Long Beach's leading lady

Even so, she is currently in the midst of her second term of office, having received more than three-forths of the popular vote in the election of 1998.

While she was not thinking of City Hall during her days as a college student, she was politically active even then.  After transferring to Long Beach State for her final two years of college (CSULB was a two-year school at the time), she served as president of a woman's association, vice president of the student body, and was honored as Outstanding Woman of the Year.  Years later, she would be named YMCA Woman of Excellence (1990), and Woman of the Year for California 54th Assembly District (1995).

"People saw things I could do I didn't know I could do," she says now, describing her professors as "outstanding" and "nurturing."

The Mayor came through the Long Beach public school system after beginning at the Long Beach Day Nursery.  She is a member of the Class of 1952, having earned both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Elementary Education.
 
 

"It was great to be there when the school was growing and developing," she says, "there was a strong sense of camaraderie."

Her husband also attended CSULB and five school administrators were present at their wedding.

After Long Beach State the Mayor studied at the University of Vienna, and earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California. 

Then began more than three decades at Long Beach City College.  Starting as a women's advisor and music instructor, she later became Campus Dean, Dean of Student Affairs, Vice President of Student Services; and her last five years as Superintendent-President.

"I became more aware of myself at Long Beach (State)," she notes, and is quick to point out that the personal interest of her teachers was evident.

Earlier this year Mayor O'Neill was elected as one of 27 members of  the U.S. Conference of Mayors Advisory Board, and was also unanimously elected as second vice president of the League of California Cities.  In addition she has served as chair of the committee on Jobs, Education and the Workforce for the past three years.

Most remarkable about the Mayor is the fact that she is as amiable with important business leaders as she is with children she is meeting for the first time.  She was clearly having a great time with the kids at the recent Long Beach Ice and Lights, the city's Christmas tree lighting ceremony

Her patience with shadowing photographers is also quite noteworthy.

She points to her college days as the time these leadership skills were being developed and sees the CSULB of today as a valuable part of the Long Beach community. She notes, "we are really fortunate to have this university this close.".