Sheila Simon

Sheila Simon was Illinois's 46th lieutenant governor, serving from 2011 to 2015. She was the 2016 Democratic nominee for the Illinois Senate seat being vacated by the retiring David Luechtefeld, but lost in the general election.

Simon was born March 13, 1961. She is the daughter of former U.S. Senator Paul Simon. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wittenberg University in 1983 and graduated from Georgetown Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 1987.

Following her graduation from Georgetown, Simon worked at Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, serving clients without financial resources, from 1987 to 1992. Her record of public service includes four years as a Jackson County prosecutor, four years as a Carbondale city council member and participation in the Illinois Reform Commission. As a prosecutor in Jackson County, Simon prosecuted DUI and domestic violence cases. Four years later, she helped launch the Southern Illinois School of Law's Domestic Violence Clinic while also teaching legal writing as part of the faculty. The Domestic Violence Clinic continues to serve clients and train law students today.

As lieutenant governor, Simon's aim was to increase college completion, inspire an ethical government, protect military bases from closure, improve services in rural areas and keep waterways clean and safe.

Sources:

Ballotpedia (n.d.). Sheila Simon. Retrieved on November 21 2022, from https://ballotpedia.org/Sheila_Simon