Suzanne first moved to Oregon from Michigan in the mid-1970s. She worked her way through college in Eugene, first at Lane Community College, where she earned an Associate’s Degree from the Legal Assistant program, and then at the University of Oregon, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science from the School of Journalism. In 1983 she graduated with a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law. During college and law school, Suzanne worked at Lane County Legal Aid Service.

After law school, Suzanne worked as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C., where she was in the Credit Practices Division of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Suzanne met her husband, attorney Michael Simon, in Washington and in 1986 they moved to Portland. Suzanne joined a law firm and worked there until her children were born. In 2001, Suzanne worked as a Legislative Assistant in the Oregon House of Representatives.

During her career break from law to raise her children, Suzanne was an active volunteer in the community, particularly in education. Some of her accomplishments include:

• Serving on the board of directors for the Beaverton Education Foundation, where she helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for innovative classroom projects and after-school programs for students in the Beaverton School District;

• Teaching thousands of students about the law and the court system as a volunteer court tour guide with the Classroom Law Project;

• Helping to pass crucial bond measures to build new schools as a volunteer with Citizens for Beaverton Schools/Citizens for School Support

In 2007, Suzanne served her first term in the House of Representatives, representing House District 34. She served as a member of the House Health Care and Judiciary Committees and as vice-chair of the House Consumer Protection Committee. In 2008, when Brad Avakian was appointed Labor Commissioner, Suzanne was appointed to the Senate to represent District 17. Her appointment was confirmed by voters in 2008.

In 2009, Suzanne served as a member of the Senate Judiciary and Education & General Government Committees and as chair of the Senate Consumer Protection & Public Affairs Committee. She worked hard all session on such issues as reducing pesticide use in schools; protection for consumers and tenants whose homes go into foreclosure; and strengthening Oregon’s lemon laws.

Suzanne and her family live in the Vista Hills neighborhood. She and Michael have two children, Andrew, a college student, and Sara, who will be starting college soon. Their family dog is Charley, a Cocker Spaniel.