Women in Politics - Part 1 - Learning About Offices
by ROCHELLE A. SHENK

Welcome to the second in a series of articles designed to educate women about the political process and public leadership. Women bring a different outlook to government, with distinct issues, agendas, and fresh ideas. It is important for government to be inclusive of the woman's perspective in policies and programs in order to address the changing concerns in America today.

In upcoming issues, Rochelle Shenk will acquaint us about different aspects of government including the various offices and responsibilities; insight as to how to decide if you should run for office on a personal and a financial level; differences between "influential" groups; and how to organize a campaign, just to name a few.

Each month you will be enlightened by women who have participated in political policy. We encourage you to become involved in whatever capacity your time, energy, and dedication permits.

Here's some interesting information that you may not be aware of:

• In Pennsylvania over 11,000 men have been elected to serve in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 1682 and only 113 women (that's 1.1 percent).
• Today there are 24 women serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; during the 2005 session there was a net loss of 4 female legislators.
• Women represent 52 percent of the state's population, yet we have only 8 female Senators and 24 House members; that's 11 percent of the total state legislators.
• The first ladies to serve in the state legislature were elected in 1922-8 women of the 38 who sought House seats won the election. "Those 8 women broke the ground for the rest of us to follow and gave us the courage to continue their work," said State Rep. Mauree Gingrich of the 101st district.
• Only six females from Pennsylvania have ever served in the United States Congress-three of them replaced deceased spouses.
• Today, former State Senator Melissa Hart represents Pennsylvania in Congress and is the first Republican woman in history to be elected to represent Pennsylvania. She has now been joined in Congress by Democrat Allyson Swartz.

Once you've made the decision to become involved in politics, what's out there? Starting in your own municipality, you could volunteer to serve on a municipal board or commission such as the planning commission or zoning hearing board. If you use your local library often or are an avid theater buff, why not volunteer to serve on a committee at your local library or theater. Once you have a "feel" for the issues in your community, you may want to run for a local office on your school board, borough council, or township supervisors. From there you could step up to County Commissioner or state legislator.

There are also positions that are appointed positions-in state government that includes heads of the various departments such as the Department of Agriculture, PennDOT, etc. Legislators and other elected officials also have a staff that may include a press secretary, chief of staff, and legislative liaison.

For State Rep. Mauree Gingrich, public service has always played a major role in her life. "I am committed to investing in the community and Commonwealth that has provided so many opportunities for me and my family," she said. "I am stimulated by the process of democracy; the bicameral structure with its checks and balances. It is wonderful to be in a position that can help so many people. Constituent service is a priority for me as a representative of the people."

Gingrich noted that the function of the state legislature is collaborative. "I am 1 of 203 members, and 1 of 24 female members of the House. Decisions must congeal with a significant amount of support to carry the ultimate vote," she explained. Rep. Gingrich indicated that a legislative body functions best when it includes a variety of perspectives; differing points of view make it truly representative. Women have a unique perspective to add to political issues and bring some unique skills with them.

She recommends that women play an active role locally. "Positions on school boards and local municipal governing boards are incredible learning opportunities. Get your name out in the public arena. Build a record of accomplishment so that people hear your name and link it with a job well done," she urges. She noted that women starting on a neighborhood level and learning the issues first-hand is more important than any other education. Having seniority in the legislature is also a plus. "With seniority comes opportunity in the House. I count on my extensive experience in business and local government to build credibility in the eyes of my colleagues in the house," Rep. Gingrich remarked.

For Dr. Kirstin Snow, bureau director of Commonwealth Media Services, Rendell Administration, serving in the position has been interesting. "Since college I've been in the marketing, communications or advertising fields," she said. Her background includes creative experience and she also holds a doctorate degree in business administration. "It's rare to find someone with that combination of creative and business experience," she added.

Commonwealth Media Services (CMS) has a staff of 27 employees, four of whom are female. "Part of the reason I was hired was to restructure this agency. I'm responsible for a multi-million dollar budget and a lot of technical equipment," she explained. CMS provides quality, cost-effective, professional communications products and services to the Commonwealth, including the Governor's Office, departments and commissions, state-funded organizations and recipients of state grants. CMS has four divisions: a photo division with five photojournalists; production division that creates high quality videos, often educational, that are used by state agencies; a multi-media division that designs websites and puts together DVDs; and a broadcast division that's responsible for satellite uplinks.

This year's Groundhog Day celebrations in Punxsutawney were watched round the world thanks to CMS. "The Internet and computers have changed the way we work. Now we send sound bites out to radio stations as MP3 files," she remarked.

This is Snow's first foray into state government; previously she worked for a large corporation (Highmark). "There are a lot of similarities between the two jobs. As a health insurer, we dealt with a lot of regulations and had to understand the needs of different constituencies such as healthcare providers, legislators and the insured," she explained. Snow noted that there are a number of women in "behind the scenes" type positions in government including lobbyists. "I've seen more and more female lobbyists in the last 5 to 10 years," she remarked.

Two of Snow's mentors informed Snow of the position. "I had a lot of mentors, both male and female. Having mentors is important in any career field. In the political arena, it's important to have mentors of both genders. My mentors mentioned the position to me, and when I said I was interested, they opened the door and I went through the interview process," Snow said.

Snow indicated that what interested her about the position was the opportunity for her to essentially run her own advertising house. "It's a very fast paced position, and I wear five or six hats on any given day," she remarked. She noted that for those who work in state government, there is opportunity for growth-"It's not uncommon for people to start in one place in a state agency and then either move into another position within that agency or move to another agency."

Ladies, we should be better represented in politics. It is achievable with drive and determination. Look into the various aspects of government and how you could make a difference. Take the initial step to get involved.

Mauree Gingrich
State Representative of the 101st District

What prompted you to enter politics?
I have had a life long interest in government and the role we play as individuals. Public service is a critical way to invest (and have a positive impact) in the community in which you live, work and raise a family.

What political offices have you held prior to being elected State Representative?
I have held diverse community leadership roles for my entire adult life (Library Board; Jr. Women's Club President; PTO President; Leadership Lebanon Valley Board; and Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce Board, etc). I was appointed to Palmyra Borough Civil Service Commission in 1986; elected to Palmyra Borough Council in 1989 and served 12 years (nine a Council President); appointed to Palmyra Borough Planning Commission.

Any piece of advice you would give someone thinking about entering politics?
Build credibility in your community and professional arena. Make your name synonymous with accomplishment. Recognize your abilities to get things done. Listen, listen and listen some more. Build a network of support and develop the confidence to be able to ask for the campaign contributions that you will need to get your name and platform out to the voters. Start locally. There is no better teacher than local government roles - municipal government and school boards are examples of the most critical roles you can play.

Dr. Kirstin Snow
Bureau Director of Commonwealth Media Services, Rendell Administration

What prompted you to become involved in politics?
I've always had an inherent interest in the political process, and I come from a family that's been highly involved in grassroots politics. That experience combined with my media relations and marketing expertise made for a natural match.

Although you are behind the scenes, do feel you are still part of the political process?
There's more going on 'behind the scenes' than most people realize. If my staff doesn't do their job, the media doesn't get the story or the message the Governor or his cabinet want to convey. Without media and communications technology, the citizens of the Commonwealth would be uninformed. It's that simple.

Any piece of advice you would give someone thinking about entering politics, either in front of the camera or behind the scenes?
Absolutely- identify at least one mentor who has experience in the arena you're considering entering. I have several mentors I've tapped into- male and female- each of whom brings a different perspective to politics and government. They've been immensely helpful in networking with me and providing sound advice and encouragement. And frankly, sometimes it's nice to know where the landmines are, before you step on them.

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