Shirley Grasser Horton (July 17, 1952)[4] is a Japanese–American[5] politician who served as the 37th mayor of Chula Vista, California, and in the California State Assembly as a member of the Republican Party.
Horton was born in Japan and educated in California at Bonita Vista High School and San Diego State University. In the 1980s she served as the president of the South San Diego Bay Cities Board of Realtors before becoming active in local politics in Chula Vista when she was appointed to the city's planning commission. In 1991, she was selected to fill Tim Nader's seat and was later elected mayor in 1994. She served as mayor until she was term limited in 2002, and ran for a seat in the California State Assembly from the 78th district. She served in the assembly until she was term limited in 2008.
Early life
Shirley Grasser Horton was born in Japan while her father was serving in the United States Navy.[6] She attended Robert E. Lee Elementary School and O'Farrell Charter Middle School (then called O'Farrell Jr. High School) before graduating from Bonita Vista High School. She later graduated from San Diego State University with a master's degree.[7]
Career
Local politics
Horton was selected to serve as president of the South San Diego Bay Cities Board of Realtors to succeed Bill Gildner in 1986, and was later succeeded by Donald Hayes in 1988.[8][9] She was appointed to serve as chairwoman of the Chula Vista Planning Commission in 1990.[10]
Horton was appointed in 1991, out of twenty-seven applicants, by a unanimous vote to the Chula Vista city council to fill the vacancy created by Tim Nader's becoming mayor following the death of Mayor Gail McCandliss.[11][3] She won reelection in 1992, after raising $20,746 during the campaign.[12][13][14]
On February 14, 1994, Horton announced that she would seek the mayoral office of Chula Vista and placed first out of four candidates in the election after spending $67,422 during the campaign.[15][16][17] She won reelection in 1998.[18] Horton was unable to seek reelection in 2002, due to term limits.[19]
California State Assembly
Horton announced in 2001, that she would seek election to the California State Assembly from the 78th district.[20] She won the Republican nomination against Matt Mendoza and won in the general election against Democratic nominee Vince Hall.[21][22]
During her tenure in the state assembly Horton attempted to join the Democratic Asian Pacific Islander Caucus along with two other Republican members of the state assembly.[23]
Later life
In 2009, Horton considered running for a seat in the California State Senate from the 40th district.[24] She ran for a seat on the California Board of Equalization in 2014.[25]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Shirley Horton | 9,625 | 50.72% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Penny Allen | 6,360 | 33.51% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Bob Piantedosi | 1,546 | 8.15% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Wayne Thomas Tucker | 1,447 | 7.62% | ||
| Total votes | 11,101 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Shirley Horton | 16,539 | 71.95% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Carolyn A. Malcolm | 2,403 | 10.45% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Bob Piantedosi | 1,719 | 7.48% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Petra E. Barajas | 1,712 | 7.45% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Everett E. Borha | 614 | 2.67% | ||
| Total votes | 22,987 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Shirley Horton | 17,401 | 70.25% | ||
| Republican | Matt Mendoza | 7,369 | 29.75% | ||
| Total votes | 24,770 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Shirley Horton | 45,826 | 49.33% | ||
| Democratic | Vince Hall | 44,247 | 47.63% | ||
| Libertarian | Mark Menanno | 2,819 | 3.03% | ||
| Total votes | 92,892 | 100.00% | |||
References
- ^ a b "Leaves office in December". The Star-News. June 25, 1994. p. 3. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Shirley Horton Mayor - City of Chula Vista". The Star-News. October 24, 1998. p. 10. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "City council oath of office". The Star-News. July 13, 1991. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Octopus Devours Chula Vista". San Diego Reader. October 10, 2002. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Horton to visit Japanese city, if council approves". The Star-News. January 21, 1995. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Shirley Horton Candidate for the 78th Assembly District". La Prensa San Diego. October 18, 2002. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Shirley Horton: 78th Assembly District State of California". Asian Journal. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ "Horton heads SB board of realtors". Chula Vista Star-News. October 5, 1986. p. 15. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Realtors set for passing of gavel". Imperial Beach Star-News. December 31, 1987. p. 14. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Chula Vista Planning Commission". The Star-News. August 4, 1990. p. 28. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Compromise candidate wins seat on council". The Star-News. July 10, 1991. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Winner Fox was 'nervous wreck'". The Star-News. November 7, 1992. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Horton raised $20,746 for council campaign". The Star-News. February 10, 1993. p. 3. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Horton". The Star-News. February 16, 1994. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Horton's in, Fox is out in mayor's race". The Star-News. February 16, 1994. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1994 election results". Los Angeles Times. June 9, 1994. p. 23. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "$67,422 was spent to elect Horton". The Star-News. August 20, 1994. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1998 election results". Los Angeles Times. June 4, 1998. p. 397. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "South Bay to choose 3 mayors; 1 incumbent not running". The San Diego Union-Tribune. 6 July 2002. Archived from the original on 22 November 2002.
- ^ "Chula Vista Mayor Shirley Horton ready for new adventure in politics". The Star-News. December 14, 2001. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "2002 primary results" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. p. 42. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "2002 election results" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 27, 2020.
- ^ "Asian caucus weighs bid by Republicans". The Sacramento Bee. January 11, 2005. p. A3. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New competition in senator race". The Desert Sun. February 2, 2009. p. 15. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Shirley Horton for Board of Equalization". The San Diego Union-Tribune. May 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 3, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020.