Lynn Rivers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's13th district | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Ford |
| Succeeded by | Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick |
| Member of theMichigan House of Representatives from the53rd district | |
| In office January 13, 1993 – January 11, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Perry Bullard |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth Brater |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Lynn Nancy Carruthers (1956-12-19)December 19, 1956 (age 68) Au Gres,Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Michigan (BA) Wayne State University (JD) |
Lynn Nancy Rivers (néeCarruthers;[1] born December 19, 1956) is an Americanpolitician and lawyer fromMichigan. She served four terms in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
Rivers was born inAu Gres, Michigan, and graduated from Au Gres-Sims High School,Arenac County, in 1975.[2] She was married the day after graduation, and had 2 children by age 21.[3]
She received aB.A. inbiological anthropology from theUniversity of Michigan in 1987[2][3] and aJ.D. fromWayne State University in 1992.[3]
She served as a trustee of theAnn Arborboard of education from 1984 to 1992. She was a member of theMichigan State House of Representatives between 1993 and 1994.
Rivers was elected as aDemocrat from Michigan's 13th District to theUnited States House of Representatives for the104th and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 2003.
After Michigan lost a district in theUnited States 2000 Census reapportionment, much of her district was merged into a redrawn15th District together with long-time incumbentJohn Dingell. Rivers challenged Dingell in the Democratic primary for the new 15th. However, running in a district that was over 65 percent new to her, she lost to Dingell by 18 points.[2]
Immediately after leaving Congress, she taught political science at theUniversity of Michigan and atWashtenaw Community College.[2][3][4]
During her first US House run in 1994, Rivers spoke publicly about her long struggle withbipolar disorder. She was about 21 when she was diagnosed. While in Congress she spoke about her condition on the House floor, making her the first openly bipolar member of Congress.[4][5] In 1998, the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) named her "Legislator of the Year."[6]
| Michigan House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theMichigan House of Representatives from the53rd district 1993–1995 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's 13th congressional district 1995–2003 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative | Succeeded byas Former US Representative |
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
