Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Mullin Kicks Off 2nd District GOP Campaign


Eastern Oklahoma businessman Markwayne Mullin officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Congress in the 2nd District this morning.

His announcement came in Claremore at Gymnastics City, a business owned by his Aunt Judy for decades.

Mullin is among several Republicans who have said they'll seek the nomination. Included are Rep. George Faught of Muskogee, retired Marine officer Dakota Wood and Tishomingo attorney Dustin Rowe.


Said Mullion: “We need a business owner who understands how to invest, operate a company without debt, be innovative and create jobs in the free enterprise system. We need business principles applied to the way our country operates.

“If Congress continues its destructive habit of reckless spending and increasing debt, even those of us who have been responsible with our finances will suffer the consequences. And so will our children and their children. In other words, if Washington fails, we all fail.

“Make no mistake about it. The political elite will fight me at every step because I won’t say or do the politically popular things. Career politicians are the problem with our country right now."

Mullin took over his family’s plumbing business 14 years ago with six employees and has grown it into one of the largest service companies in Oklahoma with more than 100 employees. He also owns Mullin Environmental, Mullin Services and Mullin Properties along with ranching operations in Adair and Wagoner counties.


There are three principles Mullin said he applies to business that he will apply in Congress for the next six years before returning home.

1. “The first principle I use in business is that we operate without debt. If we can’t pay for it, we don’t buy it. Those reds vans you see across Oklahoma; they’re all paid for and we take pride in that because the first key to a thriving business is to quit strangling yourself with debt.

“We need to cut government spending, cut frivolous pork projects, cut foreign aid and cut the bloated bureaucracy.” Mullin cited the Environmental Protection Agency as government’s worst offender, and said he has had to personally fight against unnecessary and “ridiculous” regulations.

“We also must take a fundamental look at entitlements, and ask ourselves if we’re truly helping the poor or if we’re creating a cycle of dependency. Instead of cutting spending, they raised the debt ceiling, and you can bet, I never would have compromised. You’ll never get out of debt by taking on more debt. It just won’t happen.”

2. Customer service is the second principle used at Mullin companies. “Too often, government thinks we work for them,” said Mullin. “We need to take America back from the career politicians and the Obama liberals in the White House. The tax dollars belong to us. We earned them, not the government. I will fight against the Obama administration and their policies at every step.

“If we want to grow the economy, stop regulating businesses, plain and simple – stop regulating and give the business owners the confidence to invest and create jobs.

“As I’ve been around the district, I’ve heard from small business owners, farmers and ranchers, and they say the same thing. Get the government out of our lives and off our property. We know how to run our businesses, and we care more for the safety of our employees than faceless bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. And as a rancher, I assure you we are far better shepherds of our land than the EPA.”

3. The third principle at Mullin Plumbing is that “we hire and fire the right way.”
“It’s time for the American people to fire Barack Obama. It’s time to fire the career bureaucrats who fail to understand customer service. It’s time to fire the leaders of the U.S. Senate, and many of the senators and congressmen who just don’t get it.”

The youngest of seven children, Mullin was raised in Adair County in Westville where he was known as a wrestling, rodeo and hunting enthusiast. He graduated from Stilwell High School and headed to college on a wrestling scholarship before returning to operate the family company. He received his associate’s degree at OSU’s Institute of Technology in Okmulgee.ination.


Mullin owns Mullin Plumbing, a statewide operation, as well as several other businesses, and hosts his own sponsored radio show that airs on stations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

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