The First Woman Mayor of Inverness
By: Ken Marotte, Citrus County Historical Society
Kathleen Balasch played many roles in her career: artist, business owner, teacher, City Council member, President of the City Council and the first woman Mayor of Inverness.
Early Career
Kathleen G. Osborne was born in Louisiana in 1922. She proved to be a good student with a flair for singing, dance and other artistic endeavors. When she entered Louisiana College, she made her first foray into political life. She was elected as Vice-President of the statewide College Home-Economics organization. She successfully ran for President the next year. In that role, she made trips to Chicago to represent her state in the group’s national convention. Osborne presented a speech to the assembly on the status of home-economics in her state.
Since the nation had been drawn into World War II by 1942, Miss Osborne attended Louisiana state civil defense training classes and was certified as an instructor in the fields of incendiary bombs, chemical warfare and other emergency response skills. Osborne was charged with educating other air wardens how they could prepare their communities for potential enemy attack.
At the conclusion of World War II, she married Paul J. Balasch and moved to the rural town of Inverness Florida.
Community Involvement
Her father-in-law, Paul E. Balasch had moved to Inverness and opened a Dry Cleaning and Tailor Shop in 1936. Kathleen and her husband, Paul J. Balasch took over the family business. Since the shop was located in downtown Inverness, across the street from the Courthouse, the couple became familiar fixtures in the community. Paul served as Chief of the Inverness Fire Department and chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee. Mr. Balasch was commended for his work on the successful Kennedy-Johnson presidential campaign in 1960.
Kathleen Balasch joined the local American Legion auxiliary and eventually became district president. She was active in the Inverness Women’s Club and the Presbyterian Women of Inverness
She also had a lifelong love of education and was offered a post at the Inverness Elementary School and later taught at Citrus High School.
Political Campaign
Mrs. Balasch decided to make her first run for Inverness City Council 1956. Vacancies on the Council were created when David Dickenson and John A. Allen resigned. The political environment could be rough-and-tumble in Inverness and occasionally erupted in verbal or physical confrontations. Balasch was undeterred and was determined to join the race to bring a woman’s perspective to city government.
She would have run unopposed for her district seat, but the political elite decided to delay the election to allow additional (more recognizable) candidates to apply. J. Wallace Cooper applied 30 minutes before the deadline.
The biggest issue facing candidates was the smell rising from the nearby lakes. The Inverness septic plant was failing and this led to the discharge of raw sewage into Lake Tsala Apopka. The State Health department said it was a health menace to the community and banned swimming in Lake Tsala Apopka. Several of the city’s septic tanks, as well as private tanks, were leaking into the lakes. One candidate argued that the city should pay off all existing binds before taking in new debt for the sewage plant. That would have delayed action (and kept lakes closed to swimming) for over 20 years.
Mrs. Balasch’s approach to the septic situation was enough to bring her victory. She received 321 votes against her nearest opponent who recorded 175.
As part of that Council’s first order of business, they approved a survey of the sewer situation and eventual decided to hire an engineering firm to recommend solutions.
With the help from the Citrus County Chronicle, an intense publicity campaign was waged to convince the voters to approve the new septic system.
As a result of her efforts, the new Inverness Sewage plant was completed in 1963. Kathleen Balasch was chosen to chair the dedication ceremony.
Brotherly Conflict
Mrs. Balasch found herself in the middle of an acrimonious debate between brothers George W Scofield and M.C. “Manny” Scofield. A suit against the city was the result of the arrest of M.C. Scofield for washing cars on the city sidewalk after being ordered by City Marshall Charles Dean to desist. George Scofield, as City Attorney, defended the city against his brother. After a long and costly series of legal actions, Balasch made a proposal that led to the City dismissing a suit against M.C. Scofield, much to the chagrin of his brother.
Re-Election
Balasch was originally elected to serve only for one year to fill out unexpired term. She successfully ran for a full four-year term in 1957 in her own right.
In addition to the ongoing sewage disposal issue, trash collection and improving the water system were two major issues. Without a universal trash collection program, city officials were concerned that trash was being dumped around the city. Balasch proposed a twice-weekly pickup program. She took the unusual step of conducting a private poll of her constituents to solicit their feelings.
She received 102 responses. Most of them were in favor of universal free trash collection and against the rise in water rates. She used this information to support the views of her constituents in future Council votes.
Inverness Council President
In 1960, Inverness City Council President M.C. Scofield decided to retire in that role. In his place, Kathleen Balasch was elected in his place. In addition to being the first woman on the Council, she blazed a new trail as City Council President. She rose to this position after two Councilmen were forced to resign after engaging in a tussle over a fallen tree.
Lassiter ran against Mrs. Balasch for her former seat in 1963. When the dust cleared, she had beaten Lassiter by a count of 82 – 287. Lassiter complained that the election was rigged, but his charges were quickly dismissed
Inverness city hall dedicated
The Council had recognized that the city had outgrown its old government seat. They allocated over $30,000 for building the new government center. More than 100 spectators watched as Kathleen Balasch and local dignitaries dedicated the new building. Dr. George Dane, who was the first person to serve as Council President after incorporation in 1917, was the keynote speaker.
Madame Mayor
Kathleen Balasch served as Mayor Pro-Temp when the current mayor resigned in 1964. In this role, she also was designated as a Municipal Judge, hearing cases involving offenses such as speeding and violation of other city ordinances.
She decided to return to the campaign for reelection to the City Council rather than run for a full term as Mayor. Her old nemesis Bob Lassiter won the post.
In the meanwhile, Kathleen Balasch continued to teach school at Inverness High School.
Life after Politics
Throughout her time in office, Kathleen Balasch continued her teaching career. After she left office, she focused on art education for adults. She entered her artwork in competitions and won several awards for her work. She also displayed her art work in the Inverness Dry Cleaners building.
Kathleen Osborne Balasch passed away in Yazoo City MS on May 17, 1989. She blazed the trail for women in the political world in Citrus County.
Ken Marotte writes for the Citrus County Historical Society. He can be reached via email at kenmarottejr@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions or suggestions Contact him if you’d like to participate in the ongoing CCHS Oral History Project.