Sean Sullivan

Sean Patrick Sullivan (born November 30, 1958) is an American lawyer, politician, a retired submarine commander and was commanding officer of the Naval Submarine Base New London. He was the Republican candidate for the United States Congress in Connecticut's 2nd congressional district in 2008.

Career

Sullivan was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1976 by recommendation of Senator Lowell Weicker. Upon graduation magna cum laude

In 2012 he was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as a member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 2, 2012 and was sworn in.

2008 congressional campaign

Sullivan accepted the Connecticut Republican Party's nomination to run against Joe Courtney for Connecticut's 2nd congressional district seat on May 9, 2008.

A poll released by the University of Connecticut on September 30, 2008 showed Courtney leading the race among likely voters fifty percent to twenty-three percent with twenty-four percent undecided. Sullivan had the loyalty of two-thirds of registered Republicans but Courtney had 86% of registered Democrats and a two-to-one lead among independents.

Sullivan lost the election to Courtney by a two-to-one margin.

Stances on issues Sullivan is a proponent of spending control in Washington and places the blame for increased spending on Congress rather than on President Bush. He believes health care should be administered by the states even if funding comes from the Federal Government. He advocates increasing use of naval power to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan rather than increasing ground troop levels.

He is a strong advocate for nuclear power and supports removing political obstacles to building new plants.