Sally Tanner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sally Tanner | |
|---|---|
 Rev. Desmond Tutu and Sally Tanner during his visit to California in 1986 | |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 60th district | |
| In office December 4, 1978 – November 30, 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph B. Montoya |
| Succeeded by | Paul Horcher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 28, 1926 East Chicago, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 20, 2021 (aged 94) Ferndale, California, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Patricia Hofstetter |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Pasadena Community College |
| Occupation | advertising design and commercial art |
Sally Tanner (December 28, 1926 – August 20, 2021) was an American politician who represented California's 60th District in the California State Assembly from 1978 to 1992.[1] During her legislative career she served as chair of the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. Tanner authored a consumer protection act that came to be colloquially referred to as the California Lemon Law (lemon law). In 1987 she co-founded the legislature's "Woman of the Year" program. She became a recipient of the honor in 2009. She was a Democrat.
Tanner attended Pasadena Community College and the Art Center School of Design in Los Angeles, California, after which she worked in advertising design and commercial art.[2] She married and had two sons, Timothy and Christopher.[2]
Political career
Tanner's political career began as a volunteer for the 1956 Adlai Stevenson II presidential campaign[2][3] followed by experience as an Administrative Assistant to both 58th District California Assemblyman Harvey Johnson for ten years[3] and Congressman George E. Danielson. In 1979 Tanner ran for Representative from California's 60th District[1] and served for 14 years.[3]
In 1981, she helped Willie Brown become California's first African American Speaker of the Assembly.[3] When he helped create California's first standing committee on the environment, the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, Tanner was appointed the first chair.[3][4] The committee generally considered bills relating to environmental pollutants, chemical and toxic hazards, and product safety.[5]
Tanner introduced numerous bills to clean up the environment throughout her career.[3] In 1982, she authored a California law (Civil Code Section § 1793.22 et. seq.) which was officially named the Tanner Consumer Protection Act,[6][7] even though commonly and officially known as the "California Lemon Law."[3][6][7][8] It mandates refunds, replacements or compensation to consumers for life-threatening problems unfixed in new vehicles for the first 18,000 miles or 18 months, whichever is first.[6][7][9] On 1 January 2001, the law was amended to consider a vehicle a lemon if two repair attempts fail.[10]
Tanner was a founding member of the California Legislative Women's Caucus in 1985.[11] At the same time, she was appointed to the Governor's task force on waste, energy and technology and asked to formulate a state waste management plan by Governor George Deukmejian.[12] In 1987, with Republican Assemblywoman Bev Hansen, Tanner co-founded the legislative "Woman of the Year" program.[1]
