Doris Allen (politician)

Doris J. Allen (born May 26, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri – died September 22, 1999, Colorado Springs) served in the California Assembly from 1982 to 1995, representing part of Orange County, and as Speaker of that body from June 5 to September 14, 1995, before being recalled from office.

Before entering politics, she owned a successful household lighting store. An amateur actress, she played the title role in the musical "Mame" in productions by the Westminster Community Theater and Sebastian's West in the early 1970s. She was first elected to the California State Assembly in 1982 when she unseated Democratic incumbent Chet Wray. She compiled a relatively conservative record with special attention to environmental protection for her coastal district. Republicans gained a one-vote majority in 1995, threatening longtime Democratic Speaker Willie Brown's 15 year hold on power. Brown at first persuaded moderate Republican turned Independent Paul Horcher to vote for him and keep him in power. Meanwhile Allen was running in a special election for her area State Senate seat. She became enraged when GOP party leaders officially endorsed a fellow assemblyman (Ross Johnson) with a more conservative voting record than hers and who had moved into the district to run. Allen lost the race. After Horcher was recalled from office and replaced by a loyal Republican, Brown convinced a still-angry Allen to vote with Democrats and essentially become Speaker. Brown got Allen elected, but in name only since Brown continued to lead the legislative body as head of the Democratic caucus.

Allen's defection outraged her Republican colleagues, led by Curt Pringle, as well as her Republican constituents, who in November 1995 recalled her from office. Before her removal, Allen resigned as Speaker and handed the gavel over to another Republican who backed Brown, Brian Setencich. However, when Brown resigned his seat in the State Assembly to be sworn in as mayor of San Francisco, Setencich lost that vote, restoring the Republicans' majority and allowing them to elect Pringle as Speaker in January 1996. Setencich himself was defeated for reelection in that June's GOP primary.

Following her recall, Allen turned her back on politics, and eventually moved away from California. She did make one last quixotic bid for her old seat in 1998. Allen died of stomach and colon cancer at her home in Colorado Springs on September 22, 1999.

California Assembly
Preceded by Chester B. "Chet" Wray	California State Assemblymember 71st District 1982–1992	Succeeded by Mickey Conroy
Preceded by Mickey Conroy	California State Assemblymember 67th District 1992–1995	Succeeded by Scott Baugh
Political offices
Preceded by Willie Brown	Speaker of the California State Assembly June 5, 1995–September 14, 1995	Succeeded by Brian Setencich

Persondata
Name	Allen, Doris
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	May 26, 1936
Place of birth
Date of death	September 22, 1999
Place of death