Hart, Gary K., 1943-

Gary K. Hart was born in San Diego, California on Aug. 13, 1943. He attended public schools in Santa Monica, Whittier and Santa Barbara. Hart majored in history at Stanford University, graduating in 1965. Also in 1965 he earned an M.A. in Education from Harvard School of Education. He taught and was involved in civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. Hart married Cary Smith in 1969. In 1970, Hart entered state politics in a local congressional race which he lost. In 1972 he won the Democratic primary for State Assembly, but lost in the general election. In 1974 he won a State Assembly seat and was re-elected for three subsequent terms through 1982. From 1982 through 1994 he served in the California State Senate. He ran the Institute for Education Reform, an appointed position, and served for one year as California's Secretary of Education.