Loella Haskew
Loella Dotterer Szeden Haskew | |
|---|---|
| 71st Mayor of Walnut Creek | |
| Assumed office March 29, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Simmons |
| Mayor Pro Tem | |
| In office December 1, 2015 – March 29, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Cindy Silva |
| Council Member in the Walnut Creek City Council | |
| Assumed office November 2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Loella Dotterer Szeden December , 1945 Staten Island, New York City U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Ralph Haskew (m. 1985) |
| Children | Steve Dotterer |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | Golden Gate University |
| Occupation | Accountant, Charity Worker, Volunteer, Politician |
Loella Dotterer Szeden Haskew [1] (born December 1945) is the 71st and current Mayor of Walnut Creek.[2] Before entering politics, she was an accountant, volunteer, and a charity worker.
Early Life (1945–1982)
Loella was born Loella Dotterer Szeden in December 1945 in Staten Island, New York to William S. Szeden (February 12, 1919 – November 10, 2000), a telephone equipment engineer from Chicago, and Ida Louise Szeden (1914–May 3, 1974). Haskew is the oldest of five children – Richard Harrington, David Harrington, Beverly Harrington, and Natalie Harrington.[3]
She lived in New York before moving to Walnut Creek, California in her senior year of high school. Haskew received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1980 and her Master's degree in Taxation and Accounting from Golden Gate University in 1986. Before attending university, Haskew spent many years working in community service.[4]
Accounting and Charity Work (1982–present)
Loella got her first job outside community service in 1982 when she began working for Blanding Boyer & Rockwell – a private accounting firm. Here she met (and later married) CPA Ralph Haskew.
In 1985, one year before her university graduation, Haskew became a referee for the Pleasant Hill Martinez Soccer Association. During her time there, she received “referee of the year” twice before becoming Treasurer of the Board for the Association. She gave birth to her son, Steve Dotterer, while affiliated with this group. She left the association in 1996.
Upon leaving her Treasurer position, Haskew became involved with Coopers & Lybrand LLP, working as a tax manager for one year.
Haskew then accepted a job offer from Stonefield Josephine to become a senior tax manager in 1998. She left both Coopers & Lybrand and Blanding Boyer and Rockwell to pursue this.
Her involvement with a public company and her 17 years in accounting created more job offers. She left Stonefield Josephine in 1999 to become a treasurer and board member for the Diablo Regional Arts Association and a partner for Buckley Patchen Riemann & Hall.
Haskew gained more attention as she became involved with organizations such as the East Bay Times – a local newspaper, and the Contra Costa Children Council. These organizations led to her participation in the Walnut Creek Arts Vision Task Force for two years (2002–2004) and becoming a treasurer and board member for the Cancer Support Community.
In 2010, Haskew joined the Kennedy King Memorial as a treasurer and board member. This was followed by joining the Walnut Creek Blue Ribbon Task Force from 2011–2012.[5]
Beginning of Political Career (2012–2016)
As her achievements gained widespread attention among Walnut Creek citizens, Haskew joined the California Republican Party (CRP) and became a council member in the Walnut Creek City Council in November 2012 under Mayor Cindy Silva. After her election, Haskew disengaged from all her affiliated groups except the Cancer Support Community and the Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Two years later, Loella announced her interest in running for Mayor of Walnut Creek as a Republican candidate.[6] She based her priorities around finance, community, and overall Green Conservatism. She ran against former mayor Cindy Silva, Mayor Bob Simmons, Councilman Justin Wedel, and Councilman Rich Carlston. Her campaign was largely supported by other involved community members.
Transition to Mayor (2016–present)
On December 1, 2015, the Walnut Creek City Council announced that Loella Haskew would serve as the new Mayor of Walnut Creek. Many former mayors were in attendance during her transition. [7]
As mayor, Loella has made significant changes to Walnut Creek. This includes organizing fundraisers, stabilizing Walnut Creek’s finances, and increasing community involvement.[8]
Controversy
Unfortunately, many former mayors and business leaders have expressed discontent with Haskew. As Walnut Creek’s crime rate has risen since the 2013 sexual assault scandal, Haskew has shown no remorse in attempting to protect the city but has displayed more interest in charity over business and protection – creating new enemies for her campaign.[9]
Campaign for Second Term
As the next election is scheduled for November 2018, Haskew has announced her interest in a second term. She will be running against Councilman Kevin Wilk, former Mayor Bob Simmons, and Councilman Justin Wedel – who has the support of former mayors and business leaders. Currently, Haskew is in second place with 25.3% of the vote – only ahead of former mayor Bob Simmons.
Personal Life
Loella married Accountant CPA Ralph Haskew in 1985. She gave birth to Steve Dotterer in the early 1990s, named after Loella’s grandfather Steve Szeden. Currently, Steve is an Army Staff Sergeant First Class and is married to Joelyn Dotterer. He is stationed at Fort Sam Houston and lives in San Antonio, Texas with two children. Loella also has three step-nieces – Shannon Harrington King, Megan Harrington, and Caitlin Harrington.
While serving as mayor, Haskew has remained involved with numerous organizations. This includes the Cancer Support Community (since 2005), the Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship Fund (since 2010), and other groups such as the East Bay Times, Lincoln Club of Northern California, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce, Walnut Creek Library Foundation, and Contra Costa Childcare Council.
External Links
- http://www.walnut-creek.org/ - Walnut Creek Website
- https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/ - Cancer Support Community
- http://www.kennedyking.org/ - Kennedy King Memorial Scholarship Fund
- http://www.walnut-creek.org/government/city-council - Walnut Creek City Council
- https://www.cocokids.org/- Contra Costa Childcare Council
- https://twitter.com/loellah?lang=en - Twitter Page for Loella Haskew
- https://twitter.com/walnutcreekgov?lang=en- City of Walnut Creek Twitter Page
Notes
This article "Loella Haskew" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Loella Haskew. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "Loella Haskew in California". Instant Checkmate. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Walnut Creek Mayors, 1914-2014". walnutcreek100. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ Chobits, James. "William S. Szeden". Ancestry. December 13, 2003. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Loella Haskew". Walnut Creek. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Loella Haskew". Voters Edge. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ Rohit, Joy. "Republicans Guaranteed a Majority on Walnut Creek City Council in 2013". Flash Report. November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ McGall, Andrew. "Walnut Creek's new mayor is Loella Haskew". Times Standard. February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Walnut Creek: City facing steep hike in pension costs". East Bay Times. Jennifer Modenessi. March 13, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Walnut Creek council dysfunction must end". East Bay Times. October 14, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
