Storybank: Betty Trotter
Tribute to Betty Trotter (LWV Los Angeles)
The League lost one of its brightest stars when Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Trotter passed away on December 31, 2011. Betty, a former journalist, will be remembered for her top-notch writing skills, her sharp mind and sharp wit, her dedication to the League and to public service, and her enduring friendships.
Her obituary was published in the Los Angeles Times January 22. A private celebration of her life will be held at the end of January. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the League of Women Voters of California.
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Her Service and Legacy
Betty served on three League levels: California State (LWVC), Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City. The following summary doesn’t begin to do justice to the depth and breadth of her many activities.
Betty was a member of the State League Board of Directors from 1979 to 1984. In 1982, she was a researcher/writer for the LWVC publication, “Reapportionment: Some Pieces in the Puzzle.” As LWVC Government Director, she chaired the original LWVC study of the initiative and referendum, which was the basis for the current LWVC position. As chair of the study, Betty was the principal author of a paperback book published by the study committee, “Initiative and Referendum in California: A Legacy Lost,” and she produced a well-received forum on the topic, with a number of distinguished panelists, at California State University, Northridge, in January 1984. Betty continued on as LWVC consultant on the initiative, testifying on the subject before various governmental bodies, including the A. Alan Post Citizen’s Commission on Ballot Initiatives. She also served as public relations coordinator for the LWVC Campaign ‘86 Debates project, and was active in the Campaign ‘78 and ‘82 projects.
Betty served as president of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles from 1977-1979, and as president of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County from 1984-1988. An indefatigable worker, she also held a number of other positions over the years in both of these Leagues.
Betty’s non-League public service activities were numerous. She served as Vice-Chair of the Los Angeles County Citizens’ Economy and Efficiency Commission, which studied various aspects of county government, and on which she researched and wrote the commission’s publication, “Public Access to Decision-Making.” She served on the California Judicial Council Advisory Committee on Judgeship; the Legislative Analyst’s State Ballot Readability Committee; the State Board of Corrections Advisory Committee on Jail Funding Criteria; the Board of Directors of Common Cause/California; and the Advisory Committee of the Urban Archives Center, California State University, Northridge.
Betty graduated from U.C. Berkeley with highest honors in journalism, and was a life-long Cal fan. As “Women’s Editor” of the Ventura County Star-Free Press (1945-57), she was instrumental in getting Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton his first newspaper job, and they remained friends for years.
Betty is survived by her son, Jim Trotter, an architect based in San Francisco. She will be missed by all.
Memorial by Sandy Wolber