Doris Jean Allen (May 26, 1936 – September 22, 1999) was an American politician from California. Allen served in the California Assembly from 1982 to 1995, representing part of Orange County, and as speaker of that body from June 5 to September 14, 1995, before being recalled from office. Allen was the first woman to be elected to that office.

Early life and education

Allen was born in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

and raised in

Cypress, California Cypress is a city in northwestern Orange County within Southern California. Its population was 50,151 at the 2020 census. History The first people living in the area now known as Cypress were the Gabrieleno, a Native American tribe of the Ton ...

Career

Before entering politics, Allen owned a successful household lighting store. An amateur actress, she played the title role in the musical ''Mame'' in productions by the Westminster Community Theater and Sebastian's West in the early-1970s.

California State Assembly

On November 2, 1982, Allen won the election and became a member of

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The A ...

for the 71st district. Allen unseated Chester B. Wray with 51.6% of the votes. Based in Huntington Beach, She compiled a relatively conservative record with special attention to environmental protection for her coastal district. Republicans gained a one-vote majority in the House in 1995, threatening longtime Democratic Speaker Willie Brown's 15-year tenure. At first, Brown persuaded moderate Republican turned Independent

Paul Horcher Paul V. Horcher (born August 31, 1951 in Texas) is an American former politician from California and a former member of the Republican Party. Early career A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Horcher practiced law befo ...

to keep him in power.

Recall

Meanwhile, Allen was running in a special election for the

California State Senate The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature, the lower house being the California State Assembly. The State Senate convenes, along with the State Assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Cal ...

. However, GOP party leaders endorsed fellow assemblyman Ross Johnson, who had moved into the district to run. Allen lost the election. When Horcher was recalled from office and replaced by a more loyal Republican, Speaker Brown convinced a still-angry Allen to vote with Democrats and become speaker herself. However, Brown continued to lead the legislative body as head of the Democratic Caucus. Allen's defection outraged her Republican colleagues, led by

Curt Pringle Curtis L. "Curt" Pringle (born June 27, 1959) is an American politician from the U.S. state of California. He is the most recent Republican Party (United States), Republican to have served as the Speaker of the California State Assembly. He is a ...

, as well as her Republican constituents, who in November 1995 recalled her from office. Before her removal, Allen resigned as speaker and was succeeded by

Brian Setencich Brian Setencich (born March 29, 1962) served in the California Assembly for one term from 1994 to 1996 and as Speaker of that body from September 14, 1995, to January 4, 1996. Setencich, a Republican, was the first freshman legislator to serve a ...

. However, when Brown resigned his seat in the State Assembly to be sworn in as mayor of San Francisco, Setencich lost that vote, restoring the Republicans' majority electing Pringle as Speaker in January 1996. Setencich himself was defeated for reelection in that June's GOP primary. Following her recall, Allen eventually moved away from California, though she did make a final bid for her old seat in 1998.

Personal life

On September 22, 1999, Allen died from cancer in Colorado Springs. Allen was 63 years old.archive

References

External links

Doris Allen at ballotpedia.org

Join California Doris Allen

Doris Jean “Dori” Frazee Allen at findagrave.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Doris 1936 births 1999 deaths Deaths from cancer in Colorado Deaths from colorectal cancer Deaths from stomach cancer Politicians from Kansas City, Missouri People from Huntington Beach, California Recalled state legislators of the United States Speakers of the California State Assembly Republican Party members of the California State Assembly Women state legislators in California 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians Women legislative speakers Colorado Republicans