Lorette Wood
Encyclopedia
Lorette M. Wood was an American
politician. Wood was the first woman to be elected to the city council of Santa Cruz, California
, in 1967. She later became the first woman to serve as mayor of Santa Cruz upon her appointment to the office by city council in 1971.
, California
, on May 17, 1915. Her family operated a farm. She received her bachelor's degree
in education
from San Jose State University
and a master's degree
from the University of California, Berkeley
.
She met her future husband, Edwin H. Wood, a member of the U.S. Army and surfer, while studying in Hawaii
during the summer. He visited her at her family's farm while travelling back to New York
, but he decided to stay in California with her instead of continuing to the East Coast. The couple soon married and had one son, Ed Wood. Her husband died in 1977.
In 1943, Lorette Wood moved with her family to Santa Cruz, California, where she resided for the rest of her life. The move was due to Edwin Woods job; he originally worked for Pacific Oil and Burner in Monterey, California
. However, the company opened a new branch office in Santa Cruz, necessitating the family's relocation.
.
Wood's involvement in the controversy led her to become president of the Parent-Teacher Association
(PTA). She soon began campaigning with and supporting local political candidates in Santa Cruz.
Wood, a member of the Republican Party
, was first elected to the Santa Cruz city council in 1967, becoming the city's first female councilwoman. In 1971l, the city council further appointed Wood as Santa Cruz's first female mayor. During her tenure within the city council and mayor's office, Wood openly collaborated with and supported the newly opened University of California, Santa Cruz
, whose influence gradually shifted the city's politics in a more progressive direction.
She retired from the city council in 1975. A woman's rights advocate, Wood was an active member of Planned Parenthood
's Santa Cruz chapter.
Lorette Wood died on April 20, 2010, at the age of 94. She was survived by her son, Ed Wood, and granddaughter, Kelsey Phillips.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. Wood was the first woman to be elected to the city council of Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, in 1967. She later became the first woman to serve as mayor of Santa Cruz upon her appointment to the office by city council in 1971.
Biography
Lorette Wood was born in what was then called Mission San JoseMission San José
Mission San José was founded on June 11, 1797 on a site located in the "Mission San Jose District" of Fremont, California in the "Valley of San José." The settlement was the site of the first Ceasarian section childbirth in Alta California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on May 17, 1915. Her family operated a farm. She received her bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
from San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
and a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
She met her future husband, Edwin H. Wood, a member of the U.S. Army and surfer, while studying in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
during the summer. He visited her at her family's farm while travelling back to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, but he decided to stay in California with her instead of continuing to the East Coast. The couple soon married and had one son, Ed Wood. Her husband died in 1977.
In 1943, Lorette Wood moved with her family to Santa Cruz, California, where she resided for the rest of her life. The move was due to Edwin Woods job; he originally worked for Pacific Oil and Burner in Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. However, the company opened a new branch office in Santa Cruz, necessitating the family's relocation.
Political career
Lorette Wood first became engaged in local Santa Cruz politics during the middle of the 1940s. A teacher by profession, Wood argued against a the local Santa Cruz school board's policy of terminating teachers if they became pregnant. Wood noted that the policy lead to the unnecessary loss of qualified educators in the school districtSchool district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
.
Wood's involvement in the controversy led her to become president of the Parent-Teacher Association
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
(PTA). She soon began campaigning with and supporting local political candidates in Santa Cruz.
Wood, a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, was first elected to the Santa Cruz city council in 1967, becoming the city's first female councilwoman. In 1971l, the city council further appointed Wood as Santa Cruz's first female mayor. During her tenure within the city council and mayor's office, Wood openly collaborated with and supported the newly opened University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
, whose influence gradually shifted the city's politics in a more progressive direction.
She retired from the city council in 1975. A woman's rights advocate, Wood was an active member of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
's Santa Cruz chapter.
Lorette Wood died on April 20, 2010, at the age of 94. She was survived by her son, Ed Wood, and granddaughter, Kelsey Phillips.