Sullivan focuses on service
Sullivan has held a variety of service positions.
Published Oct. 27, 2008
John Sullivan, 62, has been many things in his life - a seminarian, religious education coordinator, apartment manager, city administrator and a nursing home administrator.
He said a dedication to service is the common theme in those roles.
"My attitude has always been about serving others," he said.
Sullivan is the Republican candidate running for the Boone County Public Administrator seat.
Sullivan said he has always been interested in serving others. This interest was fostered early growing up in a military home in San Antonio.
His upbringing foreshadowed how he would later treat people. Sullivan grew up saying "yes ma'am" and "no sir," and he continues to address people that way.
"The significance to me in that is that the attitude I carry in me translates to the position in how I deal with others," Sullivan said. He believes it "builds a certain rapport with folks," and it's an essential ingredient in public administration.
At age 14, Sullivan joined St. Anthony's Junior Seminary in San Antonio. He left the seminary after nine years, but said he never lost his sense of service.
Sullivan then worked as a religious education coordinator in Omaha, Neb., a program with 550 children and a class for special needs children.
While working as the religious education coordinator he met his wife Suzanne. They met through a mutual friend while she was a teacher.
She said his passion and caring nature makes him right for the job.
"He always see the best in people, always gets people to come together," Suzanne said.
While they are at the stage of their life where they could retire, the Sullivans feel they still have a lot to give. Public administrator is not a high-profile position, and Suzanne said her husband is not pursuing a greater political career.
"He feels this is the time in his life he can give back to the community," she said. "It is not a political stepping stone."
After graduate school, Sullivan worked as a congressional aid for former U.S. Rep. John McCollister, R-Neb. He dealt with residents' issues concerning Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and veteran's affairs benefits. These are largely senior citizen concerns.
He became the city manager of Valley, Neb., when the congressman lost the re-election.
As the city manager, Sullivan worked on acquiring grants and community development by improving areas with inadequate housing. Sullivan also served on the volunteer fire department.
His experience as an aid and manager reflects how Sullivan will act in the office of public administrator, should he be elected. Dealing with the mayor, city council and the citizens taught him how to interact between the government and the community. The public administrator has to decide what is best for the clients, and work on their behalf.
"I'm working for you," Sullivan said. "I'm not satisfied by 'that's the way it is.'"
Sullivan was the administrator of a 126-bed nursing home facility. While his duties included planning the budget and managing the department and faculty, he also worked very closely with his residents and staff. Often seen on the floor, Sullivan helped feed the residents, change bed sheets and move them in their wheelchairs. This job was not just about crunching numbers. It "demonstrates people skills and people interest," Sullivan said.
In his free time, Sullivan enjoys fishing, gardening and cooking.
"I'm not a gourmet cook, but I like to jazz things up," Sullivan said.
He also is an amateur vintner. He enjoys making wine for his family and friends, but the fun part for him is making his own labels for the wine.
Should he be elected to office Nov. 4, he would like to extend the role of public administrator to prevention by encouraging people to write their wills. When an unexpected tragedy occurs, the public administrator might have to step in to provide care for people's loved ones if no provisions have been made.
"In terms of a comprehensive program, such as a group home, (the mentally ill) do not get service that they need," Sullivan said. Though there are programs for the mentally ill, they lack a cohesiveness that could better the care, he said.
"I have tried to bring about that cohesiveness within the community to provide better service," he said
Sullivan said the job of public administrator is more like a calling.
"It's not about a job," Sullivan said. "It's about something inside of you that says this is what you want to do with your life."
