John Sullivan (Oklahoma)

The Honorable
John Sullivan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 15, 2002
Preceded by Steve Largent
Personal details
Born January 1, 1965 ( 1965-01-01) (age 47)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Judy Sullivan
Residence Tulsa
Alma mater Northeastern State University
Occupation real estate broker
Religion Roman Catholic

John A. Sullivan (born January 1, 1965) is the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district, serving since 2002. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Tulsa.

Contents

Early life, education and career

Sullivan was born in Oklahoma City and graduated from Bishop Kelley High School. He subsequently entered Northeastern State University, where he received a B.B.A. in marketing in 1992. He is a former realtor who sold 6 houses before entering politics on a platform of tax cuts and less government spending.

Early political career

Sullivan was a Republican member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1995 to 2002. In 2002, when seven-year incumbent Steve Largent resigned from Congress to focus on his campaign for governor, Sullivan entered the Republican primary for his seat. Incumbent governor Frank Keating's wife, Cathy, was widely expected to win the Republican primary, which was thought to be tantamount to election in this heavily Republican district. Hiring an out of town manager for the Keating campaign set the stage for a few fumbles, which allowed Sullivan to score a surprise upset in the February special election. Since then, he went on to hold the seat in the general election in November and has been reelected four times, increasing his margin of victory in each election.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

As of the 112th Congress, John Sullivan is a member of the following committees:

Political views

According to the American Conservative Union, Sullivan is consistently among the most conservative members of Congress. He received a 100% rating from the organization in 2009 and 2010 earning their the "Defender of Liberty" award both years.[1] He is opposed to all legalized abortion, believes that life begins at conception, and opposes stem cell research on embryonic cells. He has been rated 100% by the Christian Coalition for his views.[2] He is opposed to gun control and has been commended by the National Rifle Association for his position.[3]

Sullivan was tapped to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Leadership team for the 112th Congress where he plays a key role in the national energy debate.[4] He is the primary sponsor of H.R. 1380, the New Alternative Transportation to Give America Solutions (NAT GAS) Act of 2011, legislation designed to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil by encouraging more natural gas powered vehicles on American roads.[5]

Sullivan is a vocal critic of the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming that regulations being pushed by the Obama Administration are harmful to the U.S. economy. Legislation he introduced to study the cumulative economic impact of twelve significant EPA regulations was passed by the House Energy and Power Subcommittee on May 24, 2011.[6] In February 2011, Sullivan handed the ethanol industry its first significant legislative loss in Congress when the House passed his amendment to block the EPA's decision to sell a higher blend, E15, ethanol gasoline for late model cars by a vote of 285-136.[7] Sullivan also sponsored the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act of 2011 (H.R. 2401), "to require analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes",[8] which has passed the House and will go on to the Senate.[8]

Regarding immigration, he is on record as supporting a fence between the US and Mexico or other permanent barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. Prior to the 2006 Congressional election his campaign staff distributed small placards that explicitly linked immigration from Mexico with threats to U.S. national security. The same campaign literature featured the figure of "20 million illegal aliens in America" and warned that "thousands more [are] coming everyday". During that same campaign Sullivan repeatedly characterized the issue of (illegal) immigration from Mexico as one relating to "national security" and the "war on terror", stating, "Border security is national security...Our way of life in America is precious and must always be protected."[9]

Sullivan voted to make the PATRIOT Act permanent, without any future option for Congressional review or revocation.[10] He supports a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning[11] and wishes to strip the independent judiciary of the ability to decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance. He has been rated as 0% by the ACLU on civil rights issues.[12] He also supports continued U.S. military involvement in Iraq and opposed any "rapid troop pullout".[13]

On October 3, 2008, Sullivan was one of two Oklahoma Republican Congressman to vote for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 which created the Troubled Assets Relief Program.[14] On December 9, 2008, Sullivan voted against a bailout of the automobile industry saying "taxpayers should not be asked to reward failure by subsidizing the very business practices that got them into this situation in the first place".[15] He also was a proponent of the 2009 Tea Party protests which condemned any bailouts, and even spoke at a rally in Tulsa.[16]

Controversies

A point of contention during Sullivan's re-election campaign in 2004 was his police record. According to opponent Doug Dodd, Sullivan had been arrested four times in the Tulsa area. Sullivan claimed to have only been arrested once. A review by local media concluded he had at least three arrests:[17][18] for assault and battery of an off-duty police officer in 1982, when he was 17 year old,[19] and for public intoxication and disturbing the peace in 1985, while still under-age. His last arrest, at age 27, was due to an outstanding bench warrant issued after he failed to appear in court for a traffic violation.

In July 2004, Dave Pearson, a former GOP communications consultant who was fired by Sullivan, claimed he was owed $20,000 for work he did on Sullivan's 2002 special election. Pearson put out a press release attacking his former candidate, and sent a letter to all of Sullivan's campaign contributors: "Sullivan is the most dishonest, disingenuous and crooked politician I have ever known. He is a liar because he repeatedly lied to me and others about his business background, his arrest records and many other things." Sullivan responded by saying that Pearson was fired for "not doing his job" and "owes me money probably." In May 2010 Pearson turned over the claim to a collection agency after declining a $5000 settlement.[20] Tulsa attorney J. Douglas Mann, working on behalf of the Sullivan campaign, sent a letter to the FEC stating that the statute of limitations (5 years per Oklahoma law) on the disputed debt had expired and that under Oklahoma law "...Congressman Sullivan is barred by the applicable statute of limitations and such claim no longer has any legal viability." The debt has since been removed from Sullivan's quarterly reports per the FEC letter stating "This debt was removed due to the advice of legal counsel." [21]

On May 28, 2009, Rep. Sullivan entered the Betty Ford Center in California to receive treatment for his addiction to alcohol.[22]

Electoral history

Oklahoma's 1st congressional district: Results 2000–2010[23][24][25]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2000 Dan Lowe 58,493 29% Steve Largent * 138,528 69% Michael A. Clem Libertarian 2,984 1%
2002 Doug Dodd 50,850 44% John Sullivan 61,694 54% Neil Mavis Independent 1,758 2% *
2002 Doug Dodd 90,649 42% John Sullivan 119,566 56% Joe Cristiano Independent 4,740 2%
2004 Doug Dodd 116,731 38% John Sullivan 187,145 60% John Krymski Independent 7,058 2%
2006 Alan Gentges 56,724 31% John Sullivan 116,920 64% Bill Wortman Independent 10,085 5%
2008 Georgianna Oliver 98,863 34% John Sullivan 193,361 66%
2010 John Sullivan 151,173 77% Angelia O'Dell Independent 45,656 23%
*The first 2002 election was the special election on January 8 to fill the remainder of Steve Largent's term upon his retirement. Write-in and minor candidate notes: David Fares received 388 votes in the 2002 special election.

Personal life

He and his wife, Judy Beck, have four children. His oldest, Tommy, plays football for his old high school.

References

  1. ^ "2010 Combined Ratings". Conservative.org. http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/2010/House-Senate-combo.htm#OK. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  2. ^ "Project Vote Smart". http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?sig_id=003480M. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
  3. ^ "John Sullivan For Congress official website, Second Amendment section". http://www.johnsullivanforcongress.com/second_amendment.html. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
  4. ^ Myers, Jim (17 December 2010). "Sullivan Gets position on energy panel". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20101217_16_A22_WASHIN363012. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  5. ^ Myers, Jim (6 April 2011). "Sullivan, Boren reintroduce natural gas for transportation tax credit gas". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=13&articleid=20110406_13_0_WSIGOA236964. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  6. ^ Myers, Jim (25 May 2011). "Sullivan bill to study EPA regulations' impact advances". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=505&articleid=20110525_16_A17_WSIGOo360509&archive=yes. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  7. ^ Myers, Jim (20 February 2011). "Boren, Sullivan see amendments passed". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=505&articleid=20110220_16_A3_CUTLIN495315. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  8. ^ a b "H.R 2401: Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011". govtrack.us. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-2401. Retrieved 2011-11-11. 
  9. ^ "John Sullian For Congress official website, War on Terror section". http://www.johnsullivanforcongress.com/war_on_terror.html. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
  10. ^ "American Library Association". Archived from the original on February 26, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070226204914/http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/patnfund.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
  11. ^ "First Amendment Center". http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Speech/flagburning/news.aspx?id=11558. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
  12. ^ "American Civil Liberties Union National Scorecard". http://action.aclu.org/site/VoteCenter?page=congScorecard. Retrieved 2008-01-17. 
  13. ^ "U. S. Congressman John Sullivan official website". Archived from the original on December 27, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061227183849/http://sullivan.house.gov/press06/12.5.06.shtml. Retrieved 2007-03-09. 
  14. ^ "Bailout Roll Call". 2008-10-03. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll681.xml. 
  15. ^ Myers, Jim (10 December 2008). "Oklahoma delegates vote 4-1 against auto bailout". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=335&articleid=20081210_335_0_WASHIN770636&allcom=1&sortcom=r. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  16. ^ "Congressman Sullivan speaks at Tulsa Tea Party rally". 2009-04-15. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090415_298_0_hrbRel131346. 
  17. ^ "Truth Test: Sullivan's Arrest Record In Ads". KOTV.com. October 21, 2004. http://www.kotv.com/main/home/storiesPrint.asp?id=71021&type=tp. 
  18. ^ Myers, Jim (October 22, 2004). "Sullivan ad claims only one arrest on his record". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/ArchiveSearch/search/ArchiveArticle.asp?ArticleID=041022_Ne_A1_Sulli9207. Retrieved 2006-12-22. 
  19. ^ Myers, Jim (October 24, 2004). "Details emerge about hopeful's arrest record". Tulsa World. http://www.tulsaworld.com/ArchiveSearch/search/ArchiveArticle.asp?ArticleID=041024_Ne_A27_Detai3253. Retrieved 2006-12-22. 
  20. ^ "Sullivan, Kennedy sponsor bureaucracy". Tulsa Beacon newspaper. June 3, 2010. http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=4144. Retrieved 2010-06-18. 
  21. ^ Commission, Federal Election. "Post General Report". Federal Election Commission. http://query.nictusa.com/dcdev/fectxt/522677.txt. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  22. ^ "U.S. Rep. John Sullivan checks in to Betty Ford clinic". Tulsa World News. May 29, 2009. http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090529_11_0_USRepJ959063. 
  23. ^ National Journal Almanac. http://nationaljournal.com/almanac/person/john-sullivan-ok/. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 
  24. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 
  25. ^ "Oklahoma 2002 Midterm election". The Green Papers. http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G02/OK.phtml. Retrieved 2008-01-16. 

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Steve Largent
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 1st congressional district

February 15, 2002 – present
Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by
Joe Wilson
R-South Carolina
United States Representatives by seniority
194th
Succeeded by
Rodney Alexander
R-Louisiana