Pettigrew Enters 2nd District GOP Primary

Former Republican House member Wayne Pettigrew said today he's jumping into the already-crowded Republican primary for Congress in the 2nd District.

Pettigrew will join Markwayne Mullin, Dustin Rowe, Rep. George Faught and others in the GOP race.

"As I visit with the people of the Second district, my message will be clear: I want to use my private sector background in business and finance and my public sector experience from the legislature to help solve the serious budget issues that are crippling our nation with a mountain of debt and deficits. Our new course must be rooted in balancing the federal budget while preserving the core functions of government. With hard work, intelligence, common sense and faith in the first principles that made our country great, we can get our country moving in the right direction," Pettigrew said.

"My campaign will be based on my proven conservative, pro-business voting record when in office and my proven track record as a businessman and someone who knows how to create jobs. No one else in the race shares this kind of proven record, and I believe this is the kind of balanced leadership we need in Congress today." Pettigrew said.

A businessman and insurance broker who represented the Edmond area in the House, Pettigrew said he's the founder of two Oklahoma-based companies that now have over $70 million in assets and 50 employees. The companies have over 6,000 shareholders in Oklahoma, with over 2,000 in the Second Congressional District alone.

During his service in the House of Representatives from 1994 to 2004, Pettigrew had a 98% Pro-Business/Economic Development voting record according to the Research Institute for Economic Development ratings (RIED score).

Consistently ranked among the Top Ten conservative legislators by The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper, Pettigrew served as lead author on key legislation for welfare reform and victim's rights legislation, which allows victims' family members to be present at executions and to be notified of parole eligibility.

Pettigrew had a 100% pro-life voting record and was an author of bills prohibiting late term abortions and creating the "Choose Life" car tag.

An NRA member who was endorsed by the organization in every election, Pettigrew also had a 100% voting record on gun rights and was an author of the original Concealed Carry Bill.

During his ten years of service in the House, Pettigrew had a 99% attendance record, missing only 3 legislative days, two of which were to attend his father's funeral.

Pettigrew's family came to Indian Territory before statehood. His parents are from far southeast Oklahoma - Smithville and Honobia. His great-grandmother was a Mississippi Choctaw. Pettigrew was born in McAlester, grew up in there and graduated from McAlester High School in 1980.

Pettigrew earned a business degree in Management, Finance and Accounting from East Central University in Ada.

Pettigrew said he returned to McAlester in 2009 to care for his mother who passed away in May 2010.

Pettigrew and his wife, Toni, have two children, Alex – a senior at the University of Oklahoma, and Drew, 14. Toni is a former elementary education teacher.

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