Lynn N. Rivers

Lynn Nancy Rivers (born December 19, 1956) is an American politician and lawyer from Michigan.

Biography

Rivers was born in Au Gres, Michigan and graduated from Au Gres-Sims High School, Arenac County, in 1975. She received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1987 and a J.D. from Wayne State University in 1992. She served as a trustee of the Ann Arbor board of education from 1984 to 1992 and 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. Her district was eliminated after Michigan lost a district in the United States 2000 Census, and most of her territory was merged with the 15th District of 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.

In 1994, Rivers spoke publicly about her 24-year struggle with bipolar disorder, making her the first member of the House to publicly discuss having emotional problems. In 1998, the National Mental Health Association named her "Legislator of the Year."

Currently, she is teaching Political Science at the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor.