From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shirley Dean
Shirley Dean
Shirley Dean that she visited the school seeking to read about Wor-
thington in the college’s newspaper, a public record. She
Mayor of Berkeley also stated she never asked for non-public records and
In office that upon the request of the college showed her Califor-
December 1994 – November 2002 nia Driver’s License bearing her full name and address.
There is no record of her ever having said a word about
Preceded by Loni Hancock
the material she read in the college’s newspaper.
Succeeded by Tom Bates During most of her two-term tenure as Mayor, she
Personal details worked with divided City Council that had a 5-4 progres-
sive majority. The position of mayor in the city of Berke-
Born Eaton, Colorado ley is largely a symbolic post, carrying no more pow-
Political party Democratic er than other council members.[7] Dean compensated by
working relentlessly on programs she thought were best
Shirley Ann Dean (Bryant) considered moderate in
(Bryant), for the city.[8] For much of her career, Dean’s political
Berkeley politics, [1] is an American politician who served base was the very active network of Berkeley neighbor-
as the Mayor of Berkeley, California from 1994 to 2002. hood organizations, however many of her critics and ri-
Before serving two terms as Berkeley’s Mayor, Dean vals found her to be too conservative. Dean and other
served on the Berkeley City Council for 15 years between members of the City Council were openly mocked at a
1975 and 1994[2] and was a leader of the Berkeley Democ- city-sponsored art festival where a satirical, mock City
ratic Club. Council meeting was staged in which actors took over the
Shirley Dean grew up in a single parent family, and Council Chambers and ridiculed Berkeley’s elected offi-
graduated from Berkeley High School in 1952. She was se- cials.
lected as a Distinguished Graduate in the Berkeley High After September 11, when the progressive City Coun-
School Hall of Fame,[3] and was the first in her family cil majority voted to condemn the war in Afghanistan,
to attend college. She graduated with honors from UC Dean went on Fox News and reported that the Council’s
Berkeley with a BA in Social Welfare in 1956. actions were prompting a flood of letters and e-mails
During part of the time that she served as Mayor, she threatening an economic boycott of the City .[9] On a tele-
worked on a half-time appointment for UC Berkeley Un- vision show regarding the issue, she called her Council
dergraduate Admission and Relations with Schools and colleagues who had voted for the measure “patriots” who
the Office of Admissions.[2] Her responsibilities included had every right to protest.
writing the plan and supervising field work for the re- Dean lost her bid for reelection in 2002 to fellow de-
cruitment of minority students to the UC Berkeley cam- mocrat Tom Bates. The day before the election Tom Bates
pus and visiting high schools throughout the State of Cal- stole 1,000 copies of The Daily Californian because the pa-
ifornia. She received two Distinguished Service Awards per had endorsed Dean. Bates was charged with the theft,
from UC Berkeley for her work before she retired in pled guilty, was fined, and ordered to pay the paper resti-
March, 2000.[4] tution.[10]
In July 2008, Dean announced that she intends to run Dean’s accomplishments as Mayor include:
for mayor again, in the November 2008 election.[5] • Recognition for bringing the Arts and Theater
District to life in Downtown Berkeley by establishing
a public-private partnership with the Tony Award-
winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre and bringing in
Mayor the JazzSchool, Aurora Theater, and Nevo Center for
Shirley Dean was first elected Mayor of Berkeley in 1994 the Performing Arts in one of Berkeley’s oldest
after a close run-off race.[2] buildings.[11] The Arts and Theater District was
She was re-elected by more than 56% of the vote in showcased by the United States Conference of
1998.[2] Some may remember that the month before her Mayors as an example of revitalization of a declining
1998 victory her opponent, Don Jelinek, accused her of downtown area. It is estimated that over a 5 year
having disguised her identity while visiting Wilmington period the city’s original investment of $5.5 million
College, the college that rival Councilmember and Jelinek on Arts District projects generated over $150 million
supporter Kriss Worthington attended.[6] Dean stated
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shirley Dean
in public and private spending in the downtown cil member from District 5, she held the seat until 1994
area.[12] when she was elected Mayor.
• Putting together the funding to build the Berkeley
I-80 bridge a bicycle and pedestrian overpass that
spans the multi-lane I-80 Freeway providing safe
Recent Community Involve-
passage from the city to the Eastshore State Park and ment
the Berkeley Marina.[2]
Since leaving the Mayor’s Office in 2002, Dean has been
• Development of a plan for City-sponsored housing
involved in several community and environmental orga-
assistance for people with AIDS to remain in their
nizations, serving on the boards of:
own homes based on the input of a task force she
• Save Strawberry Canyon, an organization working to
formed that included members of the AIDS
preserve the watershed and woodlands of
community. The unanimously approved plan served
Strawberry Canyon from proposed construction by
as the pre-cursor to the city obtaining federally
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.[20]
sponsored supportive housing.[13]
• A Better Way, an East Bay social service and mental
• Working to restore the landmark Marin Circle
health agency that serves children and their families.
Fountain with private funds. The fountain is the
• Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP),[21] working to
largest public works gift ever given to the city of
extend the waterfront park through Point Molate in
Berkeley.
Richmond, California.[22]
• Working in partnership with Country Joe McDonald
In 2003, Dean was named Woman of the year by the Zonta
to honor veterans by bringing the “Wall that Heals”,
Club of Berkeley/North Bay. In 2009, Dean appeared in
a Vietnam War memorial, to Berkeley in honor of
the documentary film Power Trip: Theatrically Berkeley
those who served, died and protested that war.[14]
about the controversial greening of Berkeley after the
• Establish programs expanding and renovating the
passage of Berkeley Proposition G. Dean made headlines
city’s library, constructing 800 new housing units
in 2007 when she, at age 71, city council member Betty
including the Gaia Building downtown, and lowering
Olds, 86, and noted environmentalist and co-founder of
crime.[15]
Save the Bay, Sylvia McLaughlin, 90, climbed a ladder to
• As Chair of the East Bay Public Safety Corridor,
briefly join a tree-sit aimed at saving the Memorial Oak
leading the East Bay regional effort to ban the sale of
Grove outside the stadium of the University of California,
Saturday Night Specials, enact trigger lock
Berkeley.[23] [24] After a 21-month protest, the oak trees
ordinances, and impose special taxes on retailers
were cut down.[25]
who sell guns.[16] This work was recognized by the
United States Department of Justice and Attorney
General Janet Reno as exemplary. She also secured Offices Held
private contributions to purchase an outdoor
sculpture, “The Berkeley Peace Bell”, made from
melted guns.[17] External links
• Shirley Dean for Mayor website
Early Political Career • Shirley Dean’s Candidate Profile
Dean started her political career by organizing the
Bonita-Berryman Neighborhood Association, which led References
to her appointment in 1971 to the city’s Planning Com- [1] Shirley Dean to Seek Another Term as Mayor
mission. In the early 70s, she worked with Urban Care (sources Dean as moderate)
to stop the development of a large shopping center on [2] ^ Profile of Shirley Dean at the Berkeleyan
the waterfront.[8] She also worked with Urban Care to [3] Berkeley Alumni Association - Alumni of All
achieve Council approval for what is recognized as one of Berkeley Schools September 23, 2008
the best Landmarks Preservation Ordinances in the Na- [4] League of Women Voters Full Biography for Shirley
tion.[18] In 1976, she was elected from a caucus in her Dean
congressional district as a delegate to the Democratic Na- [5] Article in The Daily Californian
tional Convention in New York City pledged to Senator [6] Berkeley Mayor Accused of Lying About Fact-
Frank Church.[19] Finding Expedition
Dean served on the Berkeley City Council for 15 years [7] Structure of Berkeley Government
between 1975 and 1994.[2] She was first elected to the City [8] ^ Article in The Berkeley Daily Planet
Council in 1975 as an at large member, she served on the [9] Berkeley Draws Ire for Anti-War Stand
council until 1982. When district elections were adopt- [10] Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates to Plead Guilty to Theft
ed in Berkeley in 1986 Dean was the first elected coun-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Shirley Dean
Political offices
Preceded by Berkeley City Council Member Succeeded by
NA 1975–1982 NA
Preceded by Berkeley City Council Member, District 5 Succeeded by
NA 1986–1994 Diane Bauer
Preceded by Mayor of Berkeley, California Succeeded by
Loni Hancock 1994–2002 Tom Bates
[11] The New York Times ARTS IN AMERICA; Berkeley [22] CESP works with park agencies to forge an affordable
Now Nurtures Theater as Well as Protest Brickyard Plan
[12] Mayors Gather in Indianapolis to Learn About Model [23] A Dose of Maturity for a California Protest
Arts Programs [24] Dean, Olds, McLaughlin Join Campus Tree Protest
[13] Homelessness Prevention - Continuum Of Care Plan [25] http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/
- City of Berkeley, CA 2008/09/09/MNMD12QPGR.DTL
[14] War Memorial on its way to Berkeley Persondata
[15] Bates Ousts Incumbent Dean in Berkeley Mayors
Name Dean, Shirley
Race
[16] Gun Control - City of Oakland Alternative names
[17] City of Berkeley Guns to Art Project Peace Bell Short description
[18] Landmarks Preservation Ordinance 2006 Update Date of birth
[19] Candidate - 2008 - Dean - City of Berkeley, CA
Place of birth Eaton, Colorado
September 23, 2008
[20] Wild Neighbors: Strawberry Canyon and UC’s Date of death
Edifice Complex Place of death
[21] Citizens for East Shore Parks Board of Directors
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Categories: Mayors of Berkeley, California, Living people, American women mayors, Women in California politics
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