Barbara Lett-Simmons facts for kids

Barbara Lett-Simmons (June 4, 1927 – December 22, 2012) was an American politician. She is best known for being a "faithless elector" in the 2000 US Presidential Election. This means she chose not to vote for the presidential candidate her state expected her to. She did this to protest that people in Washington, D.C. do not have a voting representative in Congress.

Early Life and Education

Barbara Lett-Simmons was born in Battle Creek, Michigan. She went to Western Michigan University and graduated in 1949. After college, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Detroit.

In 1962, she moved to Washington, D.C.. There, she continued teaching in Montgomery County, Maryland until 1965. She also worked for groups that helped communities and people in need.

Lett-Simmons was also a host for a local radio talk show. She even had her own cable television program.

Serving on the D.C. Education Board

In 1973, Barbara Lett-Simmons was elected to the District of Columbia Board of Education. She served on the board from 1974 to 1986. As a board member, she worked to improve schools in Washington, D.C.

One important event during her time on the board was in 1978. She strongly defended the school superintendent, Barbara D. Sizemore, who was appointed in 1973. Sizemore was eventually fired, and Lett-Simmons felt this was unfair. She even wrote a letter to The Washington Post newspaper about it.

Lett-Simmons believed that schools were very important. She said that education must be connected to politics. This meant she thought schools should be run in a way that helps all students.

In 1978, she helped start a piano competition for students in D.C. public schools. She also spoke out against plans to close schools in 1982. She felt these plans unfairly favored schools in wealthier areas. Lett-Simmons often disagreed with other board members. She wanted to make sure schools were fair for everyone.

She aimed to create more opportunities for children in the city. She also wanted to expand job training programs. Her goal was to make schools more responsible to the people living in D.C. She was not re-elected to the board in 1985.

Political Career

Barbara Lett-Simmons was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention for many years. She attended these conventions from the 1970s until her death in 2012. She also ran for the Council of the District of Columbia in 1982 and 1984, but she did not win.

In 1990, she tried to become D.C.'s non-voting delegate in Congress. This position allows someone to represent D.C. in the U.S. House of Representatives, but they cannot vote on laws. She lost this election to Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Protesting as a Faithless Elector

In the 2000 US Presidential Election, Barbara Lett-Simmons was chosen as a Democratic elector for Washington, D.C.. Electors are people who officially cast votes in the U.S. Electoral College. Usually, electors vote for the presidential candidate who won the popular vote in their area.

However, Lett-Simmons chose not to vote for Al Gore for president and Joe Lieberman for vice president. This was a protest. She wanted to highlight that people in Washington, D.C. do not have a voting representative in Congress. This means they cannot vote on federal laws that affect them.

Her decision to not cast a vote was the first time an elector had done this since 1864. She called her blank ballot an act of civil disobedience. This means she peacefully broke a rule to protest something she believed was unfair. She still supported Al Gore. She said she would have voted for him if she thought her vote would have changed the election outcome.

Family Life

Barbara Lett-Simmons was married to Samuel J. Simmons for 53 years. Samuel J. Simmons passed away in 2003. He had worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

She had two sons, David C. Simmons and Robert A. Simmons. Both of her sons work in Washington, D.C.. David C. Simmons is a chief judge for the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights. She also had a brother and a granddaughter.

Later Years and Death

Barbara Lett-Simmons passed away on December 22, 2012, at the age of 85. She died in Washington Hospital Center due to a heart problem.

Many people gathered at Shiloh Baptist Church on January 3, 2013, to honor her. The Mayor of the District of Columbia, Vincent C. Gray, spoke at the service. He encouraged people to follow her example and keep fighting for D.C. to become a state.