Sharon Davis Explained

Birth Name:Sharon Ryer
Birth Date:6 May 1954
Birth Place:Brentwood, California, U.S.
Profession:Writer, activist
Office1:34th First Lady of California
Governor1:Gray Davis
Term Label1:In role
Term Start1:January 4, 1999
Term End1:November 17, 2003
Predecessor1:Gayle Wilson
Successor1:Maria Shriver
Office2:Second Lady of California
Governor2:Pete Wilson
Term Label2:In role
Term Start2:January 2, 1995
Term End2:January 4, 1999
Predecessor2:Jacqueline McCarthy
Successor2:Arcelia Bustamante
Party:Democratic

Sharon Ryer Davis (born May 6, 1954) is an American author who served as first lady of California from 1999 to 2003. She is the wife of former California governor Gray Davis. She previously served as second lady of California from 1995 to 1999. Davis is also a former Miss Santee and the author of the children's book, The Adventures of Capitol Kitty.[1] [2]

Early life

Davis attended Santana High School in Santee, California. While there, she entered the Miss Santee contest and won. Shortly after high school she began working at Pacific Southwest Airlines as a flight attendant.[3]

Marriage

Sharon met Gray Davis in 1979 while he was Chief of Staff for then California Governor Jerry Brown.

First Lady of California

As First Lady, Davis was active in children's health and education, especially literacy, creating the Governor's Book Fund, which provided funds for school libraries. She wrote a children's book titled The Adventures of Capitol Kitty to help pay for the fund. She eventually helped raise 750,000 dollars.[4] During the 2000 United States presidential election, her husband was rumored to be a potential vice presidential running mate for Al Gore, but Davis turned it down, with the position eventually going to Joe Lieberman. Davis was also rumored to be a potential presidential candidate in 2004. She left the office of First Lady in November 2003, after her husband's recall.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: First Ladies of California . 2010-06-13 . 2013-01-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130122054052/http://firstladies.library.ca.gov/34-Davis.html . dead .
  2. Ainsworth, Bill. It's her policy to be involved:Sharon Davis plans to be player in education issues The San Diego Union - Tribune. San Diego, Calif.: Jan 4, 1999. pg. A.1
  3. Lescher, Dave. Sharon Davis, From Santee to Sacramento, California's new leading lady. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Jan 1, 1999. pg. 1
  4. Web site: First Ladies of California . 2010-06-13 . 2013-01-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130122054052/http://firstladies.library.ca.gov/34-Davis.html . dead .