Colin M. Simpson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_M._Simpson

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.

Family and personal life

Simpson was born in Cheyenne 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.

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. 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.

2010 gubernatorial candidacy

Simpson stated in an interview in the spring of 2008 that he was interested in running for governor, should Gov. Dave Freudenthal 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 was immediately seen as the frontrunner for the nomination. 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, prompting Simpson to concede and endorse 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.