Watts says he hasn't ruled out run for Oklahoma governor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts hasn't ruled out running for governor next year but he said he wasn't ready to make a decision. <br/><br/>``I have been encouraged to do it, and

Saturday, April 9th 2005, 12:09 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts hasn't ruled out running for governor next year but he said he wasn't ready to make a decision.

``I have been encouraged to do it, and I pay attention to the people who are encouraging me to do it because they've been great friends of mine,'' Watts told The Oklahoman's Washington bureau during a telephone interview on Friday.

Watts, a Republican, served as 4th Congressional District representative from 1995 to 2003 in the U.S. House. He now runs the J.C. Watts Cos., which do government affairs and business consulting work in Washington.

Watts also gives speeches and serves on the boards of some corporations and charitable organizations.

The former University of Oklahoma quarterback and his family live in a Washington suburb, but Watts said he gets back to Oklahoma often. Watts, 48, grew up in Eufaula.

While in Congress, he lived in Norman, where he attended the University of Oklahoma years before.

Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, has not officially announced that he will run again, but he has said publicly that he will seek another term.

Republicans are watching whether Watts or Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin will challenge Henry next year.

Watts said he isn't ``driven to be in politics'' and that he has told people who have approached him to run for governor that ``you just have to make sure you do these things for the right reasons.''

``There's just a lot of things to consider,'' he said.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a longtime political consultant in the state whose firm worked for Watts and Fallin, Watts typically makes his political decisions late. Cole succeeded Watts in the 4th District.

Fallin said last summer that she would begin focusing on her political plans early this year, but she has made no announcement.