Lynn Rivers

Template:Short description Template:Infobox officeholder Lynn Nancy Rivers (née Carruthers;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> born December 19, 1956) is an American politician and lawyer from Michigan. She served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.

Early life and education

File:Lynn Rivers.jpg

River's in 1999

Rivers was born in Au Gres, Michigan, and graduated from Au Gres-Sims High School, Arenac County, in 1975.<ref name=rc2013>Template:Cite journal</ref> She was married the day after graduation, and had 2 children by age 21.<ref name=wv2016>Template:Cite news</ref>

She received a B.A. in biological anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1987<ref name=rc2013 /><ref name=wv2016 /> and a J.D. from Wayne State University in 1992.<ref name=wv2016 />

Career

She served as a trustee of the Ann Arbor board of education from 1984 to 1992. She was a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives between 1993 and 1994.

Rivers was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 13th District to the United States House of Representatives for the 104th and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1995, to January 3, 2003.

After Michigan lost a district in the United States 2000 Census reapportionment, much of her district was merged into a redrawn 15th District together with long-time incumbent John 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.<ref name=rc2013 />

Immediately after leaving Congress, she taught political science at the University of Michigan and at Washtenaw Community College.<ref name=rc2013 /><ref name=wv2016 /><ref name=ct2012>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political positions

Mental health

During her first US House run in 1994, Rivers spoke publicly about her long struggle with bipolar 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.<ref name=ct2012 /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1998, the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) named her "Legislator of the Year."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Women in the United States House of Representatives

External links

• Rep. Lynn Rivers at GovTrack
• Template:C-SPAN

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