Mike Sullivan (governor)

Mike Sullivan
29th Governor of Wyoming
In office January 7, 1987 – January 7, 1995
Preceded by	Edgar J. Herschler
Succeeded by	Jim Geringer
24th United States Ambassador to Ireland
In office October 22, 1998 – June 20, 2001
Appointed by	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Jean Kennedy Smith
Succeeded by	Richard J. Egan
Personal details
Born	September 22, 1939 (1939-09-22) (age 72) Omaha, Nebraska
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jane Metzler Sullivan
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Michael John Sullivan, known as Mike Sullivan (born September 22, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska) was the 29th Governor of Wyoming, having served from 1987–1995.

His father, J. B. Sullivan, moved the family to Douglas, to open a law practice. Mike Sullivan graduated from Douglas High School as the class salutatorian. He continued his education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, where he earned a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering and then a law degree.

On September 2, 1961, Sullivan married Jane Metzler of Riverton in ceremonies in Powell. They made their home in Casper.

Sullivan practiced law with the firm of Brown, Drew, Apostolos, Massey, and Sullivan for twenty years. Sullivan never had sought elective office when, in 1986, he ran for and won the Democratic nomination for governor. Many observers believed that, following three terms with a Democratic governor (Ed Herschler) the chances for another Democrat to gain that post would be remote. Nonetheless, after a hard-fought campaign, Sullivan defeated Republican nominee Peter K. Simpson. In his 1990 reelection, he defeated the rancher and businesswoman Mary Hansen Mead of Jackson, daughter of former Republican Governor and U.S. Senator Clifford P. Hansen. Sullivan received 104,638 votes (65.4 percent) to her 55,471 ballots (34.6 percent). In the general election, Mead polled only 4,311 more votes than she had in her closed primary. Hence, she was unable to reach beyond her base of support within the GOP.

Sullivan ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994, but lost 59-39% to then-Representative Craig L. Thomas, largely due to the Republican wave of 1994.

Four years after his governorship ended, Sullivan was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by President Clinton, a post he held from 1999 to 2001.^[1]

Sullivan is currently a partner at the Casper office of the law firm of Rothgerber, Johnson, & Lyons.^[2]

See also

Biography portal

• List of Governors of Wyoming

References

1. ^ Wyoming State Archives official gubernatorial biography
2. ^ Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons' biography of Michael J. Sullivan

Political offices
Preceded by Edgar J. Herschler	Governor of Wyoming 1987–1995	Succeeded by Jim Geringer

Persondata
Name	Sullivan, Mike
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 22, 1939
Place of birth	Omaha, Nebraska
Date of death
Place of death