Clair Burgener
| Clair Burgener | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 43rd district |
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In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Victor Veysey |
| Succeeded by | Ron Packard |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 42nd district |
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In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 |
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| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Lionel Van Deerlin |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 76th district |
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In office 1963–1967 |
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| Preceded by | Leverette D. House |
| Succeeded by | Pete Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sinclair Walter Burgener December 5, 1921 Vernal, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | September 9, 2006 (aged 84) Encinitas, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Sinclair Walter "Clair" Burgener (December 5, 1921 – September 9, 2006) was an American Republican politician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1973-1983.
Clair Burgener was born in Vernal, Utah, and grew up there and in Salt Lake City. He served in the Pacific in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a navigator. He attained second lieutenant and was awarded the Air Medal in 1945. Later, he was recalled for Air Force service during the Korean War.
Burgener graduated from San Diego State College with a BA in liberal arts. He was a realtor in the early 1950s with his brother. In 1951 Burgener was on the stage of the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park, playing Elwood P. Dowd in Harvey for a 33-day run.
Burgener was a Latter-day Saint.
At a cocktail party one evening, as related by Lionel Van Deerlin, an oilman from Texas said, "I like the cut of your jib, young fella." He continued, "If you do go into politics, I'd like to help. Here's a check for five thousand dollars. Cash it whenever you decide to run." A few months later, Burgener ran for a city council vacancy, but returned the check, writing, "Thank you very much, but I feel it would be improper to accept so large an amount from a single out-of-state contributor."
Burgener was elected to the San Diego City Council in 1953, serving until 1957. On the city council he pushed for the development of Mission Bay Park. Burgener later recalled the office as "the job I enjoyed the least".
Burgener was then elected to the California State Assembly 1963–1967 and California State Senate, 1967–1973. Burgener later said his time in the State Capitol constituted his most productive and rewarding years. He was most proud of state legislation he pushed through in 1963 that mandated classroom training for the intellectually disabled.
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