STATE representative announces he will run for 1st District

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, announced Saturday he will seek the 1st Congressional District seat. <br><br>Sullivan, who announced at Tulsa's Zink Park in front of about

Saturday, May 19th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, announced Saturday he will seek the 1st Congressional District seat.

Sullivan, who announced at Tulsa's Zink Park in front of about 300 people, said he wants to improve the education system as well as repeal the gasoline and Social Security tax increases implemented by former President Clinton.

``We need to give more money back to the people who earned it in the first place,'' Sullivan said.

The father of three said he wants school boards, parents and teachers to have more control over education than the federal government. Funds should focus on ``students, teachers and the classroom, not on the bloated bureaucracy,'' he said.

Sullivan also said he wants to bring more jobs to the 1st District and that, as a leader, he is a moral example. He said he is pro-life.

``I think there is moral decline in our society,'' he said. ``I think morality and integrity are still important.''

Sullivan is in his fourth term as a state representative and is the Republican House whip. He has owned or operated a small business in Tulsa for 16 years.

Last weekend, State Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, announced he will seek the 1st District seat. The Tulsa attorney was elected in 1998 and serves as minority whip in the 2001 Legislature.

Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Largent is up for re-election in November 2002. He is considering resigning early to focus on a gubernatorial bid. He hasn't formally declared his candidacy for governor but is planning a campaign.

Oklahoma first lady Cathy Keating announced last month that she will run for the seat.

Others interested in running include former Cherokee Nation chief Ross Swimmer, former Tulsa City Councilor Dewey Bartlett Jr. and former University of Tulsa football coach Dave Rader.

Democrats looking at the race include Tulsa attorney and current school board member Doug Dodd and former Tulsa County Democratic Chairman Tim Gilpin.