Elaine Kontominas Alquist (August 21, 1944 – 31 July 2024) was a Democratic state senator from California's 13th Senate District. Prior to serving in the Senate, she served in the California State Assembly for six years.

Elaine Alquist
Member of the California Senate
from the 13th district
In office
December 6, 2004 – November 30, 2012
Preceded byJohn Vasconcellos
Succeeded byJerry Hill (redistricted)
Member of the California State Assembly
from the 22nd district
In office
December 2, 1996 – November 30, 2002
Preceded byJohn Vasconcellos
Succeeded bySally Lieber
Personal details
Born (1944-08-21) August 21, 1944 (age 80)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2024
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Duncan Benas (engaged)
Al Alquist (deceased)
Residence(s)Santa Clara, California
Alma materWashington University in St. Louis
MacMurray College
OccupationSchool counselor
Businesswoman
Real estate broker
Financial analyst
Teacher

The 13th Senate District (2001 Redistricting) was centered in Santa Clara County and included the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Gilroy.

Alquist served in the State Senate from December 2004 to November 2012. She succeeded John Vasconcellos, who himself succeeded Alquist's husband, the late Al Alquist, who represented the district for 30 years.

She died in July 2024 aged 79.[1]

Early life and education

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Alquist graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from MacMurray College in 1966 and a Master of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1967. Her professional career began as an algebra and trigonometry teacher and a counselor in the public schools. In 1981, she served as PTA president and then beginning in 1983 served eight years as a member and then president of the board of education of the Cupertino Union School District.[2]

State Assembly

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Alquist was elected to the California State Assembly's 22nd District in November 1996, and was re-elected in 1998 and 2000. Under the provisions of California's 1990 term limits law, she termed out in 2002.[3]

State Senate

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Alquist was elected to the California State Senate's 13th District in November 2004, and was re-elected in 2008. She termed out in 2012.

References

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  1. ^ https://www.thenationalherald.com/greek-american-california-state-senator-elaine-k-alquist-79/M
  2. ^ College, MacMurray. "MacMurray College :: Alumni :: Success Stories :: Senator Elaine K. Alquist '66". www.mac.edu. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  3. ^ "California Term Limits, Proposition 140 (1990) - Ballotpedia". ballotpedia.org. Archived from the original on May 10, 2020.
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Political offices
Preceded by California State Assemblywoman, 22nd District
1996–2002
Succeeded by
California State Senator, 13th District
2004–2012
Succeeded by