Posted on 04/11/2005 8:36:48 PM PDT by LdSentinal
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.
*OK ping*
I've been somewhat disenchanted with Watts passing on the Senate and Gubernatorial contests in the last two cycles, and am thinking he may forgo on this one, too. I think we probably should get behind Mary Fallin to try to retake the Governor's office (probably should've backed her in '02 instead of Largent after his embarrassing run). We've already got outstanding African-American GOP candidates in OH (Blackwell-Gov) and MD (Steele-Senate (hopefully), and also apparently in PA and MI, so if Watts wants to jump in, he should make his declaration now.
PONG
Go Watts go! :-)
Watts could beat Hillary in '08 for POTUS. I'd work on his campaign and vote for him in a heartbeat!
He's got the smarts, the resume, the genuine Southern appeal and the minority status combination that would give him, if ANYONE, an edge.
I doubt he'll ever run for President. I don't think he would care to go through the usual media anal probe reserved for GOP candidates (especially regarding his children).
This rumor has been around here for several months and from what I can find out, it is pretty substantial rumor. J.C. will be at the OK GOP Convention Banquet this Friday evening. If any OK Freepers haven't received information on the OK GOP Convention and would like to attend, please Freep Mail me especially if you live in Cleveland County. We want to take a large contingent of delegates from Cleveland County since the Chairman and I (Vice Chair) are newly elected.
J.C. can beat Gov Henry and believe me Oklahahomans need a Governor that actually gets up in the morning to attend early morning meetings and does something.
Our Lt Governor was in D.C. attending a BRAC meeting representing Oklahoma when the Governor, without notifying her, went on vacation with his family. He then put the Senate Pro Tem in charge who just happen to be on one of his alcohol binges so our State was left unrepresented once again. This wasn't the first time. We did get rid of the pro-tem -- he had to resign. He did stay in the Senate but since he is term limited he would be out anyways. We are targeting his seat here in Cleveland County and Watts on the ticket would be perfect.
If you didn't sign up at your County Convention, you can still attend the Convention.
Not a chance. He makes a good GOP poster boy and he's good on the talk show circuit but he's such a political lightweight that even Rick Lazio would look like a heavyweight compared to him. We all know what happened to US Senator Rick Lazio, don't we?
What's your opinion on Mary Fallin, though ?
I hope he runs.
I'm a big fan of his, and we need him involved and active.
I really like Mary as she has done a lot for Cleveland County and the State inspite of Henry. My personal feeling is that J.C. stands a better chance of defeating Brad Henry. Henry is really a backstabbing weasel that doesn't come out in public as he tries to make her look bad.
Would hate to see her run in a primary against J.C. and lose because we need her expertise at the Capitol. I think J.C. and Mary Fallen as Governor/Lt Governor would be awesome.
Looking forward to hearing Senator Allen speak at the Convention too.
You just reminded me that I need to pull out the disc of the President Reagan funeral where Henry found the Clintons and is all laughs.
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