Mary Katherine Shell (; February 9, 1927 — May 19, 2018) was an American Republican politician who served as the 23rd

Mayor of Bakersfield The mayor of Bakersfield is the elected leader for the city of Bakersfield, California. Prior to 1957, the mayor was appointed by the city council and the head of the executive branch. After that time, the mayor was split into two positions. The ...

for a single term between 1981 and 1985. She also served as a member of the

Kern County Board of Supervisors The Kern County Board of Supervisors is the legislative and executive body that governs Kern County, California Kern County is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 909,235. Its county seat ...

Life and career

Shell was born Mary Katherine Jaynes on February 9, 1927, in

Bakersfield Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's populat ...

, California. She worked in her father's

auto shop An automobile repair shop (also known regionally as a garage or a workshop) is an establishment where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and technicians. Types Automotive garages and repair shops can be divided into following categor ...

as a child, later becoming a news reporter at 17, and wrote for the The Bakersfield Californian. She attended Bakersfield College, but dropped out shortly before graduation, instead choosing to work a variety of jobs relating to agriculture and aviation before becoming a political organizer. During this time, she also earned a pilot's license. Her third husband was

Joseph C. Shell Joseph Claude Shell, Sr. (September 7, 1918 – April 7, 2008) was a Republican Party (United States), Republican politician from California who served in the California State Assembly from 1953 to 1963 from the California's 58th State Assembly d ...

, a

California Assemblyman The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature, the upper house being the California State Senate. The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The A ...

and World War II navy veteran. They met when Shell worked on his gubernatorial campaign for the 1962 election. Following her husband's retirement from politics, she again wrote for The Bakersfield Californian and worked in the oil industry alongside him.

Mayor of Bakersfield

Shell decided to run for mayor in the 1980 election, and came narrowly behind Sheriff Charles Dodge in the primary. She won the runoff with 61% of the vote and became the first female

. Shell attempted to connect with the city's minorities, and tried to clean up the city, creating a city beautification committee called the Beautiful Bakersfield Committee. Shell also established a historic preservation commission and created one of the first Vietnam memorials in the U.S. She also relaunched the city's Downtown Christmas parade and created a city flag. Because Bakersfield uses a

weak mayor Weak may refer to: Songs * "Weak" (AJR song), 2016 * "Weak" (Melanie C song), 2011 * "Weak" (SWV song), 1993 * "Weak" (Skunk Anansie song), 1995 * "Weak", a song by Seether from '' Seether: 2002-2013'' Television episodes * "Weak" (''Fear t ...

system of government, her role was largely ceremonial, so she decided to not seek reelection in 1984, and was succeeded by Robert Otis Price.

Later life

Shell served three terms on the

between 1985 and 1996, being an opponent of government regulation. Pete Parra succeeded her on the county board after her retirement. She considered running for the State Senate's

15th 15 (fifteen) is the natural number following 14 (number), 14 and preceding 16 (number), 16. Mathematics 15 is: * A composite number, and the sixth semiprime; its proper divisors being , and . * A deficient number, a smooth number, a lucky ...

district, but decided against it. Shell died in Bakersfield in 2018.

References

{{reflist 1927 births 2018 deaths California Republicans Mayors of places in California Politicians from Bakersfield, California 20th-century American politicians East Bakersfield High School alumni Women mayors of places in California