Bette Boatmun inspired generations through leadership courage and friendship
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Oct. 16, 2024) — In remembrance of Bette Boatmun, Contra Costa’s Superwoman.
I’m dedicating this month’s column to Bette Boatmun, a Contra Costa County icon who died Sept. 20 at age 87.
Bette was a mentor and a cherished friend for more than 30 years. We all admired her for being the longest serving elected official in this county – with 46 years on the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Board of Directors, many as president.
If you appreciate clean water and plenty of it, thank Bette for that. If you’re disabled or unable to afford your water bill, Bette created a solution for that. Her dogged devotion to creating sustainable, drought-tolerant landscaping handedly convinced me to lose my lawn in favor of plants that required less water. Thousands followed her push for water conservation.
Bette was like the Energizer Bunny – she just kept going. She was a real-life superhero, especially among us women.
“In the 1970s, few women were elected to boards,” said Don Freitas, who served with her on the CCWD board. “Part of Bette’s legacy is that she opened up a lot of doors and she never stopped doing that.”
I’m one of those women who stepped through Bette’s open door. In 2011, I worked alongside her on the successful ballot initiative that expanded storage at the Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Bette’s work to finalize the Los Vaqueros Reservoir remains one of her greatest achievements.
Yet, my admiration for Bette was always deeply personal.
What I adored about Bette was her conviction and courage to stand up against the mightiest of foes. Bette had this twinkle in her eye and this take-no-prisoners grin when she had an idea to put forth, and you just knew there was little to deter her resolve to bring her idea to fruition.
She stood up against the powers-that-be – who were mostly men. And she did it with her usual style and panache, while speaking her mind.
Bette’s commitment to building women up in our community was unwavering. She created the first Elected Women’s Networking Group, which meets one Friday every month for lunch and is still going strong today. The number of women she helped gain elected office is too large to count.
And while Bette was busy making a difference in our county, she always made time to show you she cared in little ways that mattered.
Like the day she showed up at my doorstep with all natural “Squirrel Stopper” spray when she saw my Facebook post about the squirrels eating my coveted herbs. Bette adored my daughter and celebrated with us when Bella became a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
The last text I received from Bette was in response to my column in support of Prop. 36. It said, “Right on girl! Bette.” That was Bette – always cheering you on.
Bette was one of those people you thought would just live forever. Her passion for life and that twinkle in her eye never dwindled. For those of us who loved her, her legacy and her bright light will shine on into infinity.
Related story: Long-time water district board member an advocate for equality and the environment (Pioneer Aug. 2021)
Read more stories by Mary Jo Rossi.
Mary Jo Rossi
Mary Jo Rossi is a local political strategist managing state/local campaigns for more than 40 years and the owner of Rossi Communications in Concord, CA.