Gary K. Hart
Encyclopedia
Gary K. Hart is an American politician and education activist in southern California
.
, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. He entered Stanford University
on a football scholarship, spent six months based in Florence
under the Stanford's auspices, and graduated in history in 1965. He earned an M.A. from Harvard School of Education
the next year.
in 1970 and the California State Assembly
in 1972, but won an Assembly seat in 1974, succeeding incumbent Republican Don MacGillivray, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate. In 1982, he ran for the state Senate and won, narrowly defeating Republican state Assemblyman Charles R. Imbrecht
, whose wife would, coincidentally, go on to be a history teacher in the Hart's PACE program
(see below). Hart served in both houses of the Legislature
for a total of 20 years, having chaired the Senate Education Committee from 1983 until his retirement in 1994. In 1988, he had made another run for Congress, but narrowly lost to Republican
incumbent Bob Lagomarsino.
, San Luis Obispo
, Ventura
, and Los Angeles
Counties. A former high school teacher and a Democrat
, Hart authored a wide range of legislation on education topics, including performance-based student testing, school restructuring, charter schools, and latch key child care programs. He was voted most ethical California legislator by his peers and as such appeared on the cover of California Journal.
from January 1999 through March 2000. His principal responsibility as Secretary for Education was helping craft and pass the Governor's 1999 education reform program. Most recently, he has created and taught in the Program in America and California Explorations
(PACE), an innovative core humanities initiative at Kennedy High School in Sacramento.
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Early life and education
He was born August 13, 1943 in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. He entered Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
on a football scholarship, spent six months based in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
under the Stanford's auspices, and graduated in history in 1965. He earned an M.A. from Harvard School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University, and is one of the top schools of education in the United States. It was founded in 1920, the same year it invented the Ed.D...
the next year.
Political career
Running as a Democrat, he lost campaigns for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1970 and the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
in 1972, but won an Assembly seat in 1974, succeeding incumbent Republican Don MacGillivray, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate. In 1982, he ran for the state Senate and won, narrowly defeating Republican state Assemblyman Charles R. Imbrecht
Charles R. Imbrecht
Charles R. "Chuck" Imbrecht is an American politician from southern California.Imbrecht was born in 1949. He was an attorney by profession who took an interest in public policy. In 1978, he was elected to the California State Assembly representing the 36th Assembly district...
, whose wife would, coincidentally, go on to be a history teacher in the Hart's PACE program
Program in America and California Explorations
Program in America and California Explorations is a Small Learning Community at John F. Kennedy High School, which focuses on academic excellence, culture and civic events, and community service.- Academic Excellence :...
(see below). Hart served in both houses of the Legislature
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
for a total of 20 years, having chaired the Senate Education Committee from 1983 until his retirement in 1994. In 1988, he had made another run for Congress, but narrowly lost to 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...
incumbent Bob Lagomarsino.
Honors
Hart's State Senate district included portions of Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo County, California
San Luis Obispo County is a county located along the Pacific Ocean in the Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census its population was 269,637, up from 246,681 at the 2000 census...
, Ventura
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, and Los Angeles
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
Counties. A former high school teacher and 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...
, Hart authored a wide range of legislation on education topics, including performance-based student testing, school restructuring, charter schools, and latch key child care programs. He was voted most ethical California legislator by his peers and as such appeared on the cover of California Journal.
Retirement
After his retirement from the Legislature, he founded the California State University Institute for Education Reform, located on the CSU Sacramento campus. The Institute promotes education reform efforts aimed at improving pupil academic achievement. Hart also served as the California Secretary for Education for Governor Gray DavisGray Davis
Joseph Graham "Gray" Davis, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who served as California's 37th Governor from 1999 until being recalled in 2003...
from January 1999 through March 2000. His principal responsibility as Secretary for Education was helping craft and pass the Governor's 1999 education reform program. Most recently, he has created and taught in the Program in America and California Explorations
Program in America and California Explorations
Program in America and California Explorations is a Small Learning Community at John F. Kennedy High School, which focuses on academic excellence, culture and civic events, and community service.- Academic Excellence :...
(PACE), an innovative core humanities initiative at Kennedy High School in Sacramento.