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

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

Department of Labor

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

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

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

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

  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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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.
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