Marilyn Ryan (California politician)
Marilyn G. Ryan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 51st district | |
| In office December 6, 1976 – November 30, 1982 | |
| Preceded by | Robert G. Beverly |
| Succeeded by | Gerald N. Felando |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 10, 1932 Milbank, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 2008 (aged 75) Laguna Woods, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
Marilyn G. Ryan (December 10, 1932 – June 22, 2008) was an American civic leader and politician from California and a member of the Republican party.[1]
Civic Leadership
[edit]Ryan was a co-founder of Save Our Coastlines, which battled Los Angeles County over development on the Rancho Palos Verdes peninsula.[2] She was instrumental in the incorporation of Rancho Palos Verdes as a city and served as its first mayor.[3]
State Assembly
[edit]In 1976 she was elected to the coastal 51st district in California State Assembly being vacated by Republican Robert G. Beverly who was running for state senate. She had little trouble winning reelection in 1978 and 1980 in the heavily Republican district.[4]
While in office, she founded the California Elected Women's Association and worked to secure state funding to preserve Torrance's Madrona Marsh.[5]
In 1981 a Democratic-led reapportionment dismantled GOP assemblyman Gerald Felando's neighboring San Pedro-Torrance based 52nd district, and parts of it (including his home) were drawn into Ryan's 51st district, a coastal area based in the Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding beach cities. A moderate Republican, Ryan represented 85% of the redrawn district, and the more conservative Felando chose to challenge her in the primary.[6] She actually was well ahead for most of the race, but within the last few weeks, Felando's campaign began to attack her past opposition to 1978's anti-tax Proposition 13, which was overwhelmingly popular in this district with many wealthy homeowners.[6] The attacks proved effective, and Felando upset Ryan by just over 2 percentage points.
After her time in the legislature came to an end, she was appointed as director of the California Arts Council by GOP Governor George Deukmejian.[3] She served what turned out to be a tumultuous term[7] from 1983 to 1985.
Death
[edit]Ryan died of congestive heart failure at the age of 75[8] at her home in Laguna Woods, California.[9]
Electoral History
[edit]| Year | Office | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | California State Assembly District 51 |
Charles Post III | 42,047 | 38.8% | Marilyn Ryan | 66,335 | 61.2% | |||
| 1978 | California State Assembly District 51 |
Dave Helgevold | 27,235 | 31.9% | Marilyn Ryan | 58,101 | 68.1% | |||
| 1980 | California State Assembly District 51 |
Mark Wirth | 20,139 | 18.4% | Marilyn Ryan | 82,876 | 75.8% | |||
| 1982 | California State Assembly District 51 |
Peter S. Helfer | 146,511 | 29.9% | Gerald Felando 51.6% Marilyn Ryan 48.4% |
77,833 | 66.8% |
References
[edit]- ^ "Former Members | California Legislative Women's Caucus". womenscaucus.legislature.ca.gov.
- ^ "Leader shaped Peninsula, South Bay". Whittier Daily News. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ a b "Assemblywoman, mayor, arts leader". Los Angeles Times. June 27, 2008.
- ^ "JoinCalifornia - Marilyn G. Ryan". www.joincalifornia.com. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Leader shaped Peninsula, South Bay". Whittier Daily News. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ a b "Ryan and Prop 13 1". The Los Angeles Times. 1982-06-20. p. 494. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ Michaelson, Judith (1985-04-26). "ARTS CHIEF GETS LIFT IN LEGISLATURE". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ Scott, Mary (June 29, 2008). "RPV loses its first mayor". The Daily Breeze. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Green, Nick (June 25, 2008). "Leader shaped Peninsula, South Bay". San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
External links
[edit]- JoinCalifornia, Election History for the State of California
- People from Rancho Palos Verdes, California
- 1932 births
- 2008 deaths
- Women mayors of places in California
- Women state legislators in California
- Republican Party members of the California State Assembly
- 20th-century American women politicians
- 20th-century American legislators
- 20th-century California politicians