'She was a giant': Education leader Carolyn Warner dies at 88
Carolyn Warner, an education leader and advocate who nearly became Arizona's first female governor, died of cancer Tuesday.
She was 88.
"Arizona has lost an icon," Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams said in a statement Wednesday. "A trailblazer in her own right — Carolyn Warner leaves a legacy of tireless dedication and advocacy for public education that will always be remembered."
The chairwoman and founder of Corporate Education Consulting began her political career nearly 50 years ago as a Phoenix Union High School District board member. The mother of six said she was approached to run after moving to Phoenix from Oklahoma in 1953.
"We had a family meeting, and the kids said, 'Go for it,'" Warner said on Arizona PBS earlier this year.
She became the first non-educator elected as state superintendent of public instruction, a post she held for 12 years. She ran for U.S. Senate in 1976 but lost the Democratic primary.
A decade later, Warner became the second woman in Arizona history to win her party's nomination in the governor's race, only to lose in the general election to Republican Evan Mecham.
Warner later said she believed part of the reason she lost was because the state was not ready for a woman to lead.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2018/10/10/arizona-education-leader-carolyn-warner-died-tuesday-night/1588105002/
= new reply since forum marked as read
The first time I ever engaged in politics was during her bid to ouster Evan Mecham in Az. Peter Paul and Mary held a benefit concert at ASU/Gammage for her cause and I was lucky wnough to have a friend's parents who were very close with her. I sat 3 seats from her during the concert and spoke to her serveral times before and after the show - specifically back stage.
I have mentioned that show before here because it was Peter Yarrow's B-Day and when I wished him happy BDay he gave me a very long, extended hug to thank me. My fellow 17 yo buddy gave me a little ribbing about it as I recall.
I will never forget her. RIP
