Honoring 100 years of suffrage: Sheila Simon is still encouraging women to jump into politics with both feet

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - These days, she opts for the quiet life of a college professor who enjoys being home for dinner with her husband every night, but if you had to put a face on female political leaders in southern Illinois, Sheila Simon certainly fills the bill.

Today, as Illinois celebrates the centennial mark of women's suffrage, Simon continues encouraging young woman to step into the political arena.

It's not much of a stretch for the woman whose father was the estimable Paul Simon and whose mother, Jeanne Hurley Simon, was only the 17th woman to serve in the Illinois legislature.

When she first stepped into politic arena, Simon researched how many women had served in the state legislature prior to her mother's term, which was less than three decades after women gained the vote.

"She was the 17th woman to serve," she said. Today, nearly a third of Illinois' legislators are women.

Simon said that it's important for women to take part in politics and hold office.

"Every woman who's out there makes it a little bit easier for the next woman who comes along," she said. "We just make it more possible."

Simon said that she tells women, "Don't listen to that voice in your head asking 'Am I ready?' or 'Am I qualified?'."

She said women often second-guess their qualifications while men to jump in with ingrown self-assurance of their qualifications.

"I tell women to absolutely go for it," she said. "It's a great way to have an impact ... to move their communities, states and our country in a more positive direction."

Simon's own path to politics was a given.

"I guess you could say politics was in my blood," said Simon with a laugh, getting ready to teach a class at SIU's School of Law. "My parents met when both were state representatives. My brother and I were brought up knowing that we would participate in some way, either running for office or helping with other campaigns."

Simon capped her political career as the 46th Illinois lieutenant governor under former Gov. Pat Quinn.

"I guess all of us in southern Illinois watched her grow up," said Glenn Poshard, the former SIU president and gubernatorial candidate who worked with state Sen. Simon.

Poshard said he knew Simon was destined to make her own mark in politics.

"You have to start with that great iconic liberal tradition of her mother and dad," he said. "Sheila, in a sense, inherited leadership in roles that support women and women's involvement in government and economy. You just knew she was going to inherit that fighting stance for women's rights and women to be more involved. She couldn't have done otherwise."

Simon, who holds a law degree from Georgetown, began her political career as an assistant state's attorney in Jackson County in 1994, where she prosecuted DUIs and domestic battery cases and championed the rights of women and women's causes.

In 1998, with faculty support and help from other attorneys, Simon was instrumental in starting the domestic violence clinic at Southern Illinois University's law school.

She was elected and served as a member of the Carbondale City Council from 2003 to 2007.

She served as Illinois lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2015.

She said that being able to influence the next generation of women - and men - who are interested in a career in politics is one of the most satisfying parts of being a law professor.

"Whenever I can, I give a little nudge, especially to women," she said. "They need to be reassured that their voice is important."

Simon said she loves what she's doing, but admits to missing her political career.

"Sometimes I miss being able to have that impact of holding office," said Simon. "But I like having dinner with my husband."

Simon is married to Perry Knop and together they have two daughters. She is also a member of the band Loose Gravel where she plays a mean banjo.