Rep. Sullivan's district includes Assonet, Berkley, and Fall River, Massachusetts, and he maintains an office in Fall River. He is a graduate of Bristol Community College and Southeastern Massachusetts University, and completed his graduate studies at Bridgewater State College. Prior to being elected to the house in 1997, he was a member of the Fall River City Council from 1992 - 1997.
Rep. Sullivan had lost the race for Mayor of Fall River to Rep. Robert Correia. He finished second in a field of seven candidates in the September 11, 2007 primary for the mayoral seat in Fall River, receiving 2,411 votes, and also finished second in the mayoral election, receiving 7,804 votes to Rep. Correia's 9,626 votes.