Debra Allison Copening (née Mellot; July 4, 1964 – January 18, 2020) was a Democratic member of the

Nevada Senate The Nevada Senate is the upper house of the Nevada Legislature, the state legislature of U.S. state of Nevada, the lower house being the Nevada Assembly. It currently (2012–2021) consists of 21 members from single-member districts. In the pr ...

, representing Clark County District 6
map
from 2009 to 13, defeating incumbent Bob Beers in 2008. She did not run for re-election in 2012.

Early life

Allison Copening was born in

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

. She graduated from Bonanza High School in 1982, and also attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies. Her parents were Harold and Jane Mellot; Copening had one older brother, Michael and one older sister, Gina.

Career

Copening started her career in the field of

broadcasting Broadcasting is the data distribution, distribution of sound, audio audiovisual content to dispersed audiences via a electronic medium (communication), mass communications medium, typically one using the electromagnetic spectrum (radio waves), ...

for nine years at the CBS affiliate in

, KLAS TV.

Personal life

Copening fought with

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

since 2005. She died on January 18, 2020, after a brief illness at the age of 55.

References

External links

Nevada State Legislature - Senator Allison Copening
''official government website''
Allison Copening for State Senator
''official campaign website''
Project Vote Smart - Senator Allison Copening (NV)
profile *''Follow the Money'' - Allison Copening
2008
campaign contributions 1964 births 2020 deaths Democratic Party Nevada state senators Politicians from Las Vegas Women state legislators in Nevada University of Nevada, Las Vegas alumni 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century members of the Nevada Legislature {{Nevada-politician-stub