Candidate for
Member, City Council; City of South Pasadena

I'm a mother, wife, daughter, lawyer, and a Latina, and moved to South Pasadena with my husband Dick Helgeson 25 years ago. I helped my husband raise two sons from a prior marriage as well as our two children, all of whom had the privilege of attending South Pasadena schools. My husband who is now a retired Colonel served 34 years in the US Army Reserve and I kept the home fires burning on the many occasions when he was called to active duty.

I am a fifth generation Californian and spent my formative years growing up in East Los Angeles. My Kurdish father and Mexican-American mother met at UCLA so I've been a life-long Bruin fan -with dear friends and family as USC graduates. I graduated from UCLA with a degree in economics and as First Vice President of the undergraduate student body, followed by law school at UC Davis.

Many lawyers are dissatisfied with their careers but I loved being in-house counsel at two large water and power utilities, working with my clients to help solve a problem, protect a right or create something for the benefit of the public. My legal career was spent on public contract, construction, water and power issues.

I am now retired and an empty nester, so I have time to be very involved in my community. I served as Chair of the Water Council and am a very active member of the Natural Resources and Environmental Commission. I am proud to be a former co-President of Women Involved in South Pasadena Political Action, a local civic organization that seeks to promote transparency and good government. And I am active at Holy Family, where I serve as lector. I love to garden and am a member of South Pasadena Beautiful, which selected my home several years ago for its garden tour. I am also a member of the No 710 Action Committee, the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation, Vecinos de South Pasadena and the UCLA Alumni Association.

I believe we should all make a contribution to our community when we can, and for me that time is now. Please allow me to bring my special skills to work for the betterment of our city