Perseverance Paying Off After Multiple Council Runs
A lifelong resident of Haverhill, Katrina Hobbs Everett has long been devoted to improving outcomes for city residents. Since 2015, she ran for City Council three times without success in the outdated at-large system.
In 2021, Haverhill moved towards a mixed ward and at-large representation model. On November 7th, 2022, Hobbs Everett finally achieved victory – winning the Ward 2 council seat to become the first Black woman elected to the Council.
Ward-Based Voting Opens Doors For Diverse Candidates
The newly adopted ward system helped carry Hobbs Everett and other first-time candidates to victory in this election. She believes it gives localized candidates a better chance than having to run costly citywide campaigns.
Hobbs Everett also says ward-based voting keeps elected officials closely engaged with their constituents, benefitting democracy. The 2022 election seemed to affirm this, bringing historic firsts across multiple city leadership positions.
Lifelong Commitment To Community Growth
A current professor and small business owner, Hobbs Everett has 25 years of experience collaborating with diverse groups to address pressing issues impacting Haverhill – from opioids to housing to inclusion.
She also co-founded a nonprofit focused on community empowerment and advocacy. As the daughter of prominent local clergy, Hobbs Everett grew up deeply rooted in the community she now serves.
Trailblazer For Women And Minorities
On January 3rd, 2023, Katrina Hobbs Everett officially joined the Haverhill City Council. She became the first-ever African American woman elected to this governing body.
Alongside other women inaugurated on the Council and School Committee this week, Hobbs Everett is playing a pivotal role in making Haverhill’s leadership reflect its diversity. After years of perseverance, she now takes her place in history while advancing that progress further.
