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]
