Q & A

Anaheim City Councilwoman-Elect Shirley McCracken

Shirley McCracken, only the second woman in Anaheim’s history to be elected to the City Council, will be sworn in tonight. Voters on Nov. 5 elected her to replace four-year Councilman Frank Feldhaus. McCracken, 59, said being the only woman in the crowd is not new to her: She has five brothers; holds a master’s degree in mathematics and was often the only woman in her graduate school classes; and had a career as a junior high school and high school math teacher. She now conducts management training workshops for nonprofit organizations and is a former president of the Anaheim Arts Council and former member of the city’s Budget Advisory Commission. McCracken, an Anaheim Hills resident, spoke with Times correspondent Debra Cano about her new role.

Q: As the only woman on the council, what challenges will you face?

A: I don’t foresee any problems in working with the men on the council. I will respect them and their views, and I know they will respect me and my views because I do my homework to be prepared. And we’re all working toward the same end: to make life better for the residents and businesses in Anaheim.

Q: Do you view yourself as a role model for other women?

A: I suppose I have to in one sense because I am a woman. You’re there to let them know they also have the opportunity. I hope someday there will be more than one woman on the City Council. Getting involved in city commissions was a growing experience for me, and I would recommend to other women that they look for that opportunity too.

Q: This year’s campaign was your second run for a council seat. To what do you attribute your victory?

A: That I continued to work in the city. I said I wasn’t going to disappear, and I didn’t. I’ve made my life in Anaheim, and I continue to be involved in Anaheim. I’ve worked with the community, and the community realized that I will continue to work for them.

Q: What are some goals your first year on the council?

A: To survive! I had promised there would be attention given to neighborhoods and the small businesses, particularly vacant storefronts and deteriorating infrastructure. I will support any program that will address those issues. We also need to make a positive effort to promote a plan for the downtown area--a plan that can be worked on so it can be accomplished in a short amount of time. The community doesn’t want to wait another 10 years.

Q: What are you looking forward to as you take your council seat?

A: It’s an accomplishment and a new beginning. This is going to give me an opportunity to serve my community, and I hope I can make positive contributions during the time I serve on the council.