Judy Abdo Photo Album Collection
Owning Institution: Santa Monica Public Library
About this Collection
A long time activist, Judy Abdo’s career in public service paralleled many of the major events in Santa Monica’s progressive political movement, including rent control, anti-AIDS discrimination ordinance, environmental issues and early childhood education. In 1988, Abdo (who came out in 1978) became the first openly lesbian elected to Santa Monica’s city leadership, serving on the City Council from 1988 to 1996, including two terms as Mayor (1990-1991, 1992-1994).Born in 1943 and raised in Hollywood, California, Judy Abdo (nee Ulrich) knew as early as second grade that she wanted to be a teacher. At University of California, Santa Barbara, she paved the way for teaching with a degree in early childhood education. After college, Abdo taught primary school in Burbank until her husband Joseph Abdo’s job transfer took the couple to Maryland and then Kansas, where Judy spent three years teaching kindergarten — an experience that was instrumental in honing her skills at bringing people together to achieve common goals.
After the couple returned to California in the early 1970s, Abdo continued to teach in Burbank before her career took an unexpected and different turn: a friend suggested that she became involved in the Church in Ocean Park, an inclusive and interfaith congregation. The suggestion seemed improbable at first — Abdo said she didn't even know where Ocean Park was — but within a year, she moved from Hollywood to Ocean Park and began working with Jim Conn, the founding minister of the Church. Conn also served on the City Council from 1981 to 1988.
Conn’s decision to not run for re-election prompted Abdo to seek a seat on the City Council in 1988, as she and others felt strongly the Ocean Park neighborhood ought to have representation on the Council. Though it was her first campaign for elected office, Abdo was not a novice to the workings of municipal government: she had served as a Council Deputy in West Hollywood for Councilwoman Helen Albert. After the November 1998 election, Abdo was sworn in along with Herb Katz, Dennis Zane and Ken Genser, giving the progressive side a majority on the seven-member Council.
The most significant event during Abdo’s tenure as Mayor was the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake. The pre-dawn 6.7 quake inflicted widespread damages in the Los Angeles region. In Santa Monica, more than 1,600 housing units were damaged, as were the City’s Main Library, two hospitals and the Saint Monica Catholic Church. The collapsed part of the 10 Interstate Freeway made it difficult for rescue workers and reporters to reach Santa Monica.
The City’s leadership quickly realized that the rebuilding efforts would be massive and expensive — and federal assistance would be crucial. To that end, Abdo and her team managed to capture the attention of the Clinton administration at the cabinet level, securing millions of dollars in aid. Abdo also worked with Senators Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to ensure that FEMA would open a field office in Santa Monica.
In addition to her leadership roles in City government, Abdo was a cofounder of Santa Monica's Sojourn Shelter and Santa Monica AIDS Project. She was a steering committee member of Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights (SMRR). She served on the boards of the Ocean Park Community Center, the Pier Restoration Committee and other community organizations. Abdo has served as liaison to Santa Monica’s Planning Commission, Environmental Task Force, Airport Commission, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Older Americans, Arts Commission and the Recreation and Parks Commission. She is Vice Chair for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Commission Vice Chair for First 5 LA. View this collection on the contributor's website.
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