iVote - www.ivote.us.com

POLITICS: Country yearning for a new face, says Roy

By Bryan Smith

Staff Writer

(POL) With a preponderance of economic and health care related issues at the national level, Fifth District Congressional candidate Dr. Johnny Roy said the country needs a new face and a representative with knowledge of both business and health care.

"The country is yearning for a new face," Roy, a Republican urologist from Edmond, told reporters when he filed candidacy documents with the Oklahoma State Election Board. And during these difficult economic times, the country needs the voice of someone who knows what it is like to run a business, he said.

"Who else can go represent the people during such difficult economic times?" he asked. "If the economy is the number one issue, then don't you want someone who understands business to represent you?"

By Roy's estimation, it does not make sense for those who have never been involved in business to make decisions that affect businesses.

As his campaign slogan goes: "If you have never run a business, then you have no business being in the business of getting into other people's business."

While there are other candidates in the fifth district race who have business experience, Roy said that he has far more experience in business and in health care. And in a large field of self-described conservative Republican hopefuls, Roy said he is not concerned with who is more conservative, but rather, who will better represent the people.

"Everyone always says they are a 'real conservative,'" he said. "I don't even know what that means. It's like fluffing pillows."

Roy said he will be a dedicated and passionate public servant.

"Nobody has the experience, the knowledge and the passion to serve that I do," he said.

And, unlike many in Washington D.C., Roy claims he will not be stained by large donations from special interest groups. He also vowed to serve no more than three terms in Congress.

As a doctor, Roy also said that he would work hard to make sure physicians are more involved in crafting health care legislation and regulations.

"You need an actively practicing physician involved when issues of health care come up," he said.

Roy faces six other candidates for the Republican nomination: former state Rep. Kevin Calvey, Ricky Flanigan, state Rep. Shane Jett, Harry Johnson, James Lankford and state Rep. Mike Thompson.

Democrats Billy Coyle and Tom Guild Independent candidates Clark Duffe and Dave White are also seeking the post.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Johnny Roy was born where it all began; "The land between the two rivers". The Holy Book refers to that site as the Garden of Eden. Dr. Roy's father, Bernard Roy, came with the British expeditionary forces that landed in Iraq. Later on Dr. Roy's father met and married Regina Sadeq, settled in Baghdad, Iraq and raised a family.

Johnny's parents were devout Catholic and consequently most of his education was in parochial schools. After graduating from medical college he had a brief military stint. Johnny came to Chicago for his internship, followed by a year in general surgery at Long Island College Hospital of New York. He completed urology specialty training at the University of Kentucky in Lexington , Kentucky. His Oklahoma connection originated when he made frequent visits to his parents and brother who lived in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Following a Fellowship training at the University of Oklahoma, he forged a two decade educational relationship with the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, attaining the title of tenured professor. Currently Dr. Roy runs a private practice in Edmond, Oklahoma adjacent to Edmond Medical Center where he completed a term as Chief of Surgery.

Community Leadership

Dr. Roy served as:

Chairman of Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology

President of Kidney Foundation of Oklahoma

President of Oklahoma County Medical Society

President of Oklahoma Clinical Society

President of Oklahoma Urologic Society

Non- Scientific Memberships:

Oklahoma Republican Party

Edmond Chamber of Commerce

OCPAC

Northwest Republican Club

Knights of Columbus

Christ the King Church

Dr. Roy is married to Sandy Gaede of Duncan, Oklahoma. He has three children, Jennifer Anne, John Edward II and Geoffrey Benedict Roy.

Dr. Roy has published more than 200 scientific papers and abstracts. He has presented his scientific work and lectured locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Dr. Roy belongs to innumerable scientific organizations.

Hobbies:

Reading, music (accordion player), sports (pitcher in high school), traveling (has traveled to more than twenty foreign countries) and renowned for growing tea-hybrid miniature roses.