Sharon Runner
Sharon Runner | |
---|---|
17th district | |
Member of the California State Assembly from the 36th district | |
In office December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2008 | |
Preceded by | George Runner |
Succeeded by | Steve Knight |
Personal details | |
Born | Los Angeles, California | May 17, 1954
Died | July 14, 2016 Lancaster, California | (aged 62)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | (her death) |
Residence(s) | Lancaster, California |
Alma mater | Antelope Valley College |
Profession | Businesswoman |
Sharon Runner (May 17, 1954 – July 14, 2016) was an American politician. She was a
Early life
Born Sharon Yvonne Oden in Los Angeles, California and raised in the Antelope Valley, Runner graduated from Antelope Valley High School and attended Antelope Valley College.[2]
Political career
Runner was an officer for the Antelope Valley Republican Assembly and remained active in many Republican groups in the Antelope Valley, including the Palmdale and High Desert Republican Women's Clubs, until her death. She served on the board of California Women Lead, a bi-partisan organization that encourages and empowers women running for public office.[3] She served as President of the board of California's Women's Leadership Association for 2011–12.[2]
During the 2004 Presidential election, Runner served as the California Women's Coalition Chair for the Bush/Cheney Campaign. She was chosen as a delegate to the 2000 and 2004 Republican National Conventions. She worked on several statewide campaigns including Governor
In 2009, Runner was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. She served on the board until December 22, 2010.[4] In 2013 Runner began working part-time for the California State Senate Republican Caucus conducting community outreach events.[5] She also ran "The Runner Group," a public relations/marketing company she founded in 1994.[6]
Assembly career
In 2002, Runner was elected to represent the 36th Assembly District and served in the State Assembly for three terms, from 2002 to 2008.[2]
While in the Assembly she served on the Veteran's Committee; Housing Committee; Select Committees dealing with Foster Care; the Committee on Drug and Alcohol Abuse; as well as the Task Force on the Environment, Energy, and the Economy. She also held key fiscal leadership positions, serving as the Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Committee and as a member of the Budget Committee and Budget Subcommittee on Education.[2]
During her first term in office, Runner was appointed as Assistant Republican Leader by former Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.[2]
Jessica's Law
In 2006, along with her husband, Senator
Jessica's Law ensures that all sexual offenders who are convicted of activity with children under the age of 14 are put into prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years or 25 years to life. It eliminates all "first-offense" sexual offense provisions from California law.
It also eliminates all "good-time" credits for sexual offenders serving prison terms; under the authored provisions they are required to serve their entire sentence and will not be released for good behavior. The law requires that sex offenders who are released from prison wear a GPS bracelet for life.
It also creates a 2,000-foot (615-meter) zone around schools and parks in which registered sex offenders are prohibited from residing.
Senate career
Runner ran for election to the California State Senate, representing the 17th District. The seat was left vacant by her husband,
To focus on her recovery from a double lung transplant necessitated by her limited scleroderma, she chose to not seek re-election in 2012[10] and was succeeded by Steve Knight in the renumbered 21st Senate District.
A special election for the 21st Senate District, vacated by Steve Knight who was elected to Congress in November 2014, was held on March 17, 2015.[11] After a successful recruitment effort, Runner decided to enter the race.[12] She was the only candidate on the ballot, and easily won reelection to the Senate with 100% of the vote.[13] Runner was sworn into the State Senate on March 19, 2015, where she would serve until her death the following year.
Community involvement
In 1977, Runner co-founded Desert Christian Schools with her husband, George Runner. It has since grown to become one of the largest private schools in California with nearly 1,700 students on three separate campuses.[14] She served on the Board until her death. Prior to Desert Christian Schools, Runner worked as a licensed realtor with Red Carpet Real Estate Company where she was named "Realtor of the Year."[2]
She volunteered her time on several boards and committees including the United Way, Antelope Valley Hospital Gift Foundation, Antelope Valley Crime Task Force, Healthy Homes Advisory Council, and
She was involved with her church, Grace Chapel Church in Lancaster, for over 30 years.
Awards and recognitions
In 2013, Runner was awarded the Marian Bergeson Lifetime Achievement Award for her work helping women run for office.[16]
In November 2014 Runner received the Spirit of Leadership Award by the Scleroderma Foundation of Southern California for her advocacy in increasing funding to find a cure for Scleroderma.[17]
Personal life
She married
Health and death
Runner was diagnosed with the limited systemic form of
Runner was a member of the Scleroderma Foundation's Legislative Committee, where she worked to obtain
Runner worked and connected regularly with lung transplant patients. In 2014, she was selected as a rider on the 11th annual Donate Life Rose Parade Float along with 29 other donor recipients.[22]
Runner died at her home on July 14, 2016, due to "respiratory complications."[23][24]
References
- ^ "California Legislature Handbook 2007–2008" (PDF). California State Legislature. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About Sharon Runner". Sharon Runner for State Senate. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "California Women Lead". California Women Lead. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "Sharon Runner, Board Member". State of California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Senate Payroll – 2/28/2014" (PDF). California State Senate. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "State Senator Sharon Runner – 17th Senate District". State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "CA Secretary of State – General Election". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ "2010 General Elections Results – Board of Equalization" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Senate District 17 – Special Election – Elections & Voter Information – California Secretary of State". California Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
- ^ a b "Senator Sharon Runner won't seek re-election". Antelope Valley Press. February 22, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
- ^ "Governor Brown Issues Proclamation Declaring Special Elections For 7th, 21st, and 35th Senate Districts". Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ "Runner Confirms Bid for Knights Senate Seat". SCV News. January 14, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ "Sharon Runner only candidate for California's 21st Senate District". The Los Angeles Times. January 29, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
- ^ "Our History". Desert Christian Schools. Archived from the original on March 1, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Past Directors of Antelope Valley Fair" (PDF). Antelope Valley Fair. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Women of Character Awards Dinner". Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "Scleroderma Foundation Key to a Cure Gala". Scleroderma Foundation, Southern California Chapter. November 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "This pitcher has government backing". Detroit Free Press. December 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008.
- ^ "State Sen. Sharon Runner has double lung transplant, will return to work, says husband". Los Angeles Daily News. February 27, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "Sen. Sharon Runner goes home early after lung transplant". Los Angeles Times. March 6, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "Rose Parade Float – 2014 Rider – Sharon Runner". Donate Life. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ "Donate Life California Sponsors Former State Senator Sharon Runner on 2014 Donate Life Rose Parade Float". Donate Life California. October 15, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
- ^ Myers, John (July 14, 2016). "State Sen. Sharon Runner, longtime Republican lawmaker, dies at 62". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 14, 2016.