Women and Politics

WCF has just announced a fresh round of newly endorsed candidates.  Check out this list of outstanding women, who are running for a spectrum of positions, from College Board to the United States Congress.

At WCF, we believe in the critical importance of supporting women at the state and local levels. And we’re excited to say that we’ve recently seen an increase in the pool of our “down-ballot” candidates.  Be sure to check out our complete list of 2009 and 2010 Endorsed Candidates.

With only 17% of Congress being women, we know how critical it is to achieve equality for the strength and future of our nation. And that’s why we’re proud to be there and help launch the political career of so many strong women leaders. If we want women to achieve equality up to the highest ranks of power, we must ensure they run for office in the first place.

And now, our list of Newly Endorsed Candidates.  Drum roll please…

• Representative Ruth Balser is running for Mayor Newton, Massachusetts. Ruth has been a dedicated public official for nearly twenty years.
• Suzanne Barclay is running for Supervisor of the town of Orangetown, New York. As the Executive Assistant to the Supervisor since 2001, Suzanne has assumed the lead role for major planning initiatives.
• Irene Hernandez-Blair is running for the Governing Board of Chaffey Community College in California. A resident of the City of Chino for over 10 years, Irene has long been a proponent of educational equality. She has worked in Public Service for 17 years.
• Melinda Katz is running for New York City Comptroller. Melinda realized her longstanding desire to enter public service at the age of 28, when she was elected to the New York State Assembly. As an Assemblywoman, she authored 16 bills, including the first in the country that required HMO’s to provide women with direct access to OB/GYN care.
• Dana Marie Kennedy is running for Phoenix City Council. A leading advocate for families, retirees, and women for over 20 years, Dana currently serves as the spokeswoman for the Arizona branch of the nation’s largest workers’ organization, representing over 165,000 of her home state’s laborers.
• Stephanie Miner is running for Mayor of Syracuse, New York. In the 1990s, she served as Regional Representative for then-Governor Mario Cuomo. In 2001, she ran and was elected to the Syracuse Common Council. Stephanie quickly earned a reputation for finding innovative solutions to the city’s challenges. She drafted and passed legislation such as the Say Yes to Education and the Star Exemption Programs. Stephanie was re-elected to Council in 2005.
• Patricia O’Dwyer is running for County Executive of Orange County, New York. Pat has extensive experience in government and economic development. She has been assistant to former Governor Mario Cuomo for Women’s and Ethnic Issues, assistant for health services for a former Queens Borough President, and Assistant District Attorney in the Domestic Violence Bureau under DA Charles Hynes, among other positions.
• Kathleen Rice is running for re-election for District Attorney of Nassau County, New York. On November 8, 2005, Rice defeated 30-year incumbent Denis Dillon, by a margin of 51%-49% (about 8000 votes). Rice is the first woman to serve in this position.
• Jo Anne Simon is running for New York City Council, Brooklyn District 33. An adjunct Associate Professor at Fordham University School of Law, Jo Anne is an attorney in Brooklyn, concentrating on discrimination in higher education, high stakes standardized testing and employment.  Jo Anne currently serves as female Democratic District Leader and State Committeewoman for the 52nd Assembly District.
• Representative Margaret Vanderhye is running for reelection to the Virginia House of Delegates (34th District). Among Margi’s many accomplishments is her appointment by President Bill Clinton to the National Capital Planning Commission.
• Anne McLane Kuster is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire (2nd District). A partner in the Concord, N.H. law firm of Rath, Young and Pignatelli, Ann is Director of the firm’s Education and Non-Profit Law Practice Group. Ann focuses her legal practice primarily on nonprofit, education, and health policy.
• Barbara Ann Radnofsky is running for Texas Attorney General. She practices law on both sides of the docket and is a mother, wife, teacher, lawyer and mediator. In 2006, after 27 years of law practice, Barbara Ann became the first woman in history to serve as the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee.

If you feel inspired by this list of outstanding women, please take the time to visit their websites, and consider volunteering for their campaigns or contributing to their victory funds.

Do you know a woman who should be in public office?  Tell her She Should Run.

Tags: 2009 elections, 2010 elections, anne mclane kuster, barbara ann radnofsky, Candidates, congress, dana marie kennedy, erin, irene hernandez-blair, jo anne simon, kathleet rice, margaret vanderhye, mayor, Melinda Katz, patricia o'dwyer, politics, ruth balser, state house, stephanie miner, suzanne barclay