Iraq war prompts state House run
Sullivan vows to make his opposition a priority.

Sid Sullivan has traveled the world, worked for a senator, taught high school math, worked for a pharmaceutical company and even tried his hand at being a Jesuit seminarian.

He’s hoping to add "served as a state legislator" to that list after November.

Concerns about the Medicaid cuts, the way children are assessed in public schools and the war in Iraq propelled Sullivan, a relative newcomer to Columbia, into running for state representative against former Columbia Public Schools superintendent and community staple Jim Ritter.

Sullivan’s long march to legislative politics began in suburban Detroit, where he grew up. After attending public high school, he began the 15-year process to become a Jesuit seminarian. He quit when he decided it wasn’t for him.

"I only had three years to go," Sullivan said. "I could have made it."

After earning several college degrees and working as an aide for former Sen. Jacob Javits, R-New York, on such issues as the integration of Puerto Rican migrants into the work force, Sullivan spent a good portion of his career working in the Chicago area for Roche Diagnostic Corp., a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company.

When he retired, Sullivan, 63, and his wife, Joan, researched America’s best cities for retirement and chose Columbia. Although he’s only lived in Missouri a few years, Sullivan developed a view of how the state operates.

"It’s a mixed bag," Sullivan said. "The state seems very concerned on taxes. In some case over in Warrensburg, they refused to build a new library because they didn’t want to increase the taxes, while here in Columbia, the library is a real asset to the community."

His disdain for the 2005 cuts to Medicaid services was one of the events that compelled him to run for the General Assembly.

"I was upset that you would take a section of your population and just cut them off from health care," Sullivan said. "But the more you get into it, the more you find it’s a real issue in terms of public policy."

Sullivan said the legislature missed a golden opportunity when it left $330 million of federal funds on the budgetary table. Combined with projections that indicated the state had the matching funds to receive federal money, the legislature left almost a half-billion dollars out of the health-care budget, he said.

"And what’ll happen is it’ll just cost you," Sullivan said. "It’s going to raise health-care costs for everybody. As uninsured people go to get health care, it’ll have to be provided. But what’ll happen is the doctors and hospitals will raise their costs to everybody."

Sullivan said the sale of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority is an example of short-term gain for a long-term cost.

"What I see as the problem is that the University of Missouri is the jewel of Missouri," Sullivan said. "A lot of Missourians are jealous of it. So whenever the University of Missouri tries to get tax dollars to run its programs, it’s always a fight in the legislature. Now if you sell off MOHELA and you cut off access to the students throughout the state, you’ve just further alienating the rest of the state."

It is the war in Iraq, rather than Medicaid or MOHELA, which would be Sullivan’s first target if he gets a chance to enter the General Assembly. Sullivan said he would introduce a nonbinding proclamation that calls for U.S. troops to withdraw from the war-torn country.

Although the war is an issue not usually on the agenda of the state House of Representatives, Sullivan said it needs to be brought up.

"A lot of people are talking about this," Sullivan said. "It’s below the surface, but it’s an issue that we have to assign some resolution to. We were lied to" to "get into that war. It’s clear it’s about oil and hegemony and it’s not in the best interest of this country in terms of our global position."

While canvassing the 24th House District, Sullivan said he has interacted and conversed with potential constituents, including Barbara Lindeman, director of study abroad at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Lindeman said she was impressed with how responsive Sullivan was to people’s concerns, and she even likened Sullivan to former President Jimmy Carter during the 1976 presidential campaign.

"I like that the fact that he went door to door and actually made an effort to get to know people within our district," Lindeman said. "I think that’s unique."

Royda Crose, a Columbia psychologist, said Sullivan is a breath of fresh air in politics because he takes definite stands on issues like Iraq.

"The main thing I think I’m impressed by is someone from a major party that will take a stand, because it seems like the Democrats and people who are for alternative things to happen are so wishy-washy," Crose said.

Crose said Sullivan has an advantage over Ritter because he thinks about issues from a broad perspective.

"He brings a larger perspective to local politics," Crose said. "That’s really needed to get out of the rut that we’re in here and people being so afraid to speak out. He just seems to have a passion about community and what he’s doing. That kind of sophistication impresses me."

Sullivan said his experience working in the business, political, educational and religious spheres makes him a well-rounded person to go to Jefferson City.

"I have a lifetime of experience working with every segment of the population and can communicate with all folks and disciplines," Sullivan said. "I don’t think in just one academic discipline."

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Reach Jason Rosenbaum at (573) 815-1724 or jrosenbaum@tribmail.com.

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