SANTA ANA, Calif. — Marian Bergeson, a well-known Orange County politician and the first woman to serve in both California's Assembly and Senate, has died. She was 90.
Bergeson, who lawmakers called a trailblazer for female politicians, died due to complications from surgery for pancreatic cancer, Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff told The Orange County Register.
Bergeson was born in Salt Lake City and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education. She worked as a teacher in Newport Beach and began her political career as a Newport-Mesa school board member.
She was elected to the Assembly in 1978 and served three terms, before winning her Senate seat in 1984. She was one of the first two Republican women elected to California's Senate.
In 1994, she moved to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where she served until Republican Gov. Pete Wilson nominated her as education secretary.
In a statement, Republican Sen. Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel called Bergeson instrumental in helping her and other Orange County women run for public office.
During her time in the Legislature, Bergeson became known as a problem solver and a Republican who thought talking things through could solve any issue, Kiff said. He worked on her Senate legislative staff for eight years.
She was willing to work with members of both parties and pursue nonpartisan solutions, he said.
— Associated Press
Brunswick News, The (GA) - Friday, July 8, 2016
Addendum: Marian C. Bergeson (August 31, 1925 – July 6, 2016) was an American Republican politician from California. The first woman ever to serve in both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, she was a member of the California State Legislature from 1978 to 1995, a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 1996, and California State Secretary of Education from 1996 to 1999. In 1986, Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel was named after her.
Contributor: Ron Wingard (49212234)
Bergeson, who lawmakers called a trailblazer for female politicians, died due to complications from surgery for pancreatic cancer, Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff told The Orange County Register.
Bergeson was born in Salt Lake City and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education. She worked as a teacher in Newport Beach and began her political career as a Newport-Mesa school board member.
She was elected to the Assembly in 1978 and served three terms, before winning her Senate seat in 1984. She was one of the first two Republican women elected to California's Senate.
In 1994, she moved to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where she served until Republican Gov. Pete Wilson nominated her as education secretary.
In a statement, Republican Sen. Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel called Bergeson instrumental in helping her and other Orange County women run for public office.
During her time in the Legislature, Bergeson became known as a problem solver and a Republican who thought talking things through could solve any issue, Kiff said. He worked on her Senate legislative staff for eight years.
She was willing to work with members of both parties and pursue nonpartisan solutions, he said.
— Associated Press
Brunswick News, The (GA) - Friday, July 8, 2016
Addendum: Marian C. Bergeson (August 31, 1925 – July 6, 2016) was an American Republican politician from California. The first woman ever to serve in both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, she was a member of the California State Legislature from 1978 to 1995, a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 1996, and California State Secretary of Education from 1996 to 1999. In 1986, Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel was named after her.
Contributor: Ron Wingard (49212234)
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Marian Bergeson, a well-known Orange County politician and the first woman to serve in both California's Assembly and Senate, has died. She was 90.
Bergeson, who lawmakers called a trailblazer for female politicians, died due to complications from surgery for pancreatic cancer, Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff told The Orange County Register.
Bergeson was born in Salt Lake City and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education. She worked as a teacher in Newport Beach and began her political career as a Newport-Mesa school board member.
She was elected to the Assembly in 1978 and served three terms, before winning her Senate seat in 1984. She was one of the first two Republican women elected to California's Senate.
In 1994, she moved to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where she served until Republican Gov. Pete Wilson nominated her as education secretary.
In a statement, Republican Sen. Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel called Bergeson instrumental in helping her and other Orange County women run for public office.
During her time in the Legislature, Bergeson became known as a problem solver and a Republican who thought talking things through could solve any issue, Kiff said. He worked on her Senate legislative staff for eight years.
She was willing to work with members of both parties and pursue nonpartisan solutions, he said.
— Associated Press
Brunswick News, The (GA) - Friday, July 8, 2016
Addendum: Marian C. Bergeson (August 31, 1925 – July 6, 2016) was an American Republican politician from California. The first woman ever to serve in both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, she was a member of the California State Legislature from 1978 to 1995, a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 1996, and California State Secretary of Education from 1996 to 1999. In 1986, Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel was named after her.
Contributor: Ron Wingard (49212234)
Bergeson, who lawmakers called a trailblazer for female politicians, died due to complications from surgery for pancreatic cancer, Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff told The Orange County Register.
Bergeson was born in Salt Lake City and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education. She worked as a teacher in Newport Beach and began her political career as a Newport-Mesa school board member.
She was elected to the Assembly in 1978 and served three terms, before winning her Senate seat in 1984. She was one of the first two Republican women elected to California's Senate.
In 1994, she moved to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, where she served until Republican Gov. Pete Wilson nominated her as education secretary.
In a statement, Republican Sen. Patricia Bates of Laguna Niguel called Bergeson instrumental in helping her and other Orange County women run for public office.
During her time in the Legislature, Bergeson became known as a problem solver and a Republican who thought talking things through could solve any issue, Kiff said. He worked on her Senate legislative staff for eight years.
She was willing to work with members of both parties and pursue nonpartisan solutions, he said.
— Associated Press
Brunswick News, The (GA) - Friday, July 8, 2016
Addendum: Marian C. Bergeson (August 31, 1925 – July 6, 2016) was an American Republican politician from California. The first woman ever to serve in both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, she was a member of the California State Legislature from 1978 to 1995, a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 1995 to 1996, and California State Secretary of Education from 1996 to 1999. In 1986, Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel was named after her.
Contributor: Ron Wingard (49212234)
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