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John Briggs (politician)
Encyclopedia
John V. Briggs is a retired California
state politician who served in the California State Assembly
and the California State Senate
. He is perhaps best known for sponsoring Proposition 6 in 1978, also known as the Briggs Initiative, which attempted to remove all gay
or lesbian
school employees or their supporters from their jobs. The measure failed.
and moved to southern California in 1935, where he was raised by his single mother. He attended high school and college in southern California and later served in the United States Air Force
from 1947 to 1951, seeing action in the Korean Theater. After his stint in the Air Force, Briggs served in the United States Naval Reserve. Near the end of his military service, Briggs met his future wife, Carmen Nicasio, at a USO dance. Together, they had three children and currently have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
After his military service, Briggs started a successful insurance
brokerage. In June 1973 (during his fourth term as Assemblyman), Briggs was selected by his Alma Mater, California State University, Long Beach
, as Outstanding Alumnus.
Throughout the years, Briggs has remained active in a variety of community groups including the Jaycees
, the Rotary Club, and the Boys and Girls Club.
Young Republican Club. In 1962 and 1964, Briggs ran unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for the California State Assembly in the 69th District
(which includes parts of Orange County
). He was finally elected two years later in the 35th District
(which included northern Orange County and neighboring parts of San Bernardino County). Re-elected three times in this district, Briggs went on to successfully compete in the 69th District in the 1974 election.
In 1976, Briggs ran for, and was elected a member of the California State Senate, representing the 35th District
, comprising most of Orange County. He unsuccessfully sought the 1978 Republican nomination for governor
. Re-elected in 1978 and 1980, Briggs resigned from the Senate at the end of December, 1981.
While in office, Briggs concentrated much of his attention on insurance reform, a wider application of the death penalty, nuclear energy development, and construction regulation. He was member of the Western Interstate Nuclear Board from 1971 to 1972. In the Assembly, he chaired the Agriculture and the Atomic Development Committees; and while in the Senate chaired the Governmental Efficiency and Governmental Investigations and Reports Committees.
Briggs was a leader in several legislative initiatives in California, including:
Former California governor Ronald Reagan
spoke out publicly against the Briggs Initiative, stating that "there are enough laws that protect children". In a November 1, 1978, editorial in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
, Reagan wrote, "Whatever else it is, homosexuality is not a contagious disease like measles. Prevailing scientific opinion is that an individual's sexuality is determined at a very early age and that a child's teachers do not really influence this.” California Governor Jerry Brown denounced Proposition 6, as did U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The Log Cabin Republicans
, a national organization of gay Republicans, subsequently credited Proposition 6 as being the catalyst leading to its formation. Opposition by leading politicians combined with grassroots
lobbying led to the defeat of Proposition 6 by 58.6% to 41.6%.
area where he became a successful real estate investor. Briggs and his wife moved to Sun City Anthem in 2003, an age-restricted community in Nevada where he has run for the community's Board. In a campaign statement in 2008 published on the resident created blog, The Anthem Voice, Briggs denied statements made about him in various blogs. He stated his views on gays had not changed since the days of Prop 6. He also said he was, despite his differences with them, friendly with Harvey Milk
and gay activist Randy Shilts
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
state politician who served in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
and the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
. He is perhaps best known for sponsoring Proposition 6 in 1978, also known as the Briggs Initiative, which attempted to remove all gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
or lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
school employees or their supporters from their jobs. The measure failed.
Personal life
Briggs was born in Mitchell, South DakotaMitchell, South Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,558 people, 6,121 households, and 3,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,475.7 people per square mile . There were 6,555 housing units at an average density of 664.4 per square mile...
and moved to southern California in 1935, where he was raised by his single mother. He attended high school and college in southern California and later served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
from 1947 to 1951, seeing action in the Korean Theater. After his stint in the Air Force, Briggs served in the United States Naval Reserve. Near the end of his military service, Briggs met his future wife, Carmen Nicasio, at a USO dance. Together, they had three children and currently have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
After his military service, Briggs started a successful insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
brokerage. In June 1973 (during his fourth term as Assemblyman), Briggs was selected by his Alma Mater, California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
, as Outstanding Alumnus.
Throughout the years, Briggs has remained active in a variety of community groups including the Jaycees
United States Junior Chamber
The United States Junior Chamber is a leadership training and civic organization for people between the ages of 18 and 41. Areas of emphasis are business development, management skills, individual training, community service, and international connections. The U.S...
, the Rotary Club, and the Boys and Girls Club.
Political career
Briggs’ political career began as an outgrowth of his participation in the Jaycees. He served as a local Jaycee president and California State Director as well as President of the Senior Chamber of Commerce. He also served as President of the Walter KnottWalter Knott
Walter Marvin Knott was an American farmer who created the Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in California....
Young Republican Club. In 1962 and 1964, Briggs ran unsuccessfully as the Republican nominee for the California State Assembly in the 69th District
California's 69th State Assembly district
California's 69th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Jose Solorio of Santa Ana.-District profile:...
(which includes parts of Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
). He was finally elected two years later in the 35th District
California's 35th State Assembly district
California's 35th State Assembly District is one of 80 districts in the California State Assembly. It is currently represented by Democrat Das Williams of Santa Barbara.-District profile:Santa Barbara County - 55.75%*Buellton*Carpinteria*Goleta...
(which included northern Orange County and neighboring parts of San Bernardino County). Re-elected three times in this district, Briggs went on to successfully compete in the 69th District in the 1974 election.
In 1976, Briggs ran for, and was elected a member of the California State Senate, representing the 35th District
California's 35th State Senate district
California's 35th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Republican Senator Tom Harman of Huntington Beach.-District profile:...
, comprising most of Orange County. He unsuccessfully sought the 1978 Republican nomination for governor
California gubernatorial election, 1978
The 1978 California gubernatorial election occurred on November 7, 1978. The Democratic incumbent, Jerry Brown, defeated the Republican nominee, Attorney General Evelle J...
. Re-elected in 1978 and 1980, Briggs resigned from the Senate at the end of December, 1981.
While in office, Briggs concentrated much of his attention on insurance reform, a wider application of the death penalty, nuclear energy development, and construction regulation. He was member of the Western Interstate Nuclear Board from 1971 to 1972. In the Assembly, he chaired the Agriculture and the Atomic Development Committees; and while in the Senate chaired the Governmental Efficiency and Governmental Investigations and Reports Committees.
Briggs was a leader in several legislative initiatives in California, including:
- Proposition 6 (1978): (Failed) Would have required the firing of any teacher who was found to be “advocating, imposing, encouraging or promoting” homosexual activity;
- Proposition 13: Restricted property tax to 1% of the full cash value of the property;
- Proposition 7: Expanded the application of the death penalty and life imprisonment without parole;
- California Indoor Safe Air Act: Banned smoking in public buildings.
Proposition 6
Briggs sponsored the 1978 initiative known as Proposition 6 or the Briggs Initiative that would have prevented gays or those who supported gay rights from working in public schools. Of gay teachers, he said, "Most of them are in the closet, and frankly, that's where I think they should remain."Former California governor Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
spoke out publicly against the Briggs Initiative, stating that "there are enough laws that protect children". In a November 1, 1978, editorial in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
The Los Angeles Herald Examiner was a major Los Angeles daily newspaper, published Monday through Friday in the afternoon, and in the morning on Saturdays and Sundays. It was part of the Hearst syndicate. The afternoon Herald-Express and the morning Examiner, both of which had been publishing in...
, Reagan wrote, "Whatever else it is, homosexuality is not a contagious disease like measles. Prevailing scientific opinion is that an individual's sexuality is determined at a very early age and that a child's teachers do not really influence this.” California Governor Jerry Brown denounced Proposition 6, as did U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The Log Cabin Republicans
Log Cabin Republicans
The Log Cabin Republicans is an organization that works within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians in the United States with state chapters and a national office in Washington, D.C...
, a national organization of gay Republicans, subsequently credited Proposition 6 as being the catalyst leading to its formation. Opposition by leading politicians combined with grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
lobbying led to the defeat of Proposition 6 by 58.6% to 41.6%.
Post-political life
Following his retirement from politics, Briggs operated a successful political and business consulting firm for fifteen years. He was a registered California lobbyist from 1983 to 1996. In 2000, he moved to the Lake TahoeLake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
area where he became a successful real estate investor. Briggs and his wife moved to Sun City Anthem in 2003, an age-restricted community in Nevada where he has run for the community's Board. In a campaign statement in 2008 published on the resident created blog, The Anthem Voice, Briggs denied statements made about him in various blogs. He stated his views on gays had not changed since the days of Prop 6. He also said he was, despite his differences with them, friendly with Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
and gay activist Randy Shilts
Randy Shilts
Randy Shilts was a pioneering gay American journalist and author. He worked as a freelance reporter for both The Advocate and the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as for San Francisco Bay Area television stations....
.