ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED LIEU
53RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release: March 10, 2008
Contact: Ashlie Simpson
Phone: (916) 319-2053

Lieu Names Former Torrance Mayor and Community Activist, Dee Hardison as 53rd Assembly District "Woman of the Year"

Sacramento, CA - At a ceremony in Sacramento today, Assemblymember Ted Lieu named Dee Hardison, former Mayor of Torrance and long-time community activist, as the 2008 53rd Assembly District "Woman of the Year." The ceremony was held on Monday to correspond with Women’s History Month.

Hardison began her service in the community as a school teacher with Torrance Unified School District, where she spent 26 dedicated years as a special education teacher. While a teacher, she was appointed to the City of Torrance's Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission. In 1986, she successfully ran for a seat on the City Council and served there for eight years. Having reached the limits on terms of service, she then successfully ran for Mayor, a post she has held with distinction and grace. As Mayor of Torrance, she helped to build the Sports Center at Wilson Park, the Madrona Marsh Nature Center, the Torrance Veterans Memorial and oversaw the expansion of the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library.

"I’m excited and honored to name someone who has done so much for the community," Lieu said. "Dee Hardison is a tremendous asset and treasure in the South Bay area."

Aside from her work at the city, Ms. Hardison’s community involvement includes sitting on the boards of the Torrance Cultural Arts Center Foundation, the Torrance Education Foundation, South Bay Cities Council of Governments, the Torrance Sister City Association, the Rose Float Association, and the Torrance League of Women Voters. In addition to her work with these commissions she has stayed active with the Blue Ribbon Society and the Torrance Performing Arts Commission. She also led the successful community outreach effort to keep open Harbor UCLA Medical Center. She still remains active with the research institute at the hospital, among many other groups.

"People like Dee Hardison are the reason we have such a strong community in this area," Lieu added. "She deserves this recognition and much, much more."

Dee Hardison served as mayor of Torrance from 1994-2002.