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[Apr. 2, 2003] -
Entering the political field is a big sacrifice...long hours, hard work, media scrutiny and often times - low pay. Now, less women across the country are running for their state legislatures. As a result, state citizens have less female representation. It's also happening here in Nebraska. Why is this happening? Statewide's Andrea Gallagher takes a look at the issue of Women in Politics.
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Transcript of Women in Politics
[Andrea Gallagher] For the first time in United States history, two women, Kay Orr and Helen Boosalis, ran against each other for governor of Nebraska in 1986. Kay Orr won the election and made history again - as the first female Republican governor. Nebraska was in the spotlight and it looked promising for women entering the field of politics. But 17 years later, Nebraska has no females in Congress, no more female governors, and the state's biggest cities don't have female mayors. On top of that, only 9 out of 49 members of our state legislature are women.
[Sen. Nancy Thompson] I think it's disappointing, we're clearly losing ground, there were 13 women when I got here. You know, I feel the difference, it's hard for us to have coverage on committees now.
[Gallagher] According to a recent study, there are 35 fewer female legislators this year than last year across the country. Senator Nancy Thompson says it's the public that misses out.
[Sen. Nancy Thompson] I do think we bring a different perspective and if more women were sprinkled around all the committees, we'd bring a life experience that's a little different and we bring some areas of interest that are a little different.
[Sen. DiAnna Schimek] We're 50 percent of the population and we have, perhaps, a different point of view on some issues, and I think it's always healthy to bring as much to the process, as many divergent viewpoints as possible.
[Gallagher] Senator Schimek has been a state senator for 15 years - the longest serving woman currently in the legislature. She's bothered by the current trend.
[Sen. DiAnna Schimek] It had just been a steady climb upwards and then all of a sudden this last election it started falling back the other way, not only just in the state, but nationally as well.
[Gallagher] Schimek says she always has a challenger to her legislative seat, but many men don't.
[Sen. Schimek] I've been challenged every single time I've run and I've had male colleagues who have never been challenged, they always had a full ride, so there's no logical reason for women not to be running.
[Gallagher] There are fewer women in statewide offices throughout the nation than last year. Kate Witek is Nebraska's first female state auditor. She is also one of the state's highest female elected officials.
[Kate Witek]State Auditor] As more women see that it can be done and see that it's important we do it, we'll find more and more women entering - this gape might just be a generational gap for the time being.
[Gallagher] Witek was a stay-at-home mom, active in the local schools when someone suggested she run for state senator. It was something she NEVER would've seen herself doing.
[Kate Witek] If someone hadn't come to me and encouraged me I wouldn't have done this, absolutely not, that's why I try to pay back, encourage people, say - you can do it.
[Gallagher] According to the center for American Women and Politics, most of the women who do run do it because someone else gives them a little push, Witek says many others are intimidated by the media.
[Kate Witek] That image really discourages people from trying this, they don't want the scrutiny, don't want to take the risk. I had the same impression, I never considered politics til that moment in time and it wasn't me that had the first thought.
[Gallagher] Other lawmakers say there are certain disadvantages for women who are mothers - making it difficult for them to enter the political field.
[Sen. Pam Redfield] I think the disadvantage for women in the political scene is they have other obligations in their lives, early childbearing years means they have obligations preventing them from long hours and a political career.
[Gallagher] Redfield is the only female serving on the legislature's Revenue Committee...she says women bring a different point of view.
[Redfield] Their whole approach is very different, they want to roll up their sleeves, they don't want to form committees, they want to fix it and fix it right. So I think it's a different perspective and a benefit to the legislative process.
[Gallagher] Another reason women aren't serving is because of the pay - 12-thousand dollars a year with no health benefits isn't the most attractive package - especially if you have kids.
[Sen. Nancy Thompson] The legislature's is so low, hours are long, no benefits. For a person with a couple children, our take-home salary wouldn't even cover the cost of childcare and it's a difficult, stressful atmosphere to be in for anyone, so people with young families - this is really hard for them.
[Sen. DiAnna Schimek] Perhaps if we ever became a full-time legislature that might change the picture some because then there would be a better salary and still pay childcare and not have to juggle 2 jobs.
[Gallagher] Witek said she used to work retail jobs over Christmas to make ends meet for her family.
[Kate Witek] We really don't need to make it that much of a financial burden on people who are willing to take the time to serve in those capacities.
[Gallagher] So what's the answer? How do we get more women in the field of politics? Witek says women need to support other women. All of her campaign contributions come from men, not women.
[Kate Witek] When I talk to a group, I'll hear, well, we'll support you and we'll let you run and I always think, well that's one woman elected, so you have to have more offering actually to be the front person, the candidate.
[Sen. DiAnna Schimek] In our local communities, we need to talk about who's going to run for the legislature, who's going to run for city council, and do some real brainstorming in that area.
[Sen. Nancy Thompson] I think we haven't done a real good job with recruiting women to run, now we feel a real obligation because of term limits.
[Gallagher] At a recent democratic dinner, many women showed up for the event....23-year old Lisa Munger organized it for the Lancaster County under 40 Democrats. She also notices the lack of women in state politics.
[Lisa Munger] Because you don't see as many women running in the first place, then it becomes cyclical, it doesn't seem possible because they don't see women who look like them that are doing the same kind of thing.
[Gallagher] Munger says the Democratic party rotates the gender of its state party chair and some of the county chairs every year.
[Lisa Munger] That way you're mandating that women have to be involved and there are a lot who always wanted to be involved, this way they're able to do what they're interested in.
[Gallagher] Many of the women at this event are regular volunteers for local campaigns - going door to door and getting the word out about certain candidates - but many of them don't go beyond that.
[Kate Witek] These are the women who you can rely on to put out signs, stuff envelopes, very supportive, but not upfront roles in a campaign and I've noticed that all along, and I'm not sure why.
[Lisa Munger] A big reason you see women as volunteers and not candidates is because of the time factor.
[Gallagher] Most of these women agreed that the problem isn't women running for office and losing, but they just aren't running in the first place.
[Lisa Munger] I see it as a problem that women are under-represented and we need to remedy that in some way, but is there a bias because of their gender? I don't think so.
[Kate Witek] It's not equitable to the number of women to the population in Nebraska, not even close, but you have to look at the number of women who've run for office if you want to start at the root of what's going on there.
[Gallagher] Another way is to encourage women at a young age..... Schimek says college is a good place to start.
[Sen. Schimek] I think that's where young people get energized about college. I know that's where I did and so I think that would be beneficial.
[Gallagher] Witek says we need to start even earlier - high school - and let women know that running for office is a realistic goal.
[Kate Witek] I think we need to work on the high school level to tell kids how important it is to vote, to get involved in the political process, don't let your lifetime go by without getting involved in a campaign. That's what everyone should do at least once.
[Gallagher] By encouraging young women while they're still in school, these female politicians may soon have some competition in the coming years.
[Sen. Nancy Thompson] We just have to show them that it's not that hard to get here.