Lynn Simons is an American politician and educator who served as the 17th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1979 to 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party. She unsuccessfully sought the Democratic senatorial nomination in 1988.
Lynn Simons | |
|---|---|
| 17th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office January 1, 1979[1] – January 7, 1991[2] | |
| Preceded by | Robert G. Schrader |
| Succeeded by | Diana Ohman |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Colorado University of Wyoming |
Early life
editLynn Simons graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in American studies from the University of Wyoming.[3] In 1957, she joined the American Civil Liberties Union.[4]
Career
editBoard of education
editIn 1971, Simons was appointed by Governor Stanley K. Hathaway to a six-year term on the Wyoming Board of Education to replace Harry F. Hays.[5] She was selected to serve as president of the Wyoming Committee on School Organization in 1975.[6] During her tenure on the Wyoming Board of Education, she served as vice-chair and chair of the board.[7]
Superintendent of Public Instruction
editOn April 5, 1978, Simons announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction.[8] She won the Democratic nomination against Sydney Spiegel, a history teacher, and defeated incumbent Republican Superintendent Robert Schrader.[9][10] She was reelected in 1982 and 1986.[11][12] In 1990, Simons sought reelection, but was defeated by Republican nominee Diana Ohman.[13]
During the 1980 presidential election Simons endorsed President Jimmy Carter for reelection.[14] In 1982, she gave support to a court case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the children of illegal immigrants could get a free public education.[15] During the 1984 presidential election she endorsed Senator Gary Hart for the Democratic presidential nomination.[16] In 1985, Simons led a twenty member education delegation that visited schools in China and the Soviet Union.[17] In 1985, Lynn was named to the Steering Committee of the Education Commission of the States.[18]
Simons sought the Democratic nomination for the 1988 United States Senate election, but lost in the Democratic primary to John P. Vinch.[19][20]
Simons is the last Democrat to serve in this position.
Later life
editSimons was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as a six-state region representative for Secretary of Education Richard Riley in 1993.[21] In 2003, she was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal to be Wyoming planning coordinator, but only served for five months before leaving the office.[22][23] During the 2020 presidential election Simons endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.[24]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynn Simons | 69,261 | 52.70% | ||
| Republican | Robert Schrader (incumbent) | 62,165 | 47.30% | ||
| Total votes | 131,426 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynn Simons (incumbent) | 92,270 | 56.97% | ||
| Republican | Gary Elliott | 69,699 | 43.03% | ||
| Total votes | 161,969 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynn Simons (incumbent) | 90,978 | 57.05% | ||
| Republican | Millard Meredith | 68,960 | 42.95% | ||
| Total votes | 159,938 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Diana Ohman | 91,223 | 57.90% | ||
| Democratic | Lynn Simons (incumbent) | 66,319 | 42.10% | ||
| Total votes | 157,542 | 100.00% | |||
References
edit- ^ "Wyoming officials sworn in". Great Falls Tribune. January 2, 1979. p. 14. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sullivan takes second oath of office Monday". Casper Star-Tribune. January 5, 1991. p. 13. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Education". Casper Star-Tribune. August 7, 1988. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joins ACLU". Casper Star-Tribune. August 7, 1988. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hathway Appointments Are Approved". Billings Gazette. February 24, 1971. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Board of Education discusses court appeal". Billings Gazette. April 12, 1975. p. 15. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Education board elects". Billings Gazette. April 23, 1976. p. 18. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Candidacy announced". Casper Star-Tribune. April 6, 1978. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Spiegel Surprised". Casper Star-Tribune. September 14, 1978. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1978 election results". Billings Gazette. November 16, 1978. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1982 election results". Casper Star-Tribune. November 11, 1982. p. 12. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Official vote tabulations confirm election results". Billings Gazette. November 14, 1986. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1990 certified results". Billings Gazette. November 15, 1990. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "... And GOP leaders wait and see". Casper Star-Tribune. May 14, 1980. p. 17. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Simons supports high court decision". Casper Star-Tribune. June 16, 1982. p. 21. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Simons endorsed Hart for nomination". Casper Star-Tribune. March 3, 1984. p. 5. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lynn Simons to visit Red schools". Billings Gazette. January 20, 1985. p. 21. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lynn Simons named to Ed committee". Billings Gazette. September 4, 1986. p. 19. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Simons joins race for Senate". Casper Star-Tribune. May 5, 1988. p. 1. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Primary races stand after vote reviews". Billings Gazette. August 25, 1988. p. 7. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Simons picked for federal regional education position". Casper Star-Tribune. November 18, 1993. p. 11. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Simons is new plans czar". Casper Star-Tribune. April 1, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "Simons leaves state planning job". Billings Gazette. September 5, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ "18 top Wyoming Democrats endorse Joe Biden for president". Casper Star-Tribune. April 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.