Diane Sands
Encyclopedia
Diane Sands is an American politician
from Montana
. A Democrat
, she serves in the Montana House of Representatives
, representing the 95th house district, based in Missoula
.
, Sands obtained a B.A.
in Anthropology from the University of Montana before doing graduate work at George Washington University
in Washington, D.C.
.
Sands began her career in the Montana State Legislature
in 1996, when she was appointed as the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives in the 66th district. The previous nominee, incumbent Rep. Mike Kadas, had just been appointed Mayor of Missoula following the resignation of Daniel Kemmis
. She was elected, without opposition, in November 1996 and took office in January 1997. She did not run for re-election in 1998 when her job forced her to move to Oregon
. She wasn't away long, though; returning to Montana in December 1999.
In 2006, when Rep. Tom Facey (D–Missoula) was termed out after eight years in the House, Sands ran to succeed him in the renumbered 95th district. She faced no primary opposition and defeated her Republican
opponent by 60% to 40%. Re-elected in 2008 and 2010, she will be termed out of the House in 2012.
A lesbian
, she was the first ever openly gay member of the Montana Legislature. She now serves alongside two other LGBT legislators, Sen. Christine Kaufmann (D–Helena
) and Rep. Bryce Bennett
(D–Missoula). Her 1996 campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
.
Her partner, Ann Mary Dussault, also once served in the Montana legislature. Taking office in 1975, she served four terms and was the first female majority leader in the nation. She would go on to serve on the Missoula County Commission. She was not openly gay at the time.
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
from Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, she serves in the Montana House of Representatives
Montana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...
, representing the 95th house district, based in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
.
Biography
Born in St. Ignatius, MontanaSt. Ignatius, Montana
St. Ignatius is a town in Lake County, Montana, United States. The population was 788 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Flathead Indian Reservation.-Geography:St...
, Sands obtained a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Anthropology from the University of Montana before doing graduate work at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Sands began her career in the Montana State Legislature
Montana State Legislature
The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Montana. It is composed of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate....
in 1996, when she was appointed as the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives in the 66th district. The previous nominee, incumbent Rep. Mike Kadas, had just been appointed Mayor of Missoula following the resignation of Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis
Daniel Kemmis is an American attorney and the author of several books including:*Community and the Politics of Place, University of Oklahoma Press, 1990. ISBN 0-8061-2227-7...
. She was elected, without opposition, in November 1996 and took office in January 1997. She did not run for re-election in 1998 when her job forced her to move to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. She wasn't away long, though; returning to Montana in December 1999.
In 2006, when Rep. Tom Facey (D–Missoula) was termed out after eight years in the House, Sands ran to succeed him in the renumbered 95th district. She faced no primary opposition and defeated her Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
opponent by 60% to 40%. Re-elected in 2008 and 2010, she will be termed out of the House in 2012.
A lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, she was the first ever openly gay member of the Montana Legislature. She now serves alongside two other LGBT legislators, Sen. Christine Kaufmann (D–Helena
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
) and Rep. Bryce Bennett
Bryce Bennett
Bryce Bennett is an American politician from Montana. A Democrat, he serves in the Montana House of Representatives, representing the 92nd house district, based in Missoula.-Early life and education:...
(D–Missoula). Her 1996 campaign won the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
.
Her partner, Ann Mary Dussault, also once served in the Montana legislature. Taking office in 1975, she served four terms and was the first female majority leader in the nation. She would go on to serve on the Missoula County Commission. She was not openly gay at the time.