(AP) — Marian Bergeson, a well-known Orange County politician and the first woman to serve in both California's Assembly and Senate, has died. She was 90.
Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff tells The Orange County Register Bergeson died Wednesday due to complications from surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Bergeson began her political career in 1965 as a member of the Newport-Mesa Board of Education. She was elected to the Assembly in 1978, won her Senate seat six years later and moved to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 1994.
She also served as education secretary under Republican Gov. Pete Wilson.
Kiff says Bergeson will be remembered as a problem solver, a Republican who thought talking things through could solve any issue. He worked on her senate legislative staff.
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