Mike Simpson (December 11, 1962 – December 18, 2009) was an American businessman and politician who served as the Michigan State Representative for the 65th district from 2007 until his death in 2009. He was a member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

Education

Mike Simpson received his high school diploma at

Plymouth-Canton High School The Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (P-CCS) is a school district headquartered at E. J. McClendon Educational Center in Plymouth, Michigan, Plymouth, Michigan. The district's boundary includes areas in Wayne County, Michigan, Wayne County and Wa ...

. After high school the Representative attended college for some time.Representative Mike Simpson – Biography
Project Vote Smart. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.

Professional experience

Mike Simpson was a veteran who served in the

United States Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed F ...

from 1980–1986. After high school Simpson joined his family's business and was an entrepreneur and business owner until his death.

Political experience

In 2006 Mike was elected state representative in Michigan's 65th house district after having run in the same district in 2004 and in US House District 7 in 2002.

Organizations

He was a member of all five local business chambers in the 65th District; Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, Eaton Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce, Grass Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Onsted Area Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Brooklyn Area Kiwanis Club, the Michigan Farm Bureau, the American Legion Post 252, the National Rifle Association and the Michigan Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70.

House committees

At the time of his death Simpson served as a member of the House Tourism & Natural Resources Committee, the House Commerce Committee, and the House Insurance Committee. Additionally, Mike was the Majority Vice-Chairman of the House Health Policy Committee, a standing member of the National Conference of State Legislators, National Health Policy Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Center for Rural Health.

Death

Simpson had been ill with a rare

blood disorder Hematologic diseases are disorders which primarily affect the blood & blood-forming organs. Hematologic diseases include rare genetic disorders, anemia, HIV, sickle cell disease & complications from chemotherapy or transfusions. Myeloid * Hemog ...

known as light-chain deposition. He died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

while returning from the

Cleveland Clinic Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit American academic medical center based in Cleveland, Ohio. Owned and operated by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, an Ohio nonprofit corporation established in 1921, it runs a 170-acre (69 ha) campus in Cleveland, ...

, according to House Speaker

Andy Dillon Andrew Dillon is a Democratic Party politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. While Dillon is a Democrat, he was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, to be the state's treasurer. Before serving in the Cabinet, Dillon was speaker of ...

, on December 18, 2009.Kathy Barks Hoffman
MI Rep. Mike Simpson dies of heart attack Friday

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

story, ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

''. Retrieved on 2009-12-19.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Mike 1962 births 2009 deaths Politicians from Ypsilanti, Michigan Military personnel from Michigan Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives 21st-century American politicians 20th-century American politicians Deaths from blood disease United States Army reservists