Bergeson, Marian

Marian Bergeson, the first Republican woman elected to both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, has served Orange County and the state of California as a school board representative, president of the California School Boards Association, California state assemblywoman, California state senator, Orange County supervisor, secretary of Child Development and Education under Governor Pete Wilson, and member of the California Transportation Commission under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. During her years in the California State Legislature Bergeson was a strong advocate for education and children's issues . She served as vice chairman of both the assembly and senate education committees and also as a member of both the assembly and senate budget sub-committees on education. As a member of the state senate she chaired the Committee on Local Government, the Select Committee on Planning for California's Growth, and the Select Committee for Water Marketing. She also served on committees for appropriations, ethics, health and human services, industrial relations, transportation, and others. Upper Newport Bay sediment plan and channel basins development leading to maintenance dredging and sediment protections. Bergeson-Peace Infrastructure Bank, now called California Infrastructure Bank. At the local level Bergeson served as a member of the Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission, Southern California Association of Governments, CalOPTIMA, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Transportation Corridor Agencies, and the Orange County Fire Authority. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Orange County Junior League, Orangewood Foundation for abused and neglected children, Brigham Young University (BYU) Business Management Council, KOCE Foundation, EdVoice Policy Board, University of California, Irvine (UCI) Foundation, UCI Leadership Council Center for the Study of Democracy, and Orange County Technology Foundation. As of 2008, Bergeson still serves on the California Transportation Commission. She also continues to act as an advocate for children and education in the capacity of advisor or board member for several Orange County community organizations. The Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel and the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center in Corona del Mar are named in her honor. In 2007 she celebrated her 83rd birthday by skydiving.

From the description of Marian Bergeson papers, circa 1915-2001, 1982 - 1994. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 681397918

Historical Background

Biography

Marian Bergeson, the first Republican woman elected to both the California State Assembly and California State Senate, has served Orange County and the state of California as a school board representative, president of the California School Boards Association, California state assemblywoman, California state senator, Orange County supervisor, secretary of Child Development and Education under Governor Pete Wilson, and member of the California Transportation Commission under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During her years in the California State Legislature Bergeson was a strong advocate for education and children's issues. She served as vice chairman of both the assembly and senate education committees and also as a member of both the assembly and senate budget sub-committees on education. As a member of the state senate she chaired the Committee on Local Government, the Select Committee on Planning for California's Growth, and the Select Committee for Water Marketing. She also served on committees for appropriations, ethics, health and human services, industrial relations, transportation, and others.

At the local level Bergeson served as a member of the Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission, Southern California Association of Governments, CalOPTIMA, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Transportation Corridor Agencies, and the Orange County Fire Authority. She also served on the Advisory Board of the Orange County Junior League, Orangewood Foundation for abused and neglected children, Brigham Young University (BYU) Business Management Council, KOCE Foundation, EdVoice Policy Board, University of California, Irvine (UCI) Foundation, UCI Leadership Council Center for the Study of Democracy, and Orange County Technology Foundation.

As of 2008, Bergeson still serves on the California Transportation Commission. She also continues to act as an advocate for children and education in the capacity of advisor or board member for several Orange County community organizations. The Marian Bergeson Elementary School in Laguna Niguel and the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center in Corona del Mar are named in her honor. In 2007 she celebrated her 83rd birthday by skydiving.

• 1925 August 31: Born Marian Dorlene Crittenden in Salt Lake City, Utah to Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Herbert Crittenden.
• 1943: Graduates from University High School in Los Angeles.
• 1945 - 1947 : Attends the University of California at Los Angeles.
• 1949: Earns BA in Education from Brigham Young University (BYU) in Salt Lake City.
• 1950: Marries Garth S. Bergeson.
• 1965 - 1977 : Serves on the Newport-Mesa Board of Education.
• 1974: The Orange County School Boards Association creates the Marian Bergeson Award.
• 1975: Serves as president of the California School Boards Association.
• 1978 - 1984 : Serves as California state assemblywoman, 70th and 74th districts.
• 1984 - 1994 : Serves as California state senator.
• 1987: Named Woman of the Year by the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. Receives League of California Cities Legislator of the Year Award. Receives University of California Student Association Senator of the Year Award.
• 1988: Named Senator of the Year by the California Business Properties Association.
• 1989: Receives Liberty Bell Award from the Orange County Bar Association.
• 1991: Receives Outstanding State Senator of the Year Award from the California School Boards Association.
• 1992: Receives Outstanding Citizen Award from Orange Coast College.
• 1993: Governor Wilson appoints her superintendent of Public Instruction. Named Child Advocate of the Year by the Child Abuse Council of Orange County. Receives honorary Doctorate of Laws from Pepperdine University.
• 1995 - 1996 : Serves as Orange County supervisor, 5th District.
• 1994: Named top Republican senator by the California Journal. Receives Women of Distinction Award from the Girl Scout Council of Orange County.
• 1995: Receives BYU Distinguished Service to the Community Award.
• 1996: Governor Wilson appoints her secretary of Child Development and Education.
• 1997: Named Woman of the Year by the state assembly. Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the state senate
• 1998: Appointed to State Board of Education. Receives Women in Excellence Award in Education from the Boy Scouts of America.
• 1999: Receives Shining Light Award for Children from the Child Abuse Prevention Council.
• 1999 - 2001 : Serves as commissioner for the Commission on Local Governance for the 21st Century.
• 2000: Named National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Humanitarian of the Year.
• 2002: Receives Celebration of Hope Award for the study of Huntington Disease.
• 2003: Receives UCI Medal, UCI's highest honor.
• 2004: Governor Schwarzenegger appoints her to the California Transportation Commission.
• 2006: Chairs the California Transportation Commission.

From the guide to the Marian Bergeson papers, circa 1915-2001, bulk 1982-1994, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)