Sheryl Allen

Sheryl Allen was born in 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah.{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=3277|title=Representative Sheryl L. Allen (UT) – Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=October 12, 2010}} Allen attended the University of Utah, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1965. She is married to John Allen, the chief statistician of the Utah Jazz. The Allens have four children and twelve grandchildren.{{cite web|url=http://www.votecorroon.com/about/about-sheryl-allen|title=Rep. Sheryl Allen's Biography|publisher=Peter Corroon for Utah Governor|accessdate=October 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008145035/http://www.votecorroon.com//about//about-sheryl-allen|archivedate=October 8, 2010|df=mdy-all}}

In 1976, Allen, Lucile Cardon Reading, and Theo Italisano were the first three women to be elected to the previously male-dominated Davis County Board of Education and took office on January 1, 1977.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PEoOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4178,1529636&dq=sheryl-allen&hl=en|title=Women to shape schools|newspaper=Deseret News|page=A5|accessdate=October 13, 2010|date=November 6, 1976}} Reading, who became board president, and Allen worked to stop alleged mismanagement and ended the practice of officials receiving kickbacks from building contractors.{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Joel|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/28412/SCHOOL-BOARD-CHIEF-A-SURVIVOR-WHO-STANDS-BY-HER-CONVICTIONS.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021141856/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/28412/SCHOOL-BOARD-CHIEF-A-SURVIVOR-WHO-STANDS-BY-HER-CONVICTIONS.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=School board chief a survivor who stands by her convictions|newspaper=Deseret News|pages=1–2|accessdate=October 13, 2010|date=December 27, 1988}} Allen became board president with the death of Reading in March 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.state.ut.us/research/agencyhistories/264.html|title=Agency Histories: Davis County School District|publisher=Utah State Archives|accessdate=October 14, 2010|date=July 2, 2003}} In 1988, Allen stated that she was stepping down from the board the following year to pursue graduate studies. In 1990, she received a Master's degree in Education Administration from the University of Utah.

{{blockquote|It's not that we always agree, but on the big decisions you have got to be together.|Sheryl Allen|Davis County Board of Education, December 1988}}

Allen was also the public relations director of the Davis Technical College (formerly known as the Davis Applied Technology Center) from 1985 to 1995. She became the foundation director of the Davis School District in 1995.

Allen ran against Quinn Gardner in June 1994 to succeed Utah state representative Kim Burningham, who was stepping down after 15 years of service.{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/360497/DAVIS-REPUBLICANS-RACE-FOR-3-HOUSE-SEATS.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121145109/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/360497/DAVIS-REPUBLICANS-RACE-FOR-3-HOUSE-SEATS.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2013|title=Davis Republicans Race for 3 House Seats|newspaper=Deseret News|pages=1–4|accessdate=October 13, 2010|date=June 21, 1994}} Allen won with 54% of the vote and took office on July 20, 1994.{{cite news|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/361939/CHART--ELECTION-RESULTS.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121102206/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/361939/CHART--ELECTION-RESULTS.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 21, 2013|title=Chart: Election Results|newspaper=Deseret News|pages=1–2|accessdate=October 13, 2010|date=June 29, 1994}}

On January 26, 1996, eight hours after the execution by firing squad of John Albert Taylor, Allen introduced a bill to eliminate the firing squad,{{cite news|last=Donaldson|first=Amy|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/468028/FIRING-SQUAD-CARRIES-OUT-EXECUTION.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021120728/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/468028/FIRING-SQUAD-CARRIES-OUT-EXECUTION.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=Firing squad carries out execution|newspaper=Deseret News|pages=1–3|accessdate=October 2, 2010|date=January 26, 1996}} which did not pass. She later succeeded in passing HB180, which removed the right of the condemned to choose their method of execution after February 2004.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10347166|title=Utah firing squad executes US killer Ronnie Lee Gardner|accessdate=June 22, 2010|date=June 18, 2010}}{{cite news|last=Dobner|first=Jennifer|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/590037757/Plan-to-abolish-firing-squad-advances.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021120644/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/590037757/Plan-to-abolish-firing-squad-advances.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=Plan to abolish firing squad advances|newspaper=Deseret News|pages=1–2|accessdate=October 3, 2010|date=January 22, 2004}}

{{blockquote|If they choose the firing squad, it's one last magnificent manipulation of the system to bring attention to themselves... It's time for Utah to do away with the firing squad.|Sheryl Allen|Utah House of Representatives, January 21, 2004{{cite news|last=Foy|first=Paul|url=http://www.heraldextra.com/news/article_936339a3-700f-5e8d-b658-6c64c978c1ab.html|title=Firing squad|newspaper=Daily Herald|agency=Associated Press|accessdate=October 3, 2010|date=January 22, 2004}}}}

In 2005, Allen was awarded Legislator of the Year by the Utah School Board Association. She was re-elected to her eighth term in the state legislature in 2008 with over 80% of the vote. Allen is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Revenue and Taxation Committee. She is also the co-chairperson of the Economic Development and Revenue Appropriations Subcommittee.

In 2008, Allen was involved in bringing forth an investigation by the Utah House Ethics Committee that led to the reprimand of fellow Republican house member Greg Hughes. Facing political ostracization from within her own party, Allen announced that she would not seek another term as a state representative in 2010.{{cite news|last=Bernick Jr.|first=Bob|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705358205/State-GOP-lawmaker-Sheryl-Allen-expects-Republican-opponents-in-2010.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123063930/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705358205/State-GOP-lawmaker-Sheryl-Allen-expects-Republican-opponents-in-2010.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 23, 2010|title=State GOP lawmaker Sheryl Allen expects Republican opponents in 2010|newspaper=Deseret News|accessdate=October 13, 2010|date=January 13, 2010}}

{{See also|Utah gubernatorial election, 2010}}

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On May 1, 2010, Salt Lake County mayor Peter Corroon asked Allen to be his running mate for lieutenant governor in his gubernatorial bid against incumbent Republican Governor Gary Herbert. As Corroon ran as a Democrat and Allen as a Republican, this was the first bipartisan team on a single ticket between major political parties in a Utah state election. In 1976, governor Scott M. Matheson and lieutenant governor David Smith Monson were elected from different parties, but on separate tickets. Political clashes between Matheson and Monson led to changes in state election law, requiring joint tickets in subsequent elections.

Corroon and Allen ran on a moderate ticket to appeal to independent voters. A major platform of their campaign was the improvement of education in the state of Utah.{{cite news|last=Tittensor|first=Annette|url=http://www.standard.net/topics/opinion/2010/10/07/improving-education-major-focus-corroon-allen|title=Improving education a major focus for Corroon, Allen|newspaper=Standard-Examiner|accessdate=October 12, 2010|date=October 7, 2010}}{{cite news|last=Farmer|first=Molly|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700055635/Peter-Corroon-seeks-feedback-crafts-education-platform.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021132457/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700055635/Peter-Corroon-seeks-feedback-crafts-education-platform.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=Peter Corroon seeks feedback, crafts education platform|newspaper=Deseret News|pages=1–2|accessdate=October 13, 2010|date=August 15, 2010}} Corroon's campaign accused Herbert's governorship of being "corrupt." After the second most expensive gubernatorial campaign in Utah history, Herbert won the election on November 2, 2010.

• Susa Young Gates Award, 1998
• Utah School Board Association Legislator of the Year, 2004
• Utah Hotel and Lodging Association Legislator of the Year, 2005
• Utah Medical Association Legislator of the Year, 2006

• 100 Women for 100 Years (1996 co-chair)
• Colorado Plateau Archeological Project (board member)
• Forum on Democracy and Trade (board member)
• George Washington University Elliott School of International Business (trade advisory committee)
• Hogle Zoo (former board member)
• KUED (PBS) (board member)
• NCSL Economic Development Committee (2004–06 chair)
• NCSL Standing Committee (2007 vice chair)
• Utah Humanities Council (former board member)

• 54th Utah State Legislature

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Sheryl_Allen Sheryl Allen] at Ballotpedia
• [http://www.freedomspeaks.com/official/72378/utah-(ut)-state-representative-sheryl-l-allen-%5But-house-of-representatives%5D Sheryl L. Allen] at FreedomSpeaks.com
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110728164435/http://vote-ut.org/Intro.aspx?State=UT&Id=UTAllenSherylL Sheryl L. Allen]}} at Vote-UT.org

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Sheryl L.}}

Category:Living people

Category:1943 births

Category:University of Utah alumni

Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah

Category:School board members in Utah

Category:Republican Party members of the Utah House of Representatives

Category:Politicians from Salt Lake City

Category:Women state legislators in Utah

Category:21st-century American women politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Utah Legislature