Michael J. Sullivan (Wyoming politician)

Michael J. Sullivan
Wyoming Labor Commissioner
In office
1983–1995
Preceded byVernie Martin
Member of the Cheyenne, Wyoming city council
In office
1976–1980
Personal details
Bornc. 1943/1944
Political partyDemocratic
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
RankColonel

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

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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

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Department of Labor

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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

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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

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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

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1976 Cheyenne, Wyoming city council Ward 3 primary[7]
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%
1976 Cheyenne, Wyoming city council Ward 3 election[8]
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%
1980 Cheyenne, Wyoming mayoral primary[10]
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%
2002 Wyoming House of Representatives 8th district Democratic primary[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michael J. Sullivan 557 51.48%
Democratic Joe Barrett 525 48.52%
Total votes 1,082 100.00%
2002 Wyoming House of Representatives 8th district election[16]
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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.