Newspaper clippings · 1998Estimated date
Mary Tyson dies — former Hermosa mayor remembered
David Hunt reports on the former mayor’s death and interviews colleagues about her civic career. A group photo shows Tyson with other elected officials. The continuation is missing.
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Mary Tyson dies; was tough leader, caring neighbor
by David Hunt
Mary Tyson, a member of the progressive city council majority that ruled Hermosa Beach in the 1970s and 1980s, died last Wednesday in La Salinas, Mexico, from complications of an infection. She was 68. Her family held a memorial service there on Saturday.
Tyson, whose sweet nature and folksy manner endeared her to friends and neighbors, as well as political opponents, helped bring lasting changes to Hermosa during her council tenure, 1974 to 1982. An early leader of the property tax revolt that shook California in the late 1970s, she initiated the city's lawsuit against then-county Tax Assessor Philip Watson for allegedly engaging in unfair practices.
"She was very bright and very, very politically sharp. She was nobody's dummy," said Deputy City Clerk Naoma Valdes on Tuesday. "People forgot she was as sharp as she was because she had the folksy attitude. It was an asset to her. Everybody was 'dear,' and 'sweetie,' and 'honey' to her. She may have hated their guts, but they were still 'dear,' and 'sweetie,' and 'honey.'"
Tyson was a longtime Democratic party activist who became active in Hermosa's volatile political scene in the late 1960s, when then-Police Chief William Berlin placed suspected left-wing radicals under surveillance at the behest of city officials.
The resulting political firestorm that led to the ouster of the chief and several
Mary Tyson (right) with friends at La Venta Inn in the early-1970s. From left, Bill Malone, John Rogers, Charlotte Malone and unidentified man and woman.
other top city officials launched the political careers of a new crop of civic activists.
By the early 1970s, many of the town's leading progressives, including Al and Naoma Valdes, Jane Turner, John Hales, George Schmeltzer, Hank Doerfling, Chip Post, Lance Widman and Tyson formed a grassroots political group called Citizens for Good Government.
"We had a consensus of where we thought the town ought to be going, which is where it wasn't going," said Widman. "It was a free-for-all pro-development council at that time."
The Good Government group was remarkably successful in grooming its members and securing their election to city council. Post and Doerfling were elected in 1972; Widman and Tyson followed in 1974 and Schmeltzer picked up a seat in 1976.
"Mary was an excellent campaign worker," said Naoma Valdes. "She knew a lot of people and was friendly and outgoing. We said Mary could sell freezers to Eskimos. She had a very persuasive way. She was the world's greatest on the telephone. But we never could get her to walk a precinct, not even her own."
With her Good Government colleagues, Tyson reduced residential density, purchased Pier Avenue School as the site for the town's Community Center, established paramedic service, instituted
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Mary Tyson dies; was tough leader, caring neighbor by David Hunt Mary Tyson, a member of the progres- sive city council majority that ruled Hermosa Beach in the 1970s and 1980s, died last Wednesday in La Salinas, Mexico, from complications of an infec- tion. She was 68. Her family held a memorial service there on Saturday. Tyson, whose sweet nature and folksy manner endeared her to friends and neighbors, as well as political opponents, helped bring lasting changes to Hermosa during her council tenure, 1974 to 1982. An early leader of the property tax revolt that shook California in the late 1970s, she initiated the city's lawsuit against then-county Tax Assessor Philip Watson for allegedly engaging in unfair practices. "She was very bright and very, very politically sharp. She was nobody's other top city officials launched the polit- dummy," said Deputy City Clerk Naoma ical careers of a new crop of civic activists. Valdes on Tuesday. "People forgot she was as sharp as she was because she had By the early 1970s, many of the town's the folksy attitude. It was an asset to her. leading progressives, including Al and Naoma Valdes, Jane Turner, John Hales, Everybody was 'dear, and 'sweetie, and 'honey' to her. She may have hated their George Schmeltzer, Hank Doerfling, guts, but they were still 'dear' and Chip Post, Lance Widman and Tyson 'sweetie, and 'honey." formed a grassroots political group called Citizens for Good Government. Tyson was a longtime Democratic party activist who became active in "We had a consensus of where we Hermosa's volatile political scene in the thought the town ought to be going, late 1960s, when then-Police Chief which is where it wasn't going," said William Berlin placed suspected left- Widman. "It was a free-for-all pro-devel- wing radicals under surveillance at the opment council at that time." behest of city officials. The Good Government group was The resulting political firestorm that led to the ouster of the chief and several remarkably successful in grooming its members and securing their election to Mary Tyson (right/ with friends at La Venta Inn in the early-1970s. From left, Bill Malone, John Rogers, Charlotte Malone and unidentified man and woman. city council. Post and Doerfling were elected in 1972; Widman and Tyson fol- lowed in 1974 and Schmeltzer picked up a seat in 1976. "Mary was an excellent campaign worker," said Naoma Valdes. "She knew a lot of people and was friendly and out- going. We said Mary could sell freezers to Eskimos. She had a very persuasive way. She was the world's greatest on the telephone. But we never could get her to walk a precinct, not even her own. With her Good Government col- leagues, Tyson reduced residential densi- ty, purchased Pier Avenue School as the site for the town's Community Center, established paramedic service, instituted >42