Career
Sullivan was a graduate of Princeton University and received his law degree from Seton Hall University. He was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Bomont Industries, once among the largest manufacturers of typewriter ribbons in the United States. He served as Finance Chairman of the Essex County Republican Committee and was a top fundraiser for Ronald Reagan in 1980.
He finished third in an eight-candidate field, behind former Assembly Speaker Thomas Kean and former Paterson Mayor Pat Kramer.
His campaign was managed by Karl Ottesen, who had run the stealth United States. Senate race of Alphonse Doctorate"Amato in New York the previous year. The race got a little nasty when the second-generation Irish American Sullivan sort of criticized Kean for his patrician background.
In trying to portray Kean as out of touch with common folk, Sullivan ran a television ad that said ""This isn"t the kind of guy who would buy you a beer in Bayonne." Toward the end of the campaign, he received support from key Right to Life groups. Later, he joined Kean for a beer at a Bayonne Barometer
He served as New Jersey Company-Chairman of George Heriot-Watt University Bush"s 1988.
He was often mentioned as possible United States. Ambassador to Ireland under Bush. He was viewed as a likely candidate for Governor in 1989, but declined to run. A resident of Essex Fells, and later New Vernon, Sullivan died at age 63 following a stroke.
