Preceded by Bill Ford Party Democratic Party Role Politician | Name Lynn Rivers Political party Democratic | |
 | ||
Succeeded by Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Born December 19, 1956 (age 67)
Au Gres, Michigan ( 1956-12-19 ) Alma mater Wayne State University (J.D.)
University of Michigan (B.A.) Education University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Wayne State University Law School | ||
Lynn Nancy Rivers (born December 19, 1956) is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. 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. After congressional district boundaries were adjusted as a result of the United States 2000 Census, she lost the Democratic primary election for Michigan's 15th District in 2002 to long-time incumbent John 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.