A dream come true

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- For councilwoman-turned-Mayor Pam Julien, becoming

the city’s leader means more than a new office at City Hall.

At 43, Julien was the top vote-getter in last month’s city election

and sees her reelection as a symbol of support from the residents.

“It was a big compliment to have so many supporters,” she said. “It’s

like a dream that has turned into reality.”

Julien was sworn in during Monday night’s City Council meeting,

officially starting her one-year rotation as mayor.

Raised in Fullerton, Julien moved to Huntington Beach in 1982 in order

to find a home close to the beach. She had hoped to one day be mayor.

“She told me that over and over again . . . ‘I’m going to be mayor,”’

said Louise Hyatt, Julien’s mother. “I’m just a proud mother right now.”

Though Julien never received a college degree, she worked her way up

in the bedroom furniture business, a profession typically dominated by

men, to become the vice president in charge of sales and marketing for

Catalina Furniture, she added.

After 14 years in the business, she decided to call it quits to pursue

a career in realty. Today, Julien works as a real estate agent for Pier

Realty in Downtown Huntington Beach.

A member of Soroptimist International, Julien got her start in city

politics with the Fourth of July Board, which she joined in the early

1990s and chaired for about two years.

Following the death of her first husband, Michael Julien, in 1995 due

to a brain tumor, the new mayor decided to run for a City Council seat

during the 1996 election. And she’s been on the council ever since.

While serving as a councilwoman, Julien was instrumental in supporting

a pro-humane animal shelter for strays, an item that is under study by

the city, participated in discussions over the preservation of the Bolsa

Chica lowlands and the realization of a youth sports complex.

She remarried to Bryan Houchen earlier this year and has a 6-year-old

stepdaughter, Ashley. She said she plans to take her husband’s name in

the near future.

“I’m looking forward to her term as mayor, and her leadership,” said

Councilman Peter Green, a former mayor himself. “Pam has always been very

creative and right on points covering many of the issues that face City

Council.”

Other residents and organizations praised Julien’s past performance as

a councilwoman.

“The most important thing is that she was very open-minded and

accessible,” said Joyce Riddell, president of the city’s Chamber of

Commerce. “She listens and considers [people’s] issues and concerns.”

Next year will be a busy one for Huntington Beach, Julien said, adding

that infrastructure and ocean bacteria must be addressed.

“Huntington Beach is really quite different from other cities ... it’s

complex, but there’s something for everybody,” she added. “I know I’d

never move because there couldn’t possibly be any place better.”