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Lynn Simons

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Lynn Simons
17th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction
In office
January 1, 1979[1] – January 7, 1991[2]
Preceded byRobert G. Schrader
Succeeded byDiana Ohman
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Colorado
University of Wyoming

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.

Early life

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Lynn 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

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Board of education

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In 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

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On 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

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Simons 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

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1978 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lynn Simons 69,261 52.70%
Republican Robert Schrader (incumbent) 62,165 47.30%
Total votes 131,426 100.00%
1982 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lynn Simons (incumbent) 92,270 56.97%
Republican Gary Elliott 69,699 43.03%
Total votes 161,969 100.00%
1986 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Lynn Simons (incumbent) 90,978 57.05%
Republican Millard Meredith 68,960 42.95%
Total votes 159,938 100.00%
1990 Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction election[13]
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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Education". Casper Star-Tribune. August 7, 1988. p. 6. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "... 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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Simons is new plans czar". Casper Star-Tribune. April 1, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  23. ^ "Simons leaves state planning job". Billings Gazette. September 5, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "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.