Shirley Horton
Encyclopedia
Shirley Horton is a U.S. politician, having served as a Republican
Member of the California State Assembly
. Horton represented the 78th Assembly District, which includes southern San Diego
, Chula Vista
, Lemon Grove
and
Spring Valley. She won election to her office in 2002 and was reelected in 2004 and 2006. She was previously Chula Vista's first Asian American
Mayor.
Horton was born in Japan
, while her father was in the US Navy, but grew up in south San Diego County, California
. She attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Paradise Hills, O’Farrell Junior High School
, and Bonita Vista High School
. She received her Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University
in 1976. She ran her own property management business until elected to the California State Assembly
. She and her husband, Luther, live in Bonita
.
Horton began her career in politics as a member of the Chula Vista Planning Commission. In 1994, she was elected Mayor of Chula Vista, then re-elected in 1998 with 72% of the vote.
After serving two terms as mayor of Chula Vista, 1994–2000, Horton was elected in 2002 to the California Assembly. In 2004, the 78th Assembly District was the number 1 targeted seat for both the Democratic and Republican parties. Horton was re-elected to the California State Assembly
after barely beating her Democratic opponent, Patty Davis.
In August 2006, Horton was the only Republican to vote for the landmark global warming legislation, AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. In November 2006, Assemblywoman Shirley Horton was reelected to her third term in office.
Horton did not run for reelection in 2008 due to term limits. She was be succeeded in the California State Assembly by Democrat Marty Block
.
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...
Member of 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...
. Horton represented the 78th Assembly District, which includes southern San Diego
San 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...
, Chula Vista
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
, Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove, California
Lemon Grove is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 25,320 at the 2010 census, up from 24,918 as of the 2000 census.-History:...
and
Spring Valley. She won election to her office in 2002 and was reelected in 2004 and 2006. She was previously Chula Vista's first Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
Mayor.
Horton was born in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, while her father was in the US Navy, but grew up in south San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. She attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Paradise Hills, O’Farrell Junior High School
O'Farrell Community School
O'Farrell Community School or O'Farrell Middle commonly referred to as O'Farrell is a charter school in the Southeast San Diego neighborhood of Encanto serving grades 6-9 in the K-12 American education system. The school opened its doors in the San Diego Unified School District in 1959 with its...
, and Bonita Vista High School
Bonita Vista High School
Bonita Vista High School is a public, four year high school located in the city of Chula Vista, California. Bonita Vista High School is one of the few schools that has both the IB and AP programs. It is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District, and currently has about 2,800 students....
. She received her Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
in 1976. She ran her own property management business until elected to 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...
. She and her husband, Luther, live in Bonita
Bonita, California
Bonita is a census-designated place in southern San Diego County, California, nestled between the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego. The population was 12,538 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonita is located at ....
.
Horton began her career in politics as a member of the Chula Vista Planning Commission. In 1994, she was elected Mayor of Chula Vista, then re-elected in 1998 with 72% of the vote.
After serving two terms as mayor of Chula Vista, 1994–2000, Horton was elected in 2002 to the California Assembly. In 2004, the 78th Assembly District was the number 1 targeted seat for both the Democratic and Republican parties. Horton was re-elected to 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...
after barely beating her Democratic opponent, Patty Davis.
In August 2006, Horton was the only Republican to vote for the landmark global warming legislation, AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. In November 2006, Assemblywoman Shirley Horton was reelected to her third term in office.
Horton did not run for reelection in 2008 due to term limits. She was be succeeded in the California State Assembly by Democrat Marty Block
Marty Block
Marty Block represents California's 78th district in the California State Assembly. Assembly District 78 includes southern San Diego, Chula Vista, Lemon Grove and...
.