EW: Since you first ran for office in 1987, how have things changed for women entering the political arena?

RQ: My experience is primarily in local races, but today it is not unusual and is somewhat taken for granted that women will run for office.  The political parties expect it and the public assumes that women will run.  In terms of voters and constituents of local elections, there is a not as much of a narrow bias about their issues and what they will run on.

What is most important is that women are being elected, and more women are getting into the pipeline, so even if all don’t win all the races, we are increasing the chances. 

EW: What are the barriers that keep women from running?

RQ: There are concerns about the highly partisan nature, political pressures, and brutal aspects, especially when it comes to negative campaigning.  But I was involved in a research project at Northern Kentucky University for women thinking about running for office.  The real key to making the decision was having avenues available to actually learn from successful women politicians and women mentors. From women who at least expressed an interest in running, they thought the most important thing was to learn from and associate with successful women elected leaders.

The research was very interesting because it showed that among women who actually expressed an interest in running for office, there wasn’t that great of a difference from men in the reasons for making the decision to run or not.  What really seemed to be at issue were basic questions like whether or not a position was full-time or part-time.  Younger women who were interested were more likely to make a choice to enter politics if they viewed it as a career.  Older women found the choice difficult if they were established in a career. 

EW:  What’s your take on the obstacles women face when raising money?

RQ: Raising money strikes a fear in everyone the first time they run.  The challenge of raising money is in a sense blown out of proportion; people assume there is only one way to raise money.  Usually men have done it through their professional networks and social networks.  Conventional wisdom says you raise money by asking for large amounts, but the lesson we know now that began with Geraldine Ferraro many years ago, is that successful women have developed a different model.  Women have to set up a fundraising infrastructure to raise smaller amounts of money from larger amounts of people.  For new candidates, they have to be taught how to establish a fundraising infrastructure and sustain it over it time. 

There are all types of conventional wisdom among political fundraising consultants; they aren’t giving bad advice but they are giving advice based on their experience and the techniques they know.  Women candidates need to learn the techniques, put in place the infrastructure, then work, work, work.

EW:  What advice can you share with a woman thinking about running for office?

RQ:  Have courage, don’t be afraid, most especially don’t believe all the conventional wisdom, no matter who’s saying it .