Sheila Simon
Encyclopedia
Sheila J. Simon is an American politician and educator who is the 46th and current Lieutenant Governor
of the state of Illinois
. She was a Professor of Law at the Southern Illinois University School of Law
. Simon is the daughter of former U.S. Senator Paul Simon
, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois as well, and his first wife, Illinois State Representative Jeanne Hurley Simon.
and a J.D. in 1987 from Georgetown Law School
. Following law school, she worked as a staff attorney at a legal aid
clinic, the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation from 1987 to 1992, providing legal services to indigent clients. She was an Associate at the firm of O'Neill & Colvin in Carbondale, Illinois from 1992 to 1994 and then served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Jackson County, Illinois
from 1994 to 1998, where she prosecuted DUI
s and domestic battery cases. Along with several other attorneys and with the support of school faculty, Simon helped to inaugurate Southern Illinois University's law school domestic violence clinic in 1998. She worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Law from 2000 to 2005 and was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor in 2005. She taught both Lawyering Skills and Family Law in addition to her clinical teaching.
city council
from 2003 to 2007 and unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Carbondale in 2007. Subsequently, Governor Quinn selected her to serve on the Illinois Reform Commission, which helped to establish the first political contribution limits in Illinois law.
The Reform Commission consisted of 15 members from a wide variety of backgrounds, from attorneys, business owners, academics and even a football coach. The Commission issued a 100-day report after holding hearings across the state and examining ethics regulations in states across the country.
's running mate in the November 2010 general election, despite her not appearing as a candidate in the original primary election, as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Simon replaced Scott Lee Cohen
on the ballot after Cohen, who won the February 2010 Democratic primary, withdrew amid controversies involving his personal life. Among potential candidates, Simon beat out Illinois State Rep. Art Turner, who had come in second in the primary.
According to the Quinn/Simon campaign, the pairing of Gov. Quinn and Sheila Simon was appropriate, as the two worked together successfully in achieving the passage of campaign finance law, and have many shared goals and political viewpoints. Simon was sworn in on January 10, 2011.
teacher and the Social Science department chair at John A. Logan College
, the Carterville
community college that serves the Carbondale area. , they have a daughter in college and a daughter in high school, and a female exchange student from Peru. Sheila has been in the band Loose Gravel for over ten years. She plays banjo
and bassoon
.
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
The Lieutenant Governor of Illinois is the second highest executive of the State of Illinois. In Illinois, the lieutenant governor and governor run on a joint ticket, and are directly elected by popular vote. Candidates for lieutenant governor run separately in the primary from candidates for...
of the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. She was a Professor of Law at the Southern Illinois University School of Law
Southern Illinois University School of Law
Southern Illinois University School of Law is a law school in Carbondale, Illinois. The college offers Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Master of Legal Studies programs. It also offers dual degree programs in Accounting, Medicine, Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Social...
. Simon is the daughter of former U.S. Senator Paul Simon
Paul Simon (politician)
Paul Martin Simon was an American politician from Illinois. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985 and United States Senate from 1985 to 1997. He was a member of the Democratic Party...
, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois as well, and his first wife, Illinois State Representative Jeanne Hurley Simon.
Education and pre-political career
Sheila Simon received a B.A. in 1983 from Wittenberg UniversityWittenberg University
Wittenberg University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio serving 2,000 full-time students representing 37 states and approximately 30 foreign countries...
and a J.D. in 1987 from Georgetown Law School
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. Following law school, she worked as a staff attorney at a legal aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
clinic, the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation from 1987 to 1992, providing legal services to indigent clients. She was an Associate at the firm of O'Neill & Colvin in Carbondale, Illinois from 1992 to 1994 and then served as an Assistant State's Attorney in Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 2000...
from 1994 to 1998, where she prosecuted DUI
DUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
s and domestic battery cases. Along with several other attorneys and with the support of school faculty, Simon helped to inaugurate Southern Illinois University's law school domestic violence clinic in 1998. She worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Law from 2000 to 2005 and was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor in 2005. She taught both Lawyering Skills and Family Law in addition to her clinical teaching.
Political career
Simon was on the CarbondaleCarbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson County, in the state of Illinois, within the Southern Illinois region. It is located at the junction of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51, southeast of St. Louis, Missouri, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest...
city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
from 2003 to 2007 and unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Carbondale in 2007. Subsequently, Governor Quinn selected her to serve on the Illinois Reform Commission, which helped to establish the first political contribution limits in Illinois law.
The Reform Commission consisted of 15 members from a wide variety of backgrounds, from attorneys, business owners, academics and even a football coach. The Commission issued a 100-day report after holding hearings across the state and examining ethics regulations in states across the country.
Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
On March 27, 2010, Illinois Democratic leaders, in the form of the 38-member Democratic State Central Committee, selected Simon to serve as Illinois Governor Pat QuinnPat Quinn (politician)
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Quinn III is the 41st and current Governor of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Previously elected three times to statewide office, Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29, 2009, when the previous governor, Rod Blagojevich,...
's running mate in the November 2010 general election, despite her not appearing as a candidate in the original primary election, as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. Simon replaced Scott Lee Cohen
Scott Lee Cohen
Scott Lee Cohen is an American politician and businessman who won the Democratic Party's 2010 nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, then withdrew under pressure shortly after the primary following revelations about his personal life and questions about his background...
on the ballot after Cohen, who won the February 2010 Democratic primary, withdrew amid controversies involving his personal life. Among potential candidates, Simon beat out Illinois State Rep. Art Turner, who had come in second in the primary.
According to the Quinn/Simon campaign, the pairing of Gov. Quinn and Sheila Simon was appropriate, as the two worked together successfully in achieving the passage of campaign finance law, and have many shared goals and political viewpoints. Simon was sworn in on January 10, 2011.
Personal
Sheila and her husband, Perry Knop, were married in 1987. Knop is a Political SciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
teacher and the Social Science department chair at John A. Logan College
John A. Logan College
John A. Logan College is a community college in Carterville, Illinois, part of the Illinois Community College System. As of 2008, it had total enrollment of 7,364 students, including 2,204 full-time students and 5,160 part-time students.-History:John A...
, the Carterville
Carterville, Illinois
Carterville is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, in the United States, and is geographically situated between Carbondale, Illinois and Marion, Illinois. The city is located next to Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge's of land and water contain a wide diversity of flora and...
community college that serves the Carbondale area. , they have a daughter in college and a daughter in high school, and a female exchange student from Peru. Sheila has been in the band Loose Gravel for over ten years. She plays banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
.