Former California lawmaker, Secretary of Education Gary Hart dies at 78

Andrew Sheeler
·2 min read

Former lawmaker and state Secretary of Education Gary K. Hart died Thursday of pancreatic cancer. He was 78.

Hart represented part of the Central Coast in the California Assembly from 1974 to 1982, when he was elected to the California Senate. Hart served in the Senate until 1994, representing a district that included parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

His legislative work focused largely on education, the environment and women’s rights. His bills helped create California public charter schools, establish the state solar tax credit and increase child support payments for divorced women.

“Hart always said much of his legislative success had to do with his dedicated and loyal staff who helped draft bills and provided wise strategic advice. He felt his ability to work closely with other legislators — including Republicans — was a key reason for his legislative successes especially when Republican governors (George) Deukmejian and (Pete) Wilson had the power to sign or veto bills,” according to an obituary that Hart’s family provided to The Sacramento Bee.

Then-State Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara, teaches U.S. history to students at Kennedy High School in Sacramento in 1992. The class was studying the Great Depression.
Then-State Sen. Gary K. Hart, D-Santa Barbara, teaches U.S. history to students at Kennedy High School in Sacramento in 1992. The class was studying the Great Depression.

Hart also sought unsuccessfully to establish public financing of political campaigns and make changes to the ballot initiative process.

After leaving public office in 1994, Hart co-founded the California State University Institute for Education Reform. In 1998, Gov. Gray Davis tapped him to serve as secretary of education, where he helped shepherd Davis’ education agenda through the Legislature the following year.

After retiring from politics, Hart served on boards of several organizations, including the Public Policy Institute of California, the Cotsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching, the Campaign for College Opportunity and the Alder Graduate School of Education.

Hart, who was born Aug. 13, 1943, is survived by his wife of 52 years, Cary Hart, as well as three daughters and six grandchildren.

The family asks that contributions in Hart’s memory be made to the Sacramento County Office of Education Resiliency Scholarship Program, P.O. Box 269003, Sacramento, CA 95826.

Former state Sen. and Secretary of Education Gary K. Hart teaches students in the PACE program about maps at Kennedy High School in September 2002. Hart represented Santa Barbara in the Senate and the Assembly for 20 years. He twice ran for Congress, losing his second race in 1988 by less than a percentage point.
Former state Sen. and Secretary of Education Gary K. Hart teaches students in the PACE program about maps at Kennedy High School in September 2002. Hart represented Santa Barbara in the Senate and the Assembly for 20 years. He twice ran for Congress, losing his second race in 1988 by less than a percentage point.
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Sunak: Everyday problems are no excuse not to find work

    Rishi Sunak said “everyday challenges” in life should not lead to people being signed off work sick as he unveiled a five-point plan to tighten the welfare system.

  • 'City within a city': Montreal announces new plan for 20,000 housing units

    MONTREAL — The City of Montreal has announced a new vision for an old racetrack that the mayor says will be home to as many as 40,000 people. The federal and provincial governments, as well as the city will each pitch in $2 million for technical studies on the 95 hectares of land, part of which used to host the Hippodrome. The land hasn't been used for 14 years and doesn't have a water distribution system, and the studies will analyze what it will cost to connect the area to city infrastructure

  • Rapist jailed for ‘brazen’ seaside attack on teenage girl

    A 20-year-old man who raped a 15-year-old girl in a “brazen” attack on Bournemouth beach has been jailed for six and a half years.

  • Man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump hush money trial in New York

    People rushed to douse the person with a fire extinguisher and try to bat the flames away, according to reports

  • Major water users in southern Alberta agree to curb consumption in face of drought

    CALGARY — More than three dozen major water users in southern Alberta have agreed to voluntarily curb their consumption if there's a severe drought this spring or summer. The province announced Friday that municipalities, irrigation districts and industry players have signed memorandums of understanding covering four sub-basins — the Red Deer River, the Bow River, the mainstem of the Oldman River and upper tributaries of the Oldman. The deals are billed as the biggest of their kind in Alberta's

  • A Sneak Peak Into the Finances of Elon Musk’s SpaceX

    In 2002, Elon Musk launched SpaceX -- a groundbreaking company designed to reduce the cost of space travel, create commercial spaceflight, and develop a sustainable colony on Mars. Since its...

  • Met Police says 'openly Jewish' term used in arrest threat was 'deeply regrettable'

    Gideon Falter was wearing a kippah skull cap when he was stopped from crossing the road near a pro-Palestine march in London

  • Nvidia Sinks, Exposing 8 'Secrets' For When To Sell Stocks

    As top growth stocks like Nvidia fall below key moving averages, keep in mind these proven rules for when to sell stocks.

  • Bug season is coming: Prepare with this top-selling $15 indoor fly trap that uses zero chemicals

    Swap the swatter for an insect-buster that has over 16,000 shoppers buzzing.

  • Lazio up to sixth in Serie A after win at Genoa

    GENOA, Italy (AP) — A second-half goal from Luis Alberto gave Lazio a 1-0 win at Genoa on Friday and moved the capital club into sixth spot in Serie A and within touching distance of a Champions League spot. The result snapped Genoa’s four-game unbeaten run and was another good result for a visitor which has won four of its last five league games. Lazio was one place and one point ahead of Atalanta, which has two games in hand. The top five teams in Serie A are guaranteed a place in next year’s

  • Man Utd confirm Jason Wilcox as technical director in boost to transfer plans

    Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Jason Wilcox as technical director in a huge boost to the club’s summer transfer planning.

  • Columbine survivors can’t believe that the shootings haven’t stopped 25 years later

    Since 1999, the name of a Colorado high school has been tragically enshrined in the public consciousness – and has become synonymous with mass shootings. But those left reeling by the massacre at Columbine have watched in horror as mass shootings are replicated over and over again across the US, writes Sheila Flynn

  • History with Maple Leafs could help Bruins snap short playoff slump

    BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins may have found just the solution to their playoff slump: A first-round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins haven't lost a playoff series to Toronto since 1959, winning six straight series that have helped extend their Original Six rival's Stanley Cup drought to more than half of a century. Boston won all four regular-season matchups with the Leafs during the regular season — all motivation, no doubt, for Toronto to turn things around. “I think just wi

  • Alberta spring signals another Oilers-Kings NHL playoff showdown

    EDMONTON — There are a few sure signs of spring in Alberta. The snow turns to slush, the Canada geese return to the ponds, lakes and streams, and the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings face each other in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. The two rivals will meet in the first round for the third season in a row, with the Oilers looking to make it a hat trick of victories. The Oilers rebounded from a 3-2 series deficit to win a seven-game thriller two seasons ago. In 2023, the

  • Startups Weekly: Is the wind going out of the AI sails?

    Welcome to Startups WeeklySign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. The report highlights a notable decrease in both private and corporate investments in the AI sector for the second consecutive year, with overall investments dropping by 20% in 2023 compared to the previous year, Kyle reports. Despite this general downturn, certain segments like generative AI continue to attract significant funding, indicating a selective yet substantial interest in specific AI applications.

  • Best Buy Power Up Sale: Score up to 75% on top tech until Sunday — from Apple, Sony and more

    Save 100s on laptops, tablets, appliances and more during Best Buy's big sale.

  • Tesla Semi trucks in short supply for PepsiCo as its rivals use competing EV big rigs

    Key Tesla customer PepsiCo made initial payments for 100 Tesla Semis in 2017, intending to use the electric-truck fleet to haul its Cheetos, Lays potato chips and Pepsi soda pop to retailers. But according to the food-and-drinks maker and one of its executives with knowledge of the deal, PepsiCo was using only 36 of Teslas promised 100 electric trucks as of this month. The shortfall, which hasn't been previously disclosed, lays bare the challenges for Tesla as it seeks to become a high-volume player in the truck-manufacturing business.

  • Viewer video shows aftermath of Stuart police pursuit

    WPTV has obtained viewer video that shows the aftermath of a Stuart police pursuit that ended in a fatal crash.

  • Emma Raducanu beaten by Iga Swiatek but Briton on upward trajectory

    A resurgent Emma Raducanu played some of her best tennis in recent memory but fell short in a compelling quarter-final battle against world number one Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open.

  • Mets release New York-inspired City Connect jerseys

    Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and senior MLB analyst Jordan Shusterman react to the newly released New York Mets City Connect jerseys that pay homage to Queens and New York City. Hear the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.