Michael J. Sullivan (Wyoming politician)
Michael J. Sullivan | |
|---|---|
| Wyoming Labor Commissioner | |
| In office 1983–1995 | |
| Preceded by | Vernie Martin |
| Member of the Cheyenne, Wyoming city council | |
| In office 1976–1980 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1943/1944 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Air Force |
| Rank | Colonel |
Michael J. Sullivan (born c. 1943/1944) is an American politician who served as the Wyoming Labor Commissioner and was active in local politics in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Early life and education[edit]
Michael J. Sullivan was born c. 1943/1944. He graduated from Louisiana University with a bachelor's degree in business and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a master's degree in business. He served in the United States Air Force and retired as a colonel.[1]
Career[edit]
Department of Labor[edit]
From 1970 to 1975, Sullivan served as a Wage and Hour Inspector for the Wyoming Department of Labor. On May 14, 1975, Wyoming Labor Commissioner Vernie Martin announced the appointment of Sullivan as Deputy Labor Commissioner.[2][3]
In 1983, Martin was put on trial for charges of attempting to defraud Wyoming through a false travel voucher. Sullivan was selected by Governor Edgar Herschler to serve as acting Labor Commissioner and served until his retirement in 1995.[4][5]
Local politics[edit]
In 1976, Sullivan filed to run for one of two city council seats in Cheyenne, Wyoming, from Ward 3.[6] In the primary election he placed first ahead of incumbent council members, Delmer Woods and Victoria Anderson.[7] In the general election he and Carol E. Clark placed first and second defeating both of the incumbents.[8] In 1980, he ran in Cheyenne's mayoral election but placed fourth behind incumbent Mayor Don Erickson, former Mayor Bill Nation, and City Council President John Rogers.[9][10] In 1982, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Cheyenne city council.[11]
In 1977, the Cheyenne city council voted in favor of a maximum 10¢ per hour on-street parking fee. Sullivan opposed the fee and instead supported an optional sales tax.[12] In 1980, he launched a petition drive to place a referendum on a mineral severance tax onto the ballot with the support of the AFL–CIO and the Wyoming Employee Associations.[13]
Later life[edit]
In 2002, Sullivan announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the Wyoming House of Representatives in the 8th district.[14] He won in the Democratic primary, but lost in the general election to incumbent Republican Representative Larry Meuli.[15][16]
Electoral history[edit]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Mike Sullivan | 1,621 | 24.56% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Delmer Woods (incumbent) | 1,495 | 22.65% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Carol E. Clark | 1,391 | 21.08% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Victoria Anderson (incumbent) | 1,025 | 15.53% | ||
| Nonpartisan | R. J. Darling | 458 | 6.49% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Rudy Karen | 435 | 6.59% | ||
| Nonpartisan | James M. Kubalanza | 175 | 2.65% | ||
| Total votes | 6,600 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Mike Sullivan | 3,559 | 31.18% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Carol E. Clark | 3,234 | 28.33% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Delmer Woods (incumbent) | 2,700 | 23.65% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Victoria Anderson (incumbent) | 1,923 | 16.84% | ||
| Total votes | 11,416 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Don Erickson (incumbent) | 4,338 | 30.92% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Bill Nation | 3,439 | 24.51% | ||
| Nonpartisan | John Rogers | 3,375 | 24.05% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Mike Sullivan | 2,629 | 18.74% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Carl Johnson | 251 | 1.79% | ||
| Total votes | 14,032 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael J. Sullivan | 557 | 51.48% | ||
| Democratic | Joe Barrett | 525 | 48.52% | ||
| Total votes | 1,082 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Larry Meuli (incumbent) | 2,126 | 54.68% | ||
| Democratic | Michael J. Sullivan | 1,762 | 45.32% | ||
| Total votes | 3,888 | 100.00% | |||
References[edit]
- ^ "Michael J. Sullivan biography". Casper Star-Tribune. August 18, 2002. p. 75. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Firemen dispute contract". Casper Star-Tribune. July 3, 1973. p. 2. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Commissioner names deputy". Casper Star-Tribune. May 18, 1975. p. 9. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hearing set for ex-labor commissioner on travel voucher charge". Casper Star-Tribune. September 30, 1983. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "State hospital superintendent, labor official retire". Casper Star-Tribune. June 28, 1995. p. 11. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Five seek Cheyenne mayor's post". Casper Star-Tribune. August 3, 1976. p. 11. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Nation faced Erickson for mayor". Casper Star-Tribune. September 16, 1976. p. 33. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1974 election results". Casper Star-Tribune. November 4, 1976. p. 25. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sullivan running for mayor". Casper Star-Tribune. September 9, 1980. p. 14. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1980 mayoral primary results". Casper Star-Tribune. September 11, 1980. p. 19. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Labor official resigns over endorsement". Casper Star-Tribune. November 20, 1982. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Parking Fee Okd". Casper Star-Tribune. March 30, 1977. p. 35. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tax initiative support said strong". Casper Star-Tribune. May 6, 1980. p. 4. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Democrats Barrett, Sullivan eyeing House District 8 seat". Casper Star-Tribune. July 29, 2002. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "2002 primary results". Casper Star-Tribune. August 21, 2002. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "2002 election results". Casper Star-Tribune. November 6, 2002. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.