Mary K. Shell

Mary Katherine Shell (Jaynes; February 9, 1927 — May 19, 2018) was an American Republican politician who served as the 23rd Mayor of Bakersfield for a single term between 1981 and 1985. She also served as a member of the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

Life and career
Shell was born Mary Katherine Jaynes on February 9, 1927, in Bakersfield, California. She worked in her father's auto shop as a child, later becoming a news reporter at 17, and wrote for The Bakersfield Californian. She attended Bakersfield College, but dropped out shortly before graduation, instead choosing to work a variety of jobs relating to agriculture and aviation before becoming a political organizer. During this time, she also earned a pilot's license.

Her third husband was Joseph C. Shell, a California Assemblyman and World War II navy veteran. They met when Shell worked on his gubernatorial campaign for the 1962 election.

Following her husband's retirement from politics, she again wrote for The Bakersfield Californian and worked in the oil industry alongside him.

Mayor of Bakersfield
Shell decided to run for mayor in the 1980 election, and came narrowly behind Sheriff Charles Dodge in the primary. She won the runoff with 61% of the vote and became the first female Mayor of Bakersfield.

Shell attempted to connect with the city's minorities, and tried to clean up the city, creating a city beautification committee called the Beautiful Bakersfield Committee. Shell also established a historic preservation commission and created one of the first Vietnam War memorials in the U.S. She also relaunched the city's Downtown Christmas parade and created a city flag.

Because Bakersfield uses a weak mayor system of government, her role was largely ceremonial, so she decided to not seek reelection in 1984, and was succeeded by Robert Otis Price.

Later life
Shell served three terms on the Kern County Board of Supervisors between 1985 and 1996, being an opponent of government regulation. Pete Parra succeeded her on the county board after her retirement. She considered running for the State Senate's 15th district, but decided against it. Shell died in Bakersfield in 2018.