Marilyn Brewer
Encyclopedia
Marilyn C. Brewer is a California
politician
who served from 1994 to 2000 as a California State Assembly
woman representing southern Orange County
's 70th District.
Born in western Pennsylvania
, Brewer earned her Associate's degree
from Fullerton College
in 1983. She served as an aide to Orange County supervisor Tom Riley until her election to the State Assembly.
In 1994 she ran for an open seat in the California State Assembly
representing Newport Beach. Her two more conservative rivals in the GOP primary, Irvine city councilman Barry Hammond and attorney Tom Reinecke (son former California Lt. Gov. Ed Reinecke) split the conservative vote, allowing the more moderate Brewer to win the primary. In the general election she received 71.7% of the vote http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1994-11-08.
In the State Assembly, Brewer served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations and Insurance Committees. She was also a member of the Rules, Human Services, Transportation, Governmental Organization, and Labor/Employment committees.
She was reelected twice more in 1996(61.5%)http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1996-11-05 & 1998 (95.7% with only opposition from a Natural Law Party candidate) http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1998-11-03 before California term limits of three terms in the State Assembly led to her leaving the state house in 2000.
In 2005 Brewer ran in a special election for California's 48th Congressional District left vacant after incumbent Congressman Christopher Cox resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Brewer lost the nomination to State Senator
John Campbell by a 28% margin, but did beat eight other Republicans in the primary election
. Although she won the endorsement of John McCain
, the Republican party chose to officially endorse Campbell after Brewer began to court independents and Democrats. The American Independent Party
candidate, Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist
, fell only 2.3% short of overtaking Brewer in the open primary.
In October 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
appointed Brewer to serve as a member of the "Little Hoover Commission".
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served from 1994 to 2000 as a 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...
woman representing southern Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
's 70th District.
Born in western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Brewer earned her Associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
from Fullerton College
Fullerton College
Fullerton College is the oldest community college in continuous operation in California, having been established in 1913. Current enrollment is 22,014.- History 1913 to 1972 :...
in 1983. She served as an aide to Orange County supervisor Tom Riley until her election to the State Assembly.
In 1994 she ran for an open seat in 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...
representing Newport Beach. Her two more conservative rivals in the GOP primary, Irvine city councilman Barry Hammond and attorney Tom Reinecke (son former California Lt. Gov. Ed Reinecke) split the conservative vote, allowing the more moderate Brewer to win the primary. In the general election she received 71.7% of the vote http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1994-11-08.
In the State Assembly, Brewer served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations and Insurance Committees. She was also a member of the Rules, Human Services, Transportation, Governmental Organization, and Labor/Employment committees.
She was reelected twice more in 1996(61.5%)http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1996-11-05 & 1998 (95.7% with only opposition from a Natural Law Party candidate) http://www.joincalifornia.com/election/1998-11-03 before California term limits of three terms in the State Assembly led to her leaving the state house in 2000.
In 2005 Brewer ran in a special election for California's 48th Congressional District left vacant after incumbent Congressman Christopher Cox resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Brewer lost the nomination to State Senator
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
John Campbell by a 28% margin, but did beat eight other Republicans in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Although she won the endorsement of John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, the Republican party chose to officially endorse Campbell after Brewer began to court independents and Democrats. The American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
candidate, Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist
Jim Gilchrist
James "Jim" Walter Gilchrist, Jr. is the American co-founder and president of the Minuteman Project, an activist group whose aim is to prevent illegal immigration across the United States's southern border.-Early life:...
, fell only 2.3% short of overtaking Brewer in the open primary.
In October 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
appointed Brewer to serve as a member of the "Little Hoover Commission".