January 2012
1 post
2012 Is For Women
Women’s political gains are happening in nearly every part of the world. Saudi women have been given the right to vote and stand as candidates themselves, something that would have been unimaginable ten years ago. Egyptian women worked successfully to get a guaranteed 25% minimum quota for women parliamentarians written into the new constitution. The constitutions of Iraq, Rwanda, Nepal,...
December 2011
1 post
Honoring the 2011 Campaign Heroines
Every year, many women across Washington state work hard to ensure that women win campaigns and are represented equally in political leadership roles. They make phone calls; they go door-to-door; they manage assets; they provide support and important encouragement. These women are the backbone of so many successful campaigns, but oftentimes remain behind the scenes – the unsung heroines. On...
July 2011
1 post
Smart Women Salon: The Women of the Washington...
On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, NWPC-WA hosted a Smart Women Salon in collaboration with Washington Women Lawyers that featured a panel discussion with the women of the Washington State Supreme Court: Chief Justice Barbara Madsen, Justice Susan Owens, Justice Mary Fairhurst, and Justice Debra Stevens. The panel was moderated by King County Superior Court Judge Mary Yu and was the largest Salon yet,...
May 2011
3 posts
An Interview on Women's Leadership with Rep. Ruth...
This interview with Ruth Kagi, State Representative in the 32nd District in Shoreline, was conducted by Guest Blogger, Tarja Kallinen.
Q: When was the first time you were in a leadership role?
A: I worked 15 years for US Dept. of Labor and helped start a new regional office for the Employment and Training Administration. Later I chaired the Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. I also worked on the King County Commission on Children and Youth. When I first ran for office I was terrified about standing before people. I was a policy nerd, not used to being in front of large crowds. Experience has changed all that. What I discovered was that it was important to learn from your mistakes.
Q: Can you think of a turning point or a ‘defining moment’ in your life that describes your values as a leader?
A: After getting involved in community work I became very committed to child welfare. It was a very positive experience.
Q: What is your leadership style now? Has it changed over time?
A: The longer I’ve been in the legislature the more willing I am to be bold and take risks. I started out as a policy wonk but with growth and experience began to understand that sometimes you need major reform and not just tweaking here and there. Things need to be shaken up. People don’t like change, but I am now more willing to make change happen. Change brings new opportunities.
Q: Are there obstacles you face as a woman in a leadership position; if so, how do you deal with them? How would you advice younger women who aspire to lead?
A: Washington State has been very supportive of women. I have not noticed any specific obstacles. I would advice younger women to get involved with the issues and with your community, find your passion and gain confidence. Learn the issues and become knowledgeable. Most women get involved with politics after someone else asks them. Women work harder to really learn the issues before getting involved.
Q: How has leadership changed in the digital age?
A: I am old-fashioned; I do not like the digital age, it's a huge distraction. But I realize that I must learn. I need to find a way to communicate because the local newspaper in Lake Forest Park has disappeared! I write e-memos every two weeks and a newsletter once each legislative session. I talk with Shoreline Patch, a local online newspaper, to disseminate information. I conduct town halls, and sends emails.
Q: What are some of the challenges of social media/transparency you have encountered?
A: Younger legislators are more comfortable with digital media; I am not, and learning takes time - which is not available during legislative session. I use email and I find that easy.
Q: Can a leader show vulnerability?
A: I do all the time! Vulnerability is part of being genuine, building trust with people.
Q: How do you ensure credibility in the age of digital media?
A: I am disgusted with the media because they focus on the wrong issues and manipulate the issues. I am worried about where it will lead. What will happen to PBS when they try to cut the funding? What will happen when we lose our newspapers - our watchdogs?
Q: Are women’s stories different in politics?
A: Yes, women have a more difficult time getting and staying involved because of family and small children - they struggle with feelings of guilt. Women are more interested in children’s issues, health care etc.
Q: How do you understand ‘authentic leadership’?
A: Authentic leadership is about being direct and up-front about issues, such as budget, etc. It is about being genuine, and understanding the vision, where we are going and sharing that with people. It is about bringing people together.
Political Strategists Share Info About Women in...
Earlier this month the members of the NWPC-WA’s May Hutton Society were treated to an intimate discussion on women in politics with three top political consultants/strategists: Cathy Allen, principal of the Connections Group who works with women candidates around the world; AlisonPeters, pollster who works with candidates to develop research-based messaging, principal of Alison Peters Consulting;...
The Other Side of the Notebook
By Guest Blogger, Jean Godden I am among a number of women journalists who have exchanged their press cards for a name tag that reads: “the Honorable.” It’s a modest trend – journalists as politicians. But, frankly, it’s not all that surprising women journalists would aspire to office. I want to salute three other women journalists who joined local City Councils in the recent past: Stacy...
March 2011
1 post
Limited Service Pregnancy Centers:...
This is a battle between “darkness and light,” said Anne Lotierzo, the Executive Director of a crisis pregnancy center located in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Wednesday night NARAL Pro-Choice WA Foundation presented the remarkable documentary 12th & Delaware at the Central Cinema in Seattle. The Seattle showing was the first stop of a nationwide tour that NARAL Pro-Choice America has organized...
February 2011
5 posts
Keeping Seattle’s Working Moms Healthy and Safe:...
Is Seattle ready for a paid sick days law? InSeattle 42% of the workforce has no paid sick leave. Far more alarming is the fact that in Seattle, 78% of restaurant workers, 55% of retail workers, and 29% of health care workers do not have paid sick leave. The increased likelihood of spreading contagious diseases is something workers and employers should be very concerned with. Rising health...
Status of Women in the WA State Legislature
With the late loss of Rep. Dawn Morrell in the 25th legislative district the results of the 2010 election are final and while women did not fare as badly as we had initially feared, the outcome is not a trend we want to see continue.
In the House we will have a net gain of one woman, and in the Senate a net loss of two women for a total loss of one woman. Women now make up just 31.97% of our...
The GOP's Ongoing War on America's Women and...
The sponsors of “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” (H.R.3) do not seek to codify the existing the Hyde Amendment to prevent federal funding of abortions – there is no federal funding of abortions in the U.S. The sponsors of H.R.3 seek to go far beyond the Hyde Amendment to prevent all women from obtaining abortion services. In 1976 the Hyde Amendment created a two tier system that...
Breaking News: House Republicans Decide That No...
House Republicans really want to get down to business and address the nation’s economic woes: deal with the 9% unemployment rate, a stagnant economy, and the ever increasing national debt. Their solution: H.R. 3 “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” How does this Congress plan to deal with women getting away with claiming they were raped so the federal government will pay for...
WA State Attorney General Rob McKenna Declares the...
On February 2nd the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held a hearing taking testimony from supporters and opponents of the Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act (SB 5274/HB 1366). The proposed Act will help protect women from some of the more deceptive practices at Limited Service Pregnancy Centers (LSPC) or so called Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Kathy Buchli, Counsel for the...
January 2011
3 posts
An In-Depth Look at the Limited Service Pregnancy...
The legislation that was debated before the House Health Care and Wellness Committee on January 24th is designed to protect women from the deceptive practices at Limited Service Pregnancy Centers (LSPC) or so called Crisis Pregnancy Centers. Advocates in favor of the bill explained to the Committee that the bill would require LSPCs provide women with accurate information about the services they...
The Legal Discrimination Against Low-Income Women...
One of the very first legislative priorities for the Republican majority in the House of Representatives is to reinforce and further expand the dangerous and damaging effects of the ban on federal funding of abortions - by codifying the Hyde Amendment. House Republicans are choosing not to focus on the nation’s economic recovery, or on unemployment - but rather their primary focus is...
How Will This Year’s Legislative Session Impact...
This past Sunday, January 9th, the Caucus held its annual meeting. We were honored to have Janet Chung, Legal & Legislative Counsel for Legal Voice, as our distinguished guest speaker. She delivered an eye-opening presentation outlining the 2011 legislative agenda and its potential impact on women. The most pressing issue affecting our state is the impact of the severe budget deficit on...
December 2010
1 post
The Future of Public Campaign Financing and the...
Do women candidates benefit from the public financing? The short answer is yes - public financing invites a diverse candidate pool. Public financing of campaigns generally involves candidates opting to receive taxpayer dollars to fund their campaigns. In order to qualify candidates must adhere to strict contribution limits – sometimes as little as $100 per individual - as well as strict...
October 2010
1 post
Don't Let Pharmacists Discriminate Against Women
The Washington State Board of Pharmacy (BOP) should require that all Washington pharmacies provide full access to all medications prescribed by medical professionals. Pharmacists should never be given the power to override the medical judgment of your doctor. Pharmacists should never be allowed to substitute or impose their own personal judgments on any woman who is simply trying to get a...
September 2010
1 post
Top 10 Tips from our Smart Women Salon on...
Seattle Speaker: Aisling Kerins Tacoma Speakers: Jaime Smith/Monique LeTourneau 1. Be Persistent. Local campaigns are typically grassroots operations that run on a shoestring. There is usually a very small number of (under) paid staff, maybe just a campaign manager, and the level of disorganization can be quite high, especially at the beginning. Don’t hear back right away? Keep trying! 2....
August 2010
1 post
On Women's Equality Day, where do we stand?
Posted by Linda Mitchell, NWPC-WA State President Today, August 26th, marks the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. 51 years later, Congresswoman Bella Abzug fought to have this date established as Women’s Equality Day. Washington State leads the nation by being the only state with two women U.S. senators and a woman...