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Maureen O'Connor (California politician)
Encyclopedia
Maureen Frances O'Connor (July 14, 1946–) is an American
Democratic politician
from California
.
Maureen O'Connor was born 1946 in San Diego, California. She was one of 13 children; her parents were former local boxer, "Kid Jerome", and Frances Mary O'Connor. She and her twin sister Mavourneen ("Mo") were avid athletes in their youth—she a swimmer and her sister a tennis player. Maureen graduated from San Diego State University
in 1970. After graduation, O'Connor was physical education teacher and counselor for Rosary High School for a few years.
Although shy, she got her start in politics after being treated rudely at City Hall. In 1971 she ran for and was elected to the San Diego City Council and served to 1979.
O'Connor was commissioner for the Port of San Diego from 1980–1985.
O'Connor met her future husband Robert O. Peterson
, founder of the Jack in the Box fast food
chain, while first running for city council, and were married in 1977 in Europe
. Although a Republican, he supported her in her political campaigns. He filed for divorce in 1985 but they soon reconciled. Peterson died in 1994. They had no children.
In 1983 she ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Roger Hedgecock
, but won in 1985 after Hedgecock resigned under a cloud of scandal. O'Connor was the first female mayor of San Diego and served until 1992. She was considered by many to be the voice of the people.
O'Connor once spent a few nights incognito with the homeless to see first-hand how they were doing. A nun recognized her and whispered to her that "if you want to conceal your identity, you should remember that homeless women don't read the financial pages."
Although considered "one of the most popular San Diego mayors ever" by some and known affectionally as "Mayor Mo" by her supporters, her critics included members of the city council. Former councilman Bob Filner
accused her of avoiding debate and "bullying people, one issue at a time."
Others charged that she avoided difficult issues and concentrated on her "'populist' appeal that [is] . . . 'a mile wide and an inch deep.'"
In 2000 she joined consumer activists in decrying the notoriously destructive effects of utility deregulation on California. "This is turning into a nightmare for San Diego," O'Connor said. "It [deregulation] didn't work, unfortunately. . . Let's admit it, fix it and save San Diego." http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/energy/nw/?postId=2264&pageTitle=Lawmakers+to+Hold+Hearing+on+Utility+Bills
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/co/?postId=4222&pageTitle=Power+to+the+People--+At+an+Affordable+Rate
Upon the death of her friend, philanthropist Joan B. Kroc
, in 2003, O'Connor said, "San Diego was privileged and very lucky to have Joan Kroc, whom I always called St. Joan of the Arches. She was a woman of generous spirit and a loving heart for all people of San Diego. She has no equal." http://www.nd.edu/~krocinst/about/philanthropist.html
O'Connor lives in San Diego.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from 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...
.
Maureen O'Connor was born 1946 in San Diego, California. She was one of 13 children; her parents were former local boxer, "Kid Jerome", and Frances Mary O'Connor. She and her twin sister Mavourneen ("Mo") were avid athletes in their youth—she a swimmer and her sister a tennis player. Maureen graduated from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
in 1970. After graduation, O'Connor was physical education teacher and counselor for Rosary High School for a few years.
Although shy, she got her start in politics after being treated rudely at City Hall. In 1971 she ran for and was elected to the San Diego City Council and served to 1979.
O'Connor was commissioner for the Port of San Diego from 1980–1985.
O'Connor met her future husband Robert O. Peterson
Robert O. Peterson
Robert Oscar Peterson was an American businessman and philanthropist. As the founder of the Jack in the Box restaurant chain, he popularized the drive-through fast food restaurant concept...
, founder of the Jack in the Box fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
chain, while first running for city council, and were married in 1977 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Although a Republican, he supported her in her political campaigns. He filed for divorce in 1985 but they soon reconciled. Peterson died in 1994. They had no children.
In 1983 she ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Roger Hedgecock
Roger Hedgecock
Roger Allan Hedgecock is a conservative talk radio host and former mayor of San Diego, California. His show is syndicated by Radio America. Hedgecock still resides in San Diego...
, but won in 1985 after Hedgecock resigned under a cloud of scandal. O'Connor was the first female mayor of San Diego and served until 1992. She was considered by many to be the voice of the people.
O'Connor once spent a few nights incognito with the homeless to see first-hand how they were doing. A nun recognized her and whispered to her that "if you want to conceal your identity, you should remember that homeless women don't read the financial pages."
Although considered "one of the most popular San Diego mayors ever" by some and known affectionally as "Mayor Mo" by her supporters, her critics included members of the city council. Former councilman Bob Filner
Bob Filner
Robert Earl Filner is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the 50th, serving since 1993, and Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
accused her of avoiding debate and "bullying people, one issue at a time."
Others charged that she avoided difficult issues and concentrated on her "'populist' appeal that [is] . . . 'a mile wide and an inch deep.'"
In 2000 she joined consumer activists in decrying the notoriously destructive effects of utility deregulation on California. "This is turning into a nightmare for San Diego," O'Connor said. "It [deregulation] didn't work, unfortunately. . . Let's admit it, fix it and save San Diego." http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/energy/nw/?postId=2264&pageTitle=Lawmakers+to+Hold+Hearing+on+Utility+Bills
http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/co/?postId=4222&pageTitle=Power+to+the+People--+At+an+Affordable+Rate
Upon the death of her friend, philanthropist Joan B. Kroc
Joan B. Kroc
Joan Beverly Kroc was the third wife of McDonald's CEO Ray Kroc and a philanthropist.-Early life:...
, in 2003, O'Connor said, "San Diego was privileged and very lucky to have Joan Kroc, whom I always called St. Joan of the Arches. She was a woman of generous spirit and a loving heart for all people of San Diego. She has no equal." http://www.nd.edu/~krocinst/about/philanthropist.html
O'Connor lives in San Diego.
Quotes
- "I came in as a maverick, and I will go out as a maverick."
- "The mayor and the council in the past decade have decided to support the dessert menu: pay for ballparks, the Republican convention, anything that supports the chamber of commerce and the big downtown corporate leaders. They have neglected the basics: potholes in the streets, clean bay, clean ocean, affordable housing. When I left office there was an AAA bond rating, money in the bank. . . . [later] city government underfunded the pension fund to pay for this dessert menu."