Council Member Elaine P. Litster began her service on the Simi Valley City Council in February 2019.  She was elected to serve District #3 in 2020.

Service

Council Member Litster is currently Chair of the Ventura County Council of Governments, and represents VCOG on the SCAG Energy and the Environment Committee.  She is chair of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Commission, and serves on the Simi Valley Council on Aging as well as the Youth Council.  Litster has served as an executive board member of the Simi Valley Neighborhood Council #3 and is currently the liaison for Neighborhood Council #2. Last year she served as Simi Valley Mayor Pro Tem.

Council Member Litster serves on the Simi Valley Education Foundation Board.  She served on the Simi Valley Unified School District’s Surplus Property Committee, and served as PTA president for Justin Elementary. She is actively involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and serves as their Simi Valley Stake Communications Committee Secretary.

Council Member Litster served as Chairman of the Board of the American Harp Society (AHS) for 4 years.  (AHS is a 50-year-old international association of over 3,000 harpists.) Her volunteer work with this organization has included twice serving on the Board of Directors, serving as Secretary of the American Harp Society Foundation, chairing the Executive Secretary Search Committee, serving as National Competition Group Coordinator, serving on the Financial Advisory Committee, and serving as president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the AHS, during which time they were awarded the National Chapter of the Year.

Career History 

Council member Litster is the co-owner of SAFEChecks, founded in 1996. SAFEChecks is a manufacturer of high secure check stock, specializing in check fraud solutions for municipalities, corporations, and individuals.

As a professional harpist she has performed throughout Southern California.  She plays with many local symphonies and maintains a private teaching studio.  For the past 24 years Elaine has directed Harp Extravaganza, Southern California’s largest gathering of harpists.  Her harp artistry has taken her from the Miss America Pageant to Carnegie Hall, and her albums have been well received.

Education

Council Member Litster has a Master’s degree in Urban Planning with an emphasis in Social Policy Analysis from UCLA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brigham Young University.

Personal Information

Council Member Litster, her husband, Greg, and their five children moved to Simi Valley seeking a safe, secure, nurturing environment. Her children have graduated from Simi Valley High and Royal High Schools, and the Simi Valley Cosmetology School.

Three sons have earned eagles with community projects including building a platform for the Ossuary at the El Rancho Simi Pioneer Cemetery, conducting a warm clothing drive for the Samaritan Center and re-striping the children’s playground at (formerly) Justin Elementary.

Contact

Email Council Member Litster