Colin M. Simpson
Encyclopedia
Colin Simpson is a Republican
member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
, representing the 24th district since 1999 and has been the Speaker of the House since 2008. He finished fourth in the race for the 2010 gubernatorial election
. He left the legislature in 2011 to resume his law practice.
and is a fifth generation Wyomingite. His father is former U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson
and his grandfather was former U.S. Senator and Wyoming Governor Milward Simpson. Simpson is married to Debbie Oakley Simpson, who grew up in Kemmerer. They have two sons, Mackenzie and Nicholas. Simpson currently practices law in Cody and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center
.
Simpson's district covers Cody, Wyoming
. He has previously served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and Co-Chairman of the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Simpson announced in 2008 that he would challenge U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Cubin
in the primary for her seat. Cubin decided, however, to retire, and Simpson did not enter the race after all.
Simpson unsuccessfully sought to replace Craig Thomas in the U.S. Senate after his death in June, 2007. He was selected in the top 10 of finalists before the Republican Selection committee.
be term-limited. Simpson filed to form an exploratory committee to run for governor. On March 18, 2010, Simpson announced his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination and he has been cited as a front-runner in the race. Simpson's opponents included former State Legislator and former Director of Agriculture Ron Micheli
, former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead
, and State Auditor Rita Meyer
. Mead narrowly won the nomination and Simpson has since endorsed his candidacy.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
Wyoming House of Representatives
The Wyoming House of Representatives is the lower house of the Wyoming State Legislature. There are 60 Representatives in the House, representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state, each with a population of at least 9,000. The House convenes at the Wyoming...
, representing the 24th district since 1999 and has been the Speaker of the House since 2008. He finished fourth in the race for the 2010 gubernatorial election
Wyoming gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Wyoming gubernatorial election was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor of Wyoming, who will serve a four-year term to begin in January 2011...
. He left the legislature in 2011 to resume his law practice.
Family and personal life
Simpson was born in CheyenneCheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
and is a fifth generation Wyomingite. His father is former U.S. Senator Alan K. Simpson
Alan K. Simpson
Alan Kooi Simpson is an American politician who served from 1979 to 1997 as a United States Senator from Wyoming as a member of the Republican Party. His father, Milward L. Simpson, was also a member of the U.S...
and his grandfather was former U.S. Senator and Wyoming Governor Milward Simpson. Simpson is married to Debbie Oakley Simpson, who grew up in Kemmerer. They have two sons, Mackenzie and Nicholas. Simpson currently practices law in Cody and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is a complex of museums displaying artifacts and art of the American West located in Cody, Wyoming. Founded in 1917, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center is the oldest museum in the West...
.
Education
Colin received his undergraduate and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming.Political career
Simpson was elected to the Wyoming Legislature in 1998 and is serving his sixth term as a Republican representative from Park County. He is the Speaker of the House and had previously been elected to the House leadership as the Majority Leader and Speaker Pro Tem. Having lost the gubernatorial nomination, he left the legislature in January 2011.Simpson's district covers Cody, Wyoming
Cody, Wyoming
Cody is a city in Park County, Wyoming, United States. It is named after William Frederick Cody, primarily known as Buffalo Bill, from William Cody's part in the creation of the original town. The population was 9,520 at the 2010 census...
. He has previously served as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and Co-Chairman of the Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Simpson announced in 2008 that he would challenge U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Cubin
Barbara Cubin
Barbara Lynn Cubin was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, having served as the sole member of that body from Wyoming. In the 109th Congress, she was a member of the House Resources Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee...
in the primary for her seat. Cubin decided, however, to retire, and Simpson did not enter the race after all.
Simpson unsuccessfully sought to replace Craig Thomas in the U.S. Senate after his death in June, 2007. He was selected in the top 10 of finalists before the Republican Selection committee.
2010 gubernatorial candidacy
Simpson stated in an interview in the spring of 2008 that he was interested in running for governor, should Gov. Dave FreudenthalDave Freudenthal
David Duane "Dave" Freudenthal , is an American politician who served as the 31st Governor of Wyoming. A Democrat, he was reelected to his second term on November 7, 2006, and announced on March 4, 2010, that he would not attempt to seek a third term as Governor.-Education and early...
be term-limited. Simpson filed to form an exploratory committee to run for governor. On March 18, 2010, Simpson announced his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial nomination and he has been cited as a front-runner in the race. Simpson's opponents included former State Legislator and former Director of Agriculture Ron Micheli
Ron Micheli
Joseph Ronald Micheli, known as Ron Micheli , is a former director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture who also served from 1977-1992 in the Wyoming House of Representatives. He ran a strong third-place finish as a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010. His primary...
, former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead
Matt Mead
Matthew Hansen "Matt" Mead , is the 32nd and current Governor of Wyoming.-Early Life:Mead is the son of Peter Mead and Mary Hansen Mead , the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 1990, and the grandson of the late Governor and U.S. Senator Clifford P. Hansen...
, and State Auditor Rita Meyer
Rita Meyer
Rita C. Meyer currently serves Wyoming's 19th State Auditor and was a candidate for Governor of Wyoming in the 2010 Wyoming gubernatorial election. She lost to Matt Mead on August 17, 2010 by approximately 700 votes.-Early life and education:...
. Mead narrowly won the nomination and Simpson has since endorsed his candidacy.
Political Future
Simpson has since left the legislature and resumed his law practice but stated in a January Star Tribune article that he is leaving the door open to a return to politics, possibly in 2014, when Sen. Michael Enzi may retire.External links
- Representative Colin Mak official Wyoming State Legislature site
- Colin Simpson for Governor official campaign site