My Promise to the Citizens of Palos Verdes Estates

As your City Council Member, I will:

• Listen carefully and respond intelligently and responsibly
• Preserve and protect our beautiful city
• Promote safety and traffic control
• Encourage citizen involvement
• Cooperate with fellow council members and staff
• Keep our City fiscally sound
• Bring vision and vitality to our city leadership

Community Involvement
Neighborhood Volunteerism
Professional Leadership
Future Balance
Endorsements
Letter to Voters of Palos Verdes Estates
Announcements
Click here to support Virginia Butler

Vote for Virginia Butler on March 6
"Friends to Elect Virginia Butler"

Personal Details

Virginia is first and foremost a "people" person who enjoys delving into the inner workings of whatever organization she is dealing with, whether it be the Board of Realtors, neighborhood organizations, schools, or in this case the Palos Verdes Estates City Council. Coming from a large family, she is used to rolling up her sleeves and working hard while giving and compromising. Moving to Palos Verdes in 1982, she had been a single mom while raising her two daughters. During those years while working in real estate, she found time to be involved in her daughters’ schools and local organizations as well as be president of the Board of Realtors.

She has finished raising her two daughters and gotten even more involved as a volunteer both for her community and profession. As chair of the PVE Independence Day celebration, she has enjoyed introducing people to this celebration of Americanism and family unity. Her love of the city gave her a sense that she wanted to give back to all the wonderful people that live here. In that vein she has been president of Neighborhood Watch, worked on committees like the PVE traffic committee, the Lunada Bay Homeowners Association, the PVE 50^th Jubilee, and more. She felt it an honor to be asked to be on the committee for the Memorial Garden because she not only wanted a fitting tribute to the fallen officers but also wanted to beautify that corner.

In Neighborhood Watch her particular emphasis was on disaster preparedness, growing from her concern for our isolated community should the "big one" occur. Her concern for the growing amount of traffic passing through PVE meant she volunteered to serve on the city’s traffic committee. If there has been a need, Virginia has been ready to be involved and to apply her problem-solving approach. She has done all of this with grace and respect for all the citizens of the city. Her unique position as someone who lives and works in the city is a real advantage and gives her many skills to help on the council.

Virginia has also been asked over and over again to chair fundraising events for charities. They always seem to be successful because her approach is one of methodical action with inclusion of everyone involved. Virginia’s commitment always means a special bit of fun is involved because of her infectious enthusiasm. Her single-mindedness and business-like approach ensure a success.

Virginia has been urged to run for city council many times because of her involvement in local issues, but it has not been until now that she felt she had the time to serve. Her daughters are successfully raised (and cheering Mom on from the sidelines); she is happily married to Les Fishman, a local realtor (who is also cheering from the front-line); and she feels that her unique skills and talents can bring an added balance to the city council. Virginia has been working for the betterment of the community for the last 19 years and is a successful businesswoman. She has a broad base of support and knows the city inside and out. She loves the city and is running as a way of giving back to the community.

Goals for the future

Virginia feels that the method for handling an issue is as important as the issue itself. Communication from all facets of our city is crucial before making a decision that affects so many, and Virginia is committed to supporting and creating as many avenues as possible to make that happen.

She wants to create strong homeowner associations, create bulletin boards in Lunada Bay and Malaga Cove that can serve as communication centers, publish pertinent and timely information in our city’s newsletter, enhance the Internet site, and hold one or two town meetings a year.

She will encourage suggestions and comments from residents and promises to become an expert in e-mail communication!

Her goal is to provide residents with leadership that is responsible to current needs but dedicated to preserving the historical aspects of the city.

Further Information

If you would like to be invited to a coffee to hear Virginia in person, please call Robin Heffernan at 310-377-5215.

If you would like to be invited to a fundraiser, please call Debbie Richardson at 310-375-6830.

If you would like to speak to Virginia directly, please call her at 310-373-3825.

 

• Member, PVE Traffic and Safety Committee
• Past Chair, PVE Neighborhood Watch, 4th of July Committee
• Patron, Malaga Cove Library, Palos Verdes Art Center, Palos Verdes Peninsula Education, and Palos Verdes High School Boosters
• Member, Memorial Garden Committee
• Fundraising Chair, Hospice Foundation

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• Director, PVE Neighborhood Watch Association
• Past Chair, PV Independence Day Committee
• Member, Lunada Bay Homeowners Association
• Member, PVE 50th Jubilee Committee

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• Member, Palos Verdes Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Malaga Cove Business and Professional Association
• President and Director, PV Board of Realtors
• Trustee and Director, California Association of Realtors
  

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• Responsive to current need, while preserving the historical aspects of our City
• Respectful of opinions while preserving practical solutions that benefit the majority
• Supportive of improving communications and development of neighborhood groups

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Announcements

Virginia with her mother, Dorothee, a one-year resident of Palos Verdes Estates

It is important that you get out and vote on March 6. Your vote counts. Note that of the approximately 10,000 voters in PVE, only 5,400 are likely to vote, and of the 5,400, about 2,000 typically vote via mail. Absentee ballot applications are mailed out at the end of January and can be sent in as early as February 5. If you need an absentee ballot application, please contact Friends to Elect Virginia Butler and we will provide you with the necessary information. Back to Top

Endorsements

Phil Frengs – Chairman of the Memorial Garden Committee

"I’ve worked with Virginia on the Memorial Garden Committee and found her to be open-minded, helpful in finding options, and easy to work with as a committee member. She had great follow-through and was always on top of the details. She was always a cheerful and dependable member of the committee, and I think she would do an excellent job with the same skills on the city council."

Denise Hardwick – Founder of the Fourth of July Committee and 40-year resident of PVE

"I’ve known Virginia for over 13 years and have always appreciated her willingness to help in our community. She was a creative, hard-working, and organized member of the Fourth of July Committee and especially was an enormous asset the two years that she was chairman. I have known her to always be accessible, open-minded, and dependable and to have a wonderful way of getting people to work together for a common cause. Her years of community involvement and business acumen make her an ideal candidate for our city council."

Jacky Glass – President of the Hospice Foundation and 30-year resident of PVE

"I met Virginia when she was working with my husband Jerry on the Memorial Garden several years ago. We both thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her during this process. Subsequently she started volunteering with the fundraisers that we have for the Hospice Foundation. Before we knew it, her part-time effort blossomed into her chairing the major fundraising event, and the first year she was chair, we had more people than ever attended. She is now serving on a committee of the Hospice Foundation and continues to this day to be a creative, enthusiastic, and hard-working volunteer. She chaired four major events and has taken a business-like approach to getting the job done while still being cheerful and thoughtful to everyone on the committee. I think she is a natural leader and our city is very fortunate she is willing to serve."

Debbie Richardson, President of the Chamber of Commerce, former President of Neighborhood Watch, and President of the Malaga Cove Business and Professional Association

"It’s been my pleasure to have worked with Virginia Butler so closely on Neighborhood Watch, the Fourth of July Committee, and the Malaga Cove Business and Professional Association. She always has creative ideas. She’s willing to work hard and follow through and has been a valuable asset to the community. It’s evident how much she loves this city, and she has been willing and available to devote her time and energy to making it a better place for all the citizens to live. Her experience as a civic- and community-minded volunteer plus her success as a skilled businesswoman in our community is a perfect match for a city council person. I’m excited that she is running and honored to be a part of her campaign."

Al Scafati – Former Director of Palos Verdes Peninsula Association of Realtors and four-year director of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Education Foundation

"I have served with Virginia for several years on the local Board of Realtors and have always found her to be the consummate professional. Her skills at being president twice and managing the smooth merger of the two peninsula boards is a tribute and example of her many abilities, especially the ability to build consensus. She has been a tireless volunteer on the local, state, and national levels and has served her profession most honorably."

Dorthee Butler, Virginia’s mother

"As a youngster Virginia recognized needs and how to handle them. The fourth of five sisters, she was the one called on to help in any household emergency – unexpected guests, household glitches, or sibling rivalries."

Kathi May, Assistant Campaign Manager

"I have been involved in the community for many years, and I have observed Virginia’s interactions with city government. Her manner has always been one of respect with a well thought-out agenda. When she told me she was running, I enthusiastically signed up. I can think of no better listener or communicator."

Vote for Virginia Butler on March 6
"Friends to Elect Virginia Butler"

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