# Sheryl Allen

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**Sheryl L. Allen** (born June 30, 1943) is a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) politician and educator from [Bountiful, Utah](/source/Bountiful,_Utah). She represented the 19th District of the [Utah House of Representatives](/source/Utah_House_of_Representatives) from 1994 to 2011. Before entering politics, Allen was a teacher and the president of the [Davis County Board of Education](/source/Davis_School_District).[1]

In May 2010, [Salt Lake County](/source/Salt_Lake_County,_Utah) mayor [Peter Corroon](/source/Peter_Corroon), the [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) candidate for [Governor of Utah](/source/Governor_of_Utah), selected Allen as his [running mate](/source/Running_mate) for the office of [lieutenant governor](/source/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Utah), making them the first major [bipartisan](/source/Bipartisanship) [ticket](/source/Ticket_(election)) in [Utah](/source/Utah) state history.[2] However, they were defeated by the all-Republican ticket of [Gary Herbert](/source/Gary_Herbert) and [Greg Bell](/source/Greg_Bell_(politician)) in the [2010 gubernatorial election](/source/Utah_gubernatorial_election,_2010).[3]

## Background

Sheryl Allen was born in 1943 in [Salt Lake City](/source/Salt_Lake_City), Utah.[4] Allen attended the [University of Utah](/source/University_of_Utah), where she received a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education in 1965.[1] She is married to John Allen, the chief statistician of the [Utah Jazz](/source/Utah_Jazz). The Allens have four children and twelve grandchildren.[5]

## Educational career

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](/source/Davis_School_District) and took office on January 1, 1977.[6] Reading, who became board president, and Allen worked to stop alleged mismanagement and ended the practice of officials receiving [kickbacks](/source/Kickbacks) from building contractors.[7] Allen became board president with the death of Reading in March 1982.[8] In 1988, Allen stated that she was stepping down from the board the following year to pursue graduate studies.[7] In 1990, she received a Master's degree in Education Administration from the University of Utah.[1]

It's not that we always agree, but on the big decisions you have got to be together.

— Sheryl Allen

Allen was also the public relations director of the [Davis Technical College](/source/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](/source/Davis_School_District) in 1995.[4]

## Political career

Allen ran against Quinn Gardner in June 1994 to succeed [Utah state representative](/source/Utah_House_of_Representatives) [Kim Burningham](/source/Kim_Burningham), who was stepping down after 15 years of service.[9] Allen won with 54% of the vote and took office on July 20, 1994.[1][10]

On January 26, 1996, eight hours after the [execution by firing squad](/source/Execution_by_firing_squad) of [John Albert Taylor](/source/John_Albert_Taylor), Allen introduced a [bill](/source/Bill_(proposed_law)) to eliminate the firing squad,[11] 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.[12][13]

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

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.[5] 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.[1]

In 2008, Allen was involved in bringing forth an investigation by the Utah House Ethics Committee that led to the [reprimand](/source/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.[2][14]

### 2010 campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Utah

See also: [Utah gubernatorial election, 2010](/source/Utah_gubernatorial_election,_2010)

On May 1, 2010, [Salt Lake County](/source/Salt_Lake_County,_Utah) mayor [Peter Corroon](/source/Peter_Corroon) asked Allen to be his [running mate](/source/Running_mate) for lieutenant governor in his gubernatorial bid against incumbent Republican [Governor](/source/Governor_of_Utah) [Gary Herbert](/source/Gary_Herbert). As Corroon ran as a Democrat and Allen as a Republican, this was the first [bipartisan](/source/Bipartisanship) team on a single [ticket](/source/Ticket_(election)) between major political parties in a Utah state election. In 1976, governor [Scott M. Matheson](/source/Scott_M._Matheson_(Utah_governor)) and lieutenant governor [David Smith Monson](/source/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.[2]

Corroon and Allen ran on a moderate ticket to appeal to [independent](/source/Independent_(politician)) voters.[2] A major [platform](/source/Party_platform) of their campaign was the improvement of education in the state of Utah.[15][16] 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.[3]

## Awards and honors

- [Susa Young Gates](/source/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[1]

### Affiliations

- 100 Women for 100 Years (1996 co-chair)
- Colorado Plateau Archeological Project (board member)
- Forum on Democracy and Trade (board member)
- [George Washington University](/source/George_Washington_University) [Elliott School of International Business](/source/Elliott_School_of_International_Affairs) (trade advisory committee)
- [Hogle Zoo](/source/Hogle_Zoo) (former board member)
- [KUED](/source/KUED) ([PBS](/source/Public_Broadcasting_Service)) (board member)
- [NCSL](/source/National_Conference_of_State_Legislatures) Economic Development Committee (2004–06 chair)
- [NCSL](/source/National_Conference_of_State_Legislatures) Standing Committee (2007 vice chair)
- Utah Humanities Council (former board member)[1]

## See also

- [54th Utah State Legislature](/source/54th_Utah_State_Legislature)

## References

1. ["Representative Sheryl L. Allen"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101110152317/http://www.le.state.ut.us/house/members/bios.asp?id=19). [Utah House of Representatives](/source/Utah_House_of_Representatives). Archived from [the original](http://www.le.state.ut.us/house/members/bios.asp?id=19) on November 10, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2010.

1. Roche, Lisa Riley (May 4, 2010). ["Corroon picks Republican Sheryl Allen as running mate in Utah gubernatorial race"](https://archive.today/20130121092401/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700029260/Corroon-picks-Republican-Sheryl-Allen-as-running-mate-in-Utah-gubernatorial-race.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. pp. 1–3. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700029260/Corroon-picks-Republican-Sheryl-Allen-as-running-mate-in-Utah-gubernatorial-race.html) on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2010.

1. Gehrke, Robert (November 3, 2010). ["Herbert crushes Corroon to retain Governor's Office"](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50591818-76/campaign-corroon-elexstate-governor.html.csp). *[The Salt Lake Tribune](/source/The_Salt_Lake_Tribune)*. Retrieved November 12, 2010.

1. ["Representative Sheryl L. Allen (UT) – Biography"](http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=3277). [Project Vote Smart](/source/Project_Vote_Smart). Retrieved October 12, 2010.

1. ["Rep. Sheryl Allen's Biography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101008145035/http://www.votecorroon.com//about//about-sheryl-allen). Peter Corroon for Utah Governor. Archived from [the original](http://www.votecorroon.com/about/about-sheryl-allen) on October 8, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2010.

1. ["Women to shape schools"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PEoOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4178,1529636&dq=sheryl-allen&hl=en). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. November 6, 1976. p. A5. Retrieved October 13, 2010.

1. Campbell, Joel (December 27, 1988). ["School board chief a survivor who stands by her convictions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121021141856/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/28412/SCHOOL-BOARD-CHIEF-A-SURVIVOR-WHO-STANDS-BY-HER-CONVICTIONS.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. pp. 1–2. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/28412/SCHOOL-BOARD-CHIEF-A-SURVIVOR-WHO-STANDS-BY-HER-CONVICTIONS.html) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2010.

1. ["Agency Histories: Davis County School District"](http://www.archives.state.ut.us/research/agencyhistories/264.html). Utah State Archives. July 2, 2003. Retrieved October 14, 2010.

1. ["Davis Republicans Race for 3 House Seats"](https://archive.today/20130121145109/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/360497/DAVIS-REPUBLICANS-RACE-FOR-3-HOUSE-SEATS.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. June 21, 1994. pp. 1–4. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/360497/DAVIS-REPUBLICANS-RACE-FOR-3-HOUSE-SEATS.html) on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2010.

1. ["Chart: Election Results"](https://archive.today/20130121102206/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/361939/CHART--ELECTION-RESULTS.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. June 29, 1994. pp. 1–2. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/361939/CHART--ELECTION-RESULTS.html) on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2010.

1. Donaldson, Amy (January 26, 1996). ["Firing squad carries out execution"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121021120728/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/468028/FIRING-SQUAD-CARRIES-OUT-EXECUTION.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. pp. 1–3. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/468028/FIRING-SQUAD-CARRIES-OUT-EXECUTION.html) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2010.

1. ["Utah firing squad executes US killer Ronnie Lee Gardner"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10347166). BBC News. June 18, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.

1. Dobner, Jennifer (January 22, 2004). ["Plan to abolish firing squad advances"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121021120644/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/590037757/Plan-to-abolish-firing-squad-advances.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. pp. 1–2. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/590037757/Plan-to-abolish-firing-squad-advances.html) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2010.

1. Bernick Jr., Bob (January 13, 2010). ["State GOP lawmaker Sheryl Allen expects Republican opponents in 2010"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100123063930/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705358205/State-GOP-lawmaker-Sheryl-Allen-expects-Republican-opponents-in-2010.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705358205/State-GOP-lawmaker-Sheryl-Allen-expects-Republican-opponents-in-2010.html) on January 23, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.

1. Tittensor, Annette (October 7, 2010). ["Improving education a major focus for Corroon, Allen"](http://www.standard.net/topics/opinion/2010/10/07/improving-education-major-focus-corroon-allen). *[Standard-Examiner](/source/Standard-Examiner)*. Retrieved October 12, 2010.

1. Farmer, Molly (August 15, 2010). ["Peter Corroon seeks feedback, crafts education platform"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121021132457/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700055635/Peter-Corroon-seeks-feedback-crafts-education-platform.html). *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. pp. 1–2. Archived from [the original](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700055635/Peter-Corroon-seeks-feedback-crafts-education-platform.html) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2010.

## External links

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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sheryl Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheryl_Allen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheryl_Allen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.