her.

Editorial In The Tulsa World

When she leaves the mayor's office on Dec. 7, Taylor will become Gov. Brad Henry's top education adviser, targeting innovation and higher achievement.

That sounds like a good fit to us.

Taylor has insisted for weeks that her ambition when she leaves municipal government is to find a place where she can help children. Working within the state bureaucracy — as she did as Henry's commerce and tourism secretary before she was elected mayor — is probably Taylor's most comfortable role. She is decisive and effective in that environment. It's when she is forced into the political end of government — dealing with the legislative process, debate and public second-guessing — that Taylor's worst moments occur.

We congratulate Taylor for taking on a position where she can make a positive change for the state and thank her once again for offering her talents without charge to the taxpayers. She is an effective public servant and we're lucky to have her.

But none of this really resolves the question, "Whither Kathy Taylor?" Henry's term in office — and therefore, presumably, Taylor's term in this new role — will have 13 months to go when Taylor starts her new job. Inevitably, questions about her political future will continue, despite the fact that she said straightforwardly that she is not a candidate for public office in 2010.

Taylor is a strong candidate with a record of accomplishment and substantial personal wealth to fund a political campaign at any time she decides. Republican strategists have privately expressed anxiety that she is one of the most formidable candidates Democrats could put forward for any office in the state.

So, even if she isn't running for anything, Taylor should get used to the question.

Share |