Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of Lancaster

Nellie Tillman Biography

I learned my values from my parents who reared all of their six children with love discipline and respect for traditional work ethics. From my mother I learned strength perseverance and tenacity. As soon as we were old enough and in school my mother opened up three restaurants. I remember my mother getting up at 3:00 am to go open her business. These restaurants were truly family businesses. My siblings and I waited tables, mopped floors, worked the cash registers all the while being taught "don't expect someone else to do a job you are unwilling to do yourself". My family always went to church every Sunday, if we did not go to church we were not allowed to do anything or go anywhere else. In high school I got involved in acting and drama and learned to be comfortable in leadership roles. My father worked for the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and he made sure all of his children got a good education. He insisted that his children maintain a "higher standard" and cheating or cutting corners was not allowed. I remember my father insisting that we never use the word "hate". On one occasion I mentioned a particular actor that I hated and my father asked me why. I said because someone told me this actor hated people of color. My father asked me some questions, he asked did I know the actor which I said no, and he proceeded to asked me if I heard the actor say he did not like people of color. Again I answered no my father then told me never form opinions about someone unless I had personal knowledge of their behavior or attitudes. That lesson stuck with me and has been my cornerstone of my philosophy and personal values as an adult.

As a young mother with two sons, recently divorced, I began working at Kaiser Permanente as a file clerk over thirty years ago. During the course of my thirty years employment I held many positions. My most fulfilling position was when I worked as a receptionist in the pediatrics department cancer unit where I noticed that the terminally ill children gravitated toward me. I and my sons began spending time with some of the young cancer patients and their families. I wanted my sons to learn that people yes even very young people find courage in all types of difficulties. That adversity can be a character building experience. One patient in particular Raymond Parks gave me the honorable title of "Black Pearl" to this day I still wear that title. He also reminded me that I did not pick the children to be their friend and confidant but that they picked me. Raymond has since passed along with many others but in my mind and heart I am still his Black Pearl. Many years later I became a CASA worker. CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate being a mentor of reason and stability in the lives of a troubled youth. After that I went on inactive status for CASA so I could go back to school and earn dual AA degrees in Business and Liberal Arts. I became involved in politics at Kaiser Permanente. I joined the union and served as a union steward for 23 years, lending my voice to various boards and committees. I got involved because I felt employees and management needed someone who would be honest and would be truthful in their negotiations. I was often called upon to negotiate win-win situations for both sides.

I got involved in this political race because I want to make a difference. I feel that I have no right to criticize and complain about something unless I'm willing to get involved. I began looking around and I noticed that there were no women on the Lancaster City Council. I couldn't believe that the educated insightful women in this area had no one to represent their concerns. I feel strongly that women should be making public policy here in Lancaster. The council should have an "Open Door policy" that constituents should have a voice. I feel that I can be that voice.