* I am a fierce hair libertarian. I think I’ve told you the story about how the lunch ladies refused to serve me in grade school because I had bangs. My father gave me never-ending grief about the length of my hair when I was in high school and beyond.

So, I decided very early in life that I would never be judgmental about someone else’s hair. Punk rock spikes? Cool by me. Women and balding men shaving their heads? Awesome option. Daughter shows up one day with dyed hair? Smile and suggest she try some other colors.

So, I gotta say I’m kinda loving the hairdo on newly appointed Illinois Sen. Mike Simmons. He’ll most definitely stand out in that otherwise staid chamber. Who knows, maybe he’ll even start a new legislative trend. His official photo…

He definitely has a certain panache. Let’s give him a friendly welcome.

       

70 Comments - SubRosa - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:32 am: Hair’s to you, Senator Simmons! Looking forward to seeing all you accomplish! - Interim Retiree - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:33 am: Like the hair but love the genuine smile - don the legend - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:33 am: Great day for Illinois. Congrats to Senator Simmons. Any chance he can share office space with Senator Bailey and help him see the light? - Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:36 am: The first question I’m going to ask him is how he rides in a car that isn’t a convertible. lol - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:39 am: The checkered shirt… bold. - Give Me A Break - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:40 am: Well the Official Senate Picture this year will now require a lot more space at the top of the border than years before. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:40 am: “Ok, let’s try something… no hankey” - wildcat12 - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:43 am: Here’s hoping this starts a trend so I can get some highlights I’ve been wanting. - Pizza Man - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:45 am: Dear Senator Simmons, welcome to the Illinois State Senate! Enjoy your time in the Legislature, stay focus, ask questions, work with your colleagues and always be transparent with your constituients; your bosses. - levivotedforjudy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:46 am: Hello Mr. Simmons, we are ready to seat your generation. Sorry for the wait. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:46 am: “Ok… try glasses, maybe a pipe… are you against a tweed jacket, you know, one with patches in the elbows?” - Don't Bloc Me In - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:46 am: Count me in as a fan of his hair. But, man, that smile…can he represent me instead of Plummer? - Commisar Gritty - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:47 am: I’m not adding to the caption contest but I am deducting points from your overall grade for failing to use the term “liberhairian”. This will be reflected in your permanent record. - Steve Rogers - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:47 am: I agree with Interim Retiree. I was immediately drawn to that million dollar smile. - AlfondoGonz - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:47 am: I was a long hair, forced to sell out for the law. One day, I will grow it back. - Ronald - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:48 am: Sen. Mike Simmons, I’m not as conservative as I look. - Dotnonymous - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:48 am: Give me a head with hair…long beautiful hair. - The Historian - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:49 am: Multiple folks are already 100% right about the smile! - Yiddishcowboy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:49 am: Exhibit A for the proper way to do a serious sartorial flex. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:50 am: “… This is his first novel. When not writing, he can be found gardening with his used coffee grounds, listening to mid to late 1960 ‘B-Side’ music, or bus stop bench photography… “ - Lake County Mom - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:50 am: Rich, before I make an informed decision, I’m going to need more information. To that end, please post an elementary school photo. Thank you in advance. - TNR - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:50 am: Balding people have a term for this: show off - Gohawks123 - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:51 am: Does this mean we can get mullets now? - PublicServant - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:51 am: === The first question I’m going to ask him is how he rides in a car that isn’t a convertible. lol === Rich, I’m thinking that’s what his hair looks like after riding in a sedan. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:53 am: (Not pictured: he’s wearing Bermuda shorts) - Responsa - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 11:56 am: You’re going to have to prove that is not a wig. - Montrose - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:00 pm: “No, President Harmon. You have a great head of hair. Really.” - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:00 pm: Arguably, as tall as Mike Frerichs… … arguably. - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:04 pm: Whew you ask he take off his stovepipe hat for the first time… - Dotnonymous - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:11 pm: Loud…and proud! - Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:14 pm: This could catch on in Springfield. Trying to picture MJM with such a ‘do… - Superbowl jokes - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:21 pm: The Weeknd is my favorite artist too - @misterjayem - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:22 pm: If you got it, flaunt it. – MrJM - Dotnonymous - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:24 pm: I was expelled from High School for having hair a tad longer than Ringo’s…Hair is a barometer for squares…still. - SouthSide Markie - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:28 pm: Welcome to the Illinois General Assembly, Sen. Simmons. As my Ethiopian friends say, “Tena Yistilin” (Traditional Amharic greeting saying May God give you health.) - JP's Notes - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:29 pm: Way better than Bill Shaw’s toupee or Dick Kelly’s combover. - Sangamo Girl - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:31 pm: Long Live Locs in the Legislature! - Dotnonymous - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:32 pm: I had to cut my hair for the law too. - Rich Hill - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:33 pm: Any and all jibes are the products of deep envy. Welcome! - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:35 pm: “To be honest, I didn’t recognize him with the beard, it threw me.” - Rich Hill - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:36 pm: Poor Don Harmon. - Anyone Remember - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:38 pm: Welcome Sen. Simmons. “Stick to your guns” on your hair. In more ways than one, Sgt. Joe Friday lost the culture wars … /s - Lt Guv - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:39 pm: Love the hair (and smile). As a House staffer back in the ’80’s & ’90’s I had long hippie hair during session and then cut it when going out to work with lunch ladies out on the campaign. I hope those days have passed. Of course, I couldn’t grow it that way now if I wanted to (I want to). Getting old is not for the meek. - jackmac - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:40 pm: Impressive! If you’ve got it, flaunt it. - no relation - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:40 pm: Neo-Beehive - Henry Francis - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:44 pm: Welcome Sen. Simmons, pay no attention to the heads exploding in the Eastern Bloc. - OneMan - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:45 pm: Many of your colleagues are follically challenged Senator, please be sensitive to their feelings - Oswego Willy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:48 pm: Sen. Simmons, Welcome to General Assembly. Best of luck to you. Oswego Willy. - Nilwood - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:52 pm: Having been follically challenged most of my life, I love the hairdo. I say. “If you’ve got it, flaunt it “. - Huh? - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:52 pm: “Does this mean we can get mullets now?” Saw an article on the BBC website talking about mullets making comeback. - Nilwood - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:53 pm: Sorry MrJM. I missed your post. - Lt Guv - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 12:59 pm: Louis, Louis, Louis, you typed it, you own it. What I fear is you have no notion of what’s wrong with what you wrote. - Ron Burgundy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:09 pm: Welcome to the Illinois Senate. I’m sorry, Sir, but you are way too happy to be working here. - Frumpy White Guy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:13 pm: Congratulations Senator Simmons and your hair looks marvelous. - Anonish - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:15 pm: Sen. Simmons brings his own hoops for legislation to go through. - Rudy’s teeth - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:19 pm: Speaking of hair, men with shaved heads are a definite improvement compared to the combover generation. Watch out Illinois State Board of Elections. We’re coming for you. - Seymourkid - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:27 pm: Senator Simmons is just what Springfield needs more of!! - CookR - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:14 pm: Sen. Simmons shows off Friendship Bracelet he received as a welcome from Sen. McConchie. - Not the Dude - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:20 pm: Great smile, I feel sorry for his barber. - Amalia - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:44 pm: So Cool for the State Senate school. (They are lucky to have you —banned punctuation.) - thisjustinagain - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:56 pm: Okay. So I looked at the picture, thought about it, came back later and looked again. Smile looks very genuine, outfit works despite the plaid shirt with a business suit jacket, but that hair is just Medusa-like as is. I’d tone it way down, although not being a hairstylist I’m not sure how to do that and yet maintain the individuality of the look. How does he wear a hat in winter with that, anyway? - Mama - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:18 pm: I have a feeling the young Senator Simmons could be a new trend setter and a trailblazer. He has a friendly spark about him. Congrats. - Yiddishcowboy - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:37 pm: @thisjusyinagain: With respect, the way he looks now is his style…even with the “plaid (actually gingham) shirt with a business suit jacket.” I don’t get it…why is there a need to tone anything down? - Cumberland Dem - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:00 pm: Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Hopefully people will get over the excitement of your hair and focus on your efforts to make meaningful policy changes. Keep fighting the good fight. - Huh? - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:12 pm: “that hair is just Medusa-like” With a smile like that, he’ll love you to death. - RIJ - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:24 pm: I see that Senator Simmons is a FSM believer. That should help balance the Eastern Bloc. - Club J - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:47 pm: Welcome to the party Sen. Simmons. This is what we need. Young and stand alone without fear of what others think. Like was mentioned above the smile is infectious and makes others want to smile. Pull up a chair next to Sen. Bailey and grab a selfie. - Anonymous - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 6:19 pm: ….as a three dollar bill. - proudstatetrooper - Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 9:18 pm: Some computer savvy commenters here should put that hair on a Lincoln photo. I know I’d be diggn it. - Legislative Tiger - Tuesday, Feb 9, 21 @ 9:55 am: Very excited to have the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the State Senate! Hoping you do great things Sen. Simmons. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.