Ann Sullivan
Editor’s note: Ann Sullivan is running for the District 4 Cook County Commissioner seat now held by two-term commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk.
Although born in the Twin Cities to a pair of former naval officers following World War II, I’ve spent lots of time in Cook County! My grandfather, Purl, and my Dad brought our family on many trips to the North Shore and up the unpaved Gunflint Trail to camp, hunt, and fish, beginning in the 1960’s.
I regularly drove up to camp, hunt, fish, snowshoe, and cross country ski with cousins and friends. Before I had my own canoe, I remember putting $5 in an envelope and into a box along the Sawbill Trail and grabbing a 1978 Grumman canoe; the honor system worked well. Now I have my own canoe, lightweight, which is more appropriate for portaging by someone with my hair color. When I married my husband, Tim, who I met in 7th grade, we shared a passion for Cook County and decided it would be our dream place to live. Our dream did finally come true!
As for my career, I have always been in education, serving in the field for 44 years. I loved being a student, and once I graduated, I didn’t even need to think about my next steps (AA, BS, MA, and beyond). I taught for 22 years, worked in staff development, served as a school administrator for 15 years, and then came to Cook County where I have worked as a both a paraprofessional for ISD 166 and a middle school academic tutor for Grand Portage over the last seven years.
My move to Cook County was to my 320 square foot cabin northwest of Lutsen. My husband stayed in the Twin Cities, while I established both residence and employment here. We were anxious to be together again once our home sold after the last economic downturn in 2008…prior to COVID-19. Not only did Tim decide to move here with our two dogs, but my son came as well. Tim works at a local store in Grand Marais, while Tom follows in my footsteps working at ISD 166 as a paraprofessional. Now all those people and canines don’t fit into a 320 square foot cabin, so that’s how I became a resident of District 4.
During my residence in Cook County, I’ve been active as a volunteer. I’ve been a member and served as an officer in the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 413, the Cook County Historical Society, and the Cook County ISD 166 Education Foundation. For a short time, too, I was appointed to fill a seat on the ISD 166 School Board. In addition, I am a certified Firearms Safety instructor for the DNR, sharing my passion for the outdoors with many young people who reside in Cook County.
As I pondered our current situation with COVID-19 and all of its implications, I started to think about my experiences as a school administrator. Developing crisis and emergency plans, cooperating with multiple agencies, and working through difficult budget reductions – these seem to be skill sets which will be helpful as Cook County works through this pandemic and deals with both its human and economic aftermath. I am looking forward to serving as Commissioner for District 4 here in Cook County and helping us move forward following these difficult times.
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