Gann, Paul, 1912-1989

As founder of People's Advocate, Inc., Paul Gann has been a leading spokesman for tax reduction, limitation of state of California and federal government spending, and other significant public issues since 1974.

Paul Gann became involved in citizen action movements in the 1960s. In 1974, he founded People's Advocate. This organization sponsored Proposition 13 and Proposition 4, a constitutional amendment directed at limiting State Government spending. He has been involved in support of several propositions and campaigns.

Biography

Paul Gann was born in Arkansas on June 12, 1912, the son of a Nazarene minister. He suffered as a child from osteomyelitis. Unable to join the service during World War II, he worked for the Army Corp of Engineers. He sustained a leg injury and spent 28 months in the Presidio Army Hospital in San Francisco, where he was one of the first recipients of penicillin. This restored him completely to health.

Mr. Gann, his wife Nell and their daughter Polly moved to the Sacramento area in 1935. He was in the automobile sales business in Sacramento and Modesto before and after World War II and later sold real estate in the Sacramento area. Mr. and Mrs. Gann have four children.

He became involved in citizen action movements in the 1960s. In 1974 he founded People's Advocate, a corporation. In 1977, this organization joined with Howard Jarvis to sponsor and qualify Proposition 13, an initiative limiting property taxes. It was adopted by a large margin in 1978. In 1979 the organization sponsored Proposition 4, a constitutional amendment directed at limiting state government spending. This also was passed by the voters.

He won the Republican nomination for the United States Senate in 1980 but was defeated in the general election that November. After the 1980 election, Mr. Gann continued his activist role and was involved in support of several propositions and campaigns, including the Victims' Bill of Rights (Proposition 8, 1982) and the Legislative Reform Act (Proposition 24, 1984).