YWCA honors Midvale mayor for her work

Courtesy photo/Midvale Mayor's office

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Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini

MIDVALE — Midvale Mayor Dr. JoAnn Seghini and five other women were honored during the YWCA’s 23rd annual Leader Luncheon at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City Sept. 30. Seghini is a member of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, where she serves as lector and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

The Leader Luncheon is a way for the YWCA to raise funds and also to recognize outstanding achievements by members of the community. The six women were nominated by the community and selected by a committee of award winners from last year, a board member and a YWCA staff member.

"Seghini was honored for her work in government and public service," said Beth Ehrhardt, YWCA chief development officer. "She was nominated because she is serving her fourth term as Midvale’s mayor and also because she was the first woman to be elected to pubic office and serve three terms for the Midvale City Council.

"She was also nominated for her strong commitment to empowering youth and strengthening families and for supporting the development of the Midvale Community-Building-Community task force, which focuses on improving family and child health, literacy for children, establishing a free community medical clinic and partnering with agencies who provide community support," said Ehrhardt. "Under her leadership, the Community Building task forces were formed with a focus on health, stable families, community safety, school readiness and success and healthy and safe behaviors as the choices for youth. She has served on and is currently serving on many other boards and councils."

Seghini was educated in the Jordan School District and attended the University of Utah, where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in curriculum development and a doctorate in education psychology. She worked for Jordan School District for 36 years. For 12 of those years she taught kindergarten through sixth grade. For the other 24 years, she worked in administration as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and staff development.

Seghini became a public servant after growing up with a father who served as the city attorney for 35 years. "I was used to seeing people in public positions and my family had a strong support for the community – it was our home and we had a commitment to make it a better place," she said.

After serving on the Planning Commission for two years, Seghini learned how to make decisions and decided to run for Midvale City Council. "I did so on a shoestring," she said. "I was asked how I won and I think it had to do with the fact that I was well known because of my father and because I had worked in the public schools and had lived in the community my whole life."

Seghini made her decision to run for mayor on the condition if she won she would retire from the school system and if she lost she would continue working. "By then I had 36 years in and I was 59. I ran and won and have won every election since," she said. "I work for the people of my community. I’m not important, I’m a servant and I will go out and help widows get their homes repaired because I know who to call, or work with the schools; I’m constantly in the community working with individuals or with groups. I think community outreach improves the community we live in."

In her acceptance remarks at the luncheon, Seghini said she overcame being a battered spouse and has been a single mother. "I have learned two important lessons," she said. "One, I cannot change anybody but myself, and two, I am stronger when I work with others than when I work alone."