Lynn Simons
American politician
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Lynn Simons (June 1, 1934 - August 30, 2025) was 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 | |
| Born | June 1, 1934 Havre, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | August 30, 2025 (aged 91)[3] Cheyenne, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Colorado University of Wyoming |
Early life
Lynn Simons was born on June 1, 1934 in Havre, Montana. She briefly lived in Flint, Michigan before relocating to Golden, Colorado, where she grew up. [4] She 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.[5] In 1957, she joined the American Civil Liberties Union.[6]
Career
Board of education
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.[7] She was selected to serve as president of the Wyoming Committee on School Organization in 1975.[8] During her tenure on the Wyoming Board of Education, she served as vice-chair and chair of the board.[9]
Superintendent of Public Instruction
On April 5, 1978, Simons announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction.[10] She won the Democratic nomination against Sydney Spiegel, a history teacher, and defeated incumbent Republican Superintendent Robert Schrader.[11][12] She was reelected in 1982 and 1986.[13][14] In 1990, Simons sought reelection, but was defeated by Republican nominee Diana Ohman.[15]
During the 1980 presidential election Simons endorsed President Jimmy Carter for reelection.[16] 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.[17] During the 1984 presidential election she endorsed Senator Gary Hart for the Democratic presidential nomination.[18] In 1985, Simons led a twenty member education delegation that visited schools in China and the Soviet Union.[19] In 1985, Lynn was named to the Steering Committee of the Education Commission of the States.[20]
Simons sought the Democratic nomination for the 1988 United States Senate election, but lost in the Democratic primary to John P. Vinch.[21][22]
Simons is the last Democrat to serve in this position.
Later life
Simons was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as a six-state region representative for Secretary of Education Richard Riley in 1993.[23] In 2003, she was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal to be Wyoming planning coordinator, but only served for five months before leaving the office.[24][25] During the 2020 presidential election Simons endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.[26]
Electoral history
| 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% | ||