A
resident of Elk Grove for more than
35 years, Councilmember Sophia Scherman
has long been a leader in the community. She helped shape Elk
Grove's transformation into cityhood and has since been active in
helping improve the city.
When Elk Grove incorporated 2000, Sophia became
the
first woman mayor of the incorporated City
of Elk Grove. Her
preparation for this position began
as she served as the President of
the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce.
This position led to other
opportunities serving on the
Methodist Hospital Foundation, the
Sacramento County Fire Advisory
Board, the Sacramento County
Disability Advisory Board, a member,
vice president and president of the
Elk Grove Community Service District
Board, the California League of
Cities, and Governor
Schwarzenegger's appointee to the
California State Parks Commission.
Sophia is
committed to the community and
continuously volunteers her time and
energy. For years Sophia has
volunteered for the students,
disabled, veterans, and seniors of
Elk Grove. She is also active in
organizations like the Lion's Club,
Rotary Club, Optimist International,
and the Old Town Elk Grove
Foundation.
Sophia is married
to Lee, a life long resident of Elk
Grove. She has enjoyed raising her
children and her grandchildren here,
too. She is proud of her daughter
Lynette, and four grandchildren,
Lisa, Danielle, Rick, and Jovanna.
She was also a local business
owner operating "Sophia's Travel" in
Elk Grove for 10 years.
 |
Mayor
7/04-12/05 |
|
|
Vice
Mayor 7/01-7/02 |
|
|
Vice Mayor 7/03-7/04 |
|
|
Vice Mayor
1/06-1/07 |
Current
Positions:
|
|
Elk Grove
City Council Member |
|
|
|
State of
California Park and
Recreation Commissioner,
appointed by Governor
Schwarzenegger |
2004 |
|
|
Chair, Elk Grove Veteran's
Parade |
2008 |
|
|
Sacramento County Regional
Sanitation Board |
2000 |
|
|
Sacramento County
Regional Sanitation
CSD-1 Board |
2002 |
|
|
Sacramento
Employment Training
Agency Board |
1995 |
|
|
Cosumnes River
College
Foundation Board |
2002 |
|
|
Volunteer on
Many
Committees
Both Local
and Regional |
1981-Present |
|
|
Board of
Director
of
W.E.A.V.E.
(Women
Escaping
A
Violent
Environment) |
2007 |
|
|
Board
of
Director
of
Sacramento
Asian
Sports
Foundation |
2006 |
|
Board of Director of Sacramento Public Library Authority |
2006 |
|
Board of Director of Elk Grove Senior Center |
2005 |
|
California League of Cities, Member |
2000 |
Past Positions:
|
Mayor of the City of Elk Grove |
7/1/03-12/3/04 |
|
Elk Grove City Mayor Pro Tempore- Elect
(City incorporated) |
7/1/2000 |
|
Elk Grove Community Services District Board Elected |
1997-2000 |
|
California League of Cities Transportation, Public Works, and Communications |
2002-2006 |
|
California League of Cities Administration Policy Comm. |
2001-2002 |
|
Past Chair of the Elk Grove Veteran's Day Parade |
2003-2005 |
|
Board Member, Vice President and President While in office Elk Grove |
|
|
Community Services District |
1997-2000 |
|
Sacramento County Disability Advisory Council |
1992-2000 |
|
Sacramento County Fire Advisory Board |
1992-1993 |
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Methodist Hospital Foundation |
|
|
Past President Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce |
1991 |
|
Sacramento County Sheriff's Advisory Council |
2001-2005 |
|
L.A.F.C.O. Board Member |
2005-2007 |
Accomplishments:
|
Instrumental in having the first audible traffic signals installed in Elk Grove for the visually impaired |
1993 |
|
Selected by Governor Wilson to be the Keynote Speaker at the Governor's Luncheon for the Private industry Council:
"Portrait of Success Celebration" |
1994 |
|
Assisted in expediting the repair of the railroad tracks on Elk Grove Boulevard |
1994 |
|
Drug Free Zone for Schools Committee |
1994 |
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Instrumental in establishing the Elk Grove Optimist International Scholarship |
1995 |
|
Getting Regional Transit Bus Shelters installed in Elk Grove |
1995 |
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Established the Sophia Scherman Women in Politics Scholarship in the Elk Grove Unified School District |
1997 |
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Responsible for having the "Clarence Frank Baker Park" become a reality from start to finish. This park is totally designed for citizens with special needs and is fully equipped for anyone to use as well. This took me 8 years to get done but it was worth the many meetings that I attended with the various agencies that needed to be convinced that such a park would be truly a place for everyone to use and not be another obstacle in their way. |
|
Awards and
Honors:
|
Elk Grove Citizen Publisher's Woman of the Year |
2004 |
|
Senate Woman of the Year of the State of California |
2003 |
|
Elk Grove Citizen of the Year |
1999 |
|
Y.W.C.A. Woman of Distinction Award for Community Service |
1997 |
|
Elk Grove Citizen Publisher's Woman of the Year |
1997 |
|
Sacramento Association for the Retarded Award for Community Service "Baker Park" |
1997 |
Affiliations:
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Dollars for Scholars Foundation |
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Senior Center |
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Elk Grove Lion's Club |
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Elk Grove Rotary - Inner Wheel international |
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Elk Grove Strauss Festival |
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Methodist Hospital Birthing Unit |
|
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Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce |
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Elk Grove Adult Community Training Center |
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Project Ride (Therapeutic therapy for the Disabled) |
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Soroptimst International |
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Elk Grove Historical Society |
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Elk Grove Optimist International |
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Old Town Elk Grove Foundation |
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Motivational
Guest Speaker for:
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California Migrant Parents Conference |
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Cosumnes River College Women in History Week |
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Elk Grove Elementary School Cinco De Mayo Week |
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S.E.T.A. Program Operators Conference |
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Adopt A Student Day For Elk Grove Rotary |
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S.E.T.A. /P.I.C. Graduations of Program Participants |
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Media Commercials for Spanish Speaking TV/Radio Stations |
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I was President and C.E.O. of Sophia's Travel for 10 years. Retired when elected to the C.S.D. in 1997 |
