On December 14 of last year, Karmolette O’Gilvie made history when she was sworn in as the first woman of color to become the mayor of Twentynine Palms. O’Gilvie was a guest on Gary Daigneault’s “Up Close” show last week and Reporter Heather Clisby has these highlights …
For the first time in its’ 35-year history, the city of Twentynine Palms has its first black woman at the helm. So, last week, Gary Daigneault welcomed Karmolette O’Gilvie to his weekly “Up Close” show to learn more about “Madame Mayor.”
Growing up as one of five siblings in Houston, Texas, O’Gilvie was influenced by her father who encouraged civic involvement.
“In high school, we were always encouraged to be a part of student government. My dad, the question from him always was, ‘What are you going to run for?’ And we were raised to be civic-minded, and we were raised almost with the spirit of activism so if you see something wrong, do something. It’s one thing to complain about things – ‘I don’t like this, and I don’t like that.’ Okay, well what are you gonna do? How’re you gonna fix that? How are you gonna bring about change? And so I think this was the natural evolution of things.” – Mayor O’Gilvie
As for her history-making achievement as the first African-American woman to be mayor, O’Gilvie reflects on the significance.
“It goes back to my childhood and how I was raised in Texas and I know for a fact my parents would be proud.” – Mayor O’Gilvie
After marrying her childhood sweetheart who joined the Marines, the couple moved to the base at Twentynine Palms in 1993 and stayed to raise their two children, a son and a daughter.
She became a nurse and worked at the birthing center in Joshua Tree before joining the Hi Desert Medical Center. O’Gilvie now works for the Morongo Basin Healthcare District running a diabetes education program for pregnant women. She is also in the process of getting her nurse practitioner degree. Her hobbies include exploring nature, time with family, cooking and education.
“I don’t seem to be able to get enough of school.” – Mayor O’Gilvie
As for the future of Twentynine Palms, O’Gilvie would like to see more jobs and new small businesses in the area but her main focus is on youth.
“I would love to see our young people go to college and not get away from Twentynine Palms but come back and come back with some new ideas of what you want to see. And make them desire to want to stay here and be a part of change, be a part of the revitalization of a city of a community. And so I would like to have some type of youth council because we should listen to what our youth are telling us because this is their future that we are managing.” – Mayor O’Gilvie
Though her civic involvement is far from over, O’Gilvie knows exactly how she would like to be remembered.
“I want to be remembered as a person who cared enough to jump in with both feet – whether it’s through public service, whether it’s through healthcare, whatever it is – a person that cared.” – Mayor O’Gilvie
