--- [ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=16) # Help! California Women Needed to Run for Public Office ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Oct-2015/081t.png)GOLDEN STATE SHOULD BE ASHAMED--It is hard to believe that the first state in the country’s history to have two women serving as U.S. Senators at the same time might have a problem attracting women to run for public office, but th at’s the situation in California. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (photo left) were the first women ever to be U.S. Senators from the same state at the same time. New Hampshire and Washington now can also make that claim. A recent study of local government in California showed there’s been an increase in the number of women elected to city councils. Yet, other data points are still discouraging. “Only two of the 12 largest cities have women as mayors,” said Rachel Michelin, executive director and CEO of [California Women Lead](http://cawomenlead.org/), a bipartisan group working to empower and elect more women in California. “And California has never had a woman governor.” In partnership with [League of California Cities Women’s Caucus](http://www.cawomenscaucus.org/), the group released an [update to their report](http://cawomenlead.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-CLW-Report1.pdf) on the status of women in city government, which showed a net gain of 21 more women on city councils compared to the previous report. But, there’s also been a decline in women serving in the state legislature. Michelin also pointed out her regret over Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) stepping down as Assembly Speaker and Kristen Olsen (R-Modesto) leaving her minority leadership role in the Assembly. Both are being replaced by men. So there is still work to do. California Women Lead is working to identify and recruit women across California to government, either by appointment or as candidates. “Governor Brown has been a champion for women in public service,” said Michelin, emphasizing that 50 percent of his appointees to boards and commissions have been women. But she points out it’s still a numbers game. In 2012, in the wake of redistricting, there were 15 open legislative seats that had political contests with no women running. “We’re already looking at 2022 after the next redistricting when our goal is to have a serious women candidate running in every single legislative district,” said Michelin. In the meantime, California Women is holding training and workshops across California. A recent event in Temecula attracted more than 100 women. A similar training is [scheduled for Bakersfield](http://cawomenlead.org/womens-empowerment-day-bakersfield/) in October. “Women bring a different voice to policy making,” Michelin pointed out. She also believes that the recently passed electoral reforms, particularly California’s top-two open primary, represent a huge advantage for women. “With an emphasis on more bipartisan collaboration, today’s environment favors the qualities that women bring to public service,” Michelin said. However, she added, one negative is the cost of campaigning and how the money is raised. She pointed to the recent State Senate special election in the San Francisco Bay Area, which generated $10 million in special interest spending. “Many women are saying, ‘Why bother?'” {module \[1177\]} In the meantime, the early stirrings of the 2016 campaign have already attracted strong women. The U.S. Senate race has two women already in the running, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. “They have distinct styles from each other,” Michelin said. “It promises to be an interesting race.” And of course, there are the presidential primaries with a strong woman candidate with a chance to win the nomination of both major parties. “Carly Fiorina’s recent performance in the Republican debate indicates she’ll be in the race for the long haul,” Michelin said, also pointing out that Hillary Clinton is still the front-runner for the Democratic nod. For California Women Lead, the work continues to identify, recruit and retain women interested in public service. (Ed Coghlan is Contributing Editor and Special Correspondent for [California Forward](http://cafwd.org) … where this piece was first posted.) -cw CityWatch Vol 13 Issue 81 Pub: Oct 6, 2015 Written by Ed Coghlan. October 05 2015 [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Oct-2015/081t.png)GOLDEN STATE SHOULD BE ASHAMED--It is hard to believe that the first state in the country’s history to have two women serving as U.S. Senators at the same time might have a problem attracting women to run for public office, but th at’s the situation in California. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (photo left) were the first women ever to be U.S. Senators from the same state at the same time. New Hampshire and Washington now can also make that claim. A recent study of local government in California showed there’s been an increase in the number of women elected to city councils. Yet, other data points are still discouraging. “Only two of the 12 largest cities have women as mayors,” said Rachel Michelin, executive director and CEO of [California Women Lead](http://cawomenlead.org/), a bipartisan group working to empower and elect more women in California. “And California has never had a woman governor.” In partnership with [League of California Cities Women’s Caucus](http://www.cawomenscaucus.org/), the group released an [update to their report](http://cawomenlead.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/2015-CLW-Report1.pdf) on the status of women in city government, which showed a net gain of 21 more women on city councils compared to the previous report. But, there’s also been a decline in women serving in the state legislature. Michelin also pointed out her regret over Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) stepping down as Assembly Speaker and Kristen Olsen (R-Modesto) leaving her minority leadership role in the Assembly. Both are being replaced by men. So there is still work to do. California Women Lead is working to identify and recruit women across California to government, either by appointment or as candidates. “Governor Brown has been a champion for women in public service,” said Michelin, emphasizing that 50 percent of his appointees to boards and commissions have been women. But she points out it’s still a numbers game. In 2012, in the wake of redistricting, there were 15 open legislative seats that had political contests with no women running. “We’re already looking at 2022 after the next redistricting when our goal is to have a serious women candidate running in every single legislative district,” said Michelin. In the meantime, California Women is holding training and workshops across California. A recent event in Temecula attracted more than 100 women. A similar training is [scheduled for Bakersfield](http://cawomenlead.org/womens-empowerment-day-bakersfield/) in October. “Women bring a different voice to policy making,” Michelin pointed out. She also believes that the recently passed electoral reforms, particularly California’s top-two open primary, represent a huge advantage for women. “With an emphasis on more bipartisan collaboration, today’s environment favors the qualities that women bring to public service,” Michelin said. However, she added, one negative is the cost of campaigning and how the money is raised. She pointed to the recent State Senate special election in the San Francisco Bay Area, which generated $10 million in special interest spending. “Many women are saying, ‘Why bother?'” {module \[1177\]} In the meantime, the early stirrings of the 2016 campaign have already attracted strong women. The U.S. Senate race has two women already in the running, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. “They have distinct styles from each other,” Michelin said. “It promises to be an interesting race.” And of course, there are the presidential primaries with a strong woman candidate with a chance to win the nomination of both major parties. “Carly Fiorina’s recent performance in the Republican debate indicates she’ll be in the race for the long haul,” Michelin said, also pointing out that Hillary Clinton is still the front-runner for the Democratic nod. For California Women Lead, the work continues to identify, recruit and retain women interested in public service. (Ed Coghlan is Contributing Editor and Special Correspondent for [California Forward](http://cafwd.org) … where this piece was first posted.) -cw CityWatch Vol 13 Issue 81 Pub: Oct 6, 2015 [![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/) ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Email [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)") [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) ### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12) LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) ### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398) PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) ### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9) BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) ### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396) THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v… [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) ### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425) THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu… --- ## [ ARCHIVE ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=16) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2018/034e.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15339:early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles&catid=16)### [Early Intervention and Jobs are Key to Stemming Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15339:early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles&catid=16) ### [Tucker Carlson and Gay Rightwinger Blame California Wildfires On Hiring LGBTQ People](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18755:tucker-carlson-and-gay-rightwinger-blame-california-wildfires-on-hiring-lgbtq-people&catid=16) ### [Anti-LGBTQ Veep Just Can’t Stop Talking about Mayor Pete](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17690:anti-lgbtq-veep-just-can-t-stop-talking-about-mayor-pete&catid=16) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2018/033j.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15316:news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties&catid=16)### [NEWS PULSE: ‘Corrupt System’ Reason for Not Voting in 2018 … Majority Wants More Than Two Parties](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15316:news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties&catid=16) [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2016/1404d.png) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10245:dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles&catid=16)### [Dead Dog Set on Fire … Sparks Fears for Strays in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10245:dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles&catid=16)