Allen served in the California Assembly from 1982 to 1995, representing part of Orange County, and as speaker of that body from June 5 to September 14, 1995, before being recalled from office.
An amateur actress, she played the title role in the musical Mame in productions by the Westminster Community Theater and Sebastian's West in the early-1970s.
[2][3] Based in Huntington Beach,[4] She compiled a relatively conservative record with special attention to environmental protection for her coastal district.
Republicans gained a one-vote majority in the Assembly after the 1994 election, threatening longtime Democratic Speaker Willie Brown's 15-year tenure.
However, when Brown resigned his seat in the State Assembly to be sworn in as mayor of San Francisco, Setencich lost that vote, restoring the Republicans' majority electing Pringle as Speaker in January 1996.