Missouri Women Gaining Ground in the Missouri State Senate.

Thirty-six years ago in 1973 Mary Gant, a Kansas City Democrat, became the first woman in Missouri history elected to state senate.

Since that time, 20 other women have been elected to the Missouri State Senate; at least one served in each session.  This year a new record has been set with eight women serving; that’s almost one-fourth of the chamber. The female members include five Democrats and three Republicans and two Democrat women are in leadership.  

It should also be noted that of the House’s 163 members last year women made up just over 20 percent.  Before the elections, there were four women in statewide elected offices including:  U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, State Treasurer Sarah Steeleman, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (who is now running for U.S. Senate), and State Auditor Susan Montee. 

Last year’s focus on Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid and Governor Sarah Palin’s nomination as a vice-presidential candidate have done a lot to inspire women’s political interests.  Furthermore, there are several organizations working right now to groom women for political office and put them into the pipeline, starting at the local level and working their way up.

But still many women maybe overwhelmed by the amount of time required for fundraising in order to win an election, and the amount of time away from work and family responsibilities in order to spend half the year in Jefferson City.

With that being said, women should know that motherhood and public service are not mutually exclusive.  Having women as part of the legislative process brings a different perspective; one that needs to be represented.

Senator Joan Bray D-University City said, “My observation is that women on both sides of the aisle are more interested in an inclusive process, so at least everybody gets to come to the table.”

Former-Senator Gant said both genders have similar interests.  “To assume that women, more than men, would be more family oriented,” she said, “I don’t buy that.”

Senator Jolie Justus D-Kansas City said, “In my three years, I haven’t seen anything where the women have been on one side and the men on the other.”

The full text of this article can be read at:  http://www.nbcactionnews.com/content/news/missouri/story/A-womans-place-now-in-the-Missouri-Senate/CfMmlMot-kaP90x_Nz8vBQ.cspx

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