Former congressman JC Watts, forms company, takes other posts

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Retired U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts is starting a company that will bear his name. <br><br>The Oklahoma Republican announced Wednesday that he will serve as chairman of the J.C. Watts Cos.,

Thursday, January 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Retired U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts is starting a company that will bear his name.

The Oklahoma Republican announced Wednesday that he will serve as chairman of the J.C. Watts Cos., which will provide polling, brand marketing, issue advocacy and communication crisis management.

The company will be based in Norman with offices in Arlington, Va.

``My daddy was an entrepreneur. I am an entrepreneur,'' Watts said. ``I believe in the American dream. My company will focus on solving problems and creating opportunities, particularly for people and entrepreneurs in underserved communities in the U.S. and around the world.''

A subsidiary of the company will be Watts-Luntz Communications. Dr. Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster and MSNBC contributor, will be president of the group.

It will provide ad testing, jury testing and diversity consulting for corporations, trade associations and nonprofit groups, according to a press release from the new firm.

Watts, who was the only black Republican in Congress when he retired this month, was first elected to the U.S. House in 1994.

He also announced that he will serve on the corporate boards of Dillard's Department Stores, which has its headquarters in Little Rock, Ark., and Terex Corp. of Westport, Conn.

He also plans appearances through the Washington Speaker's Bureau.