AMES, Iowa -- Dianne Bystrom says if ever there was a time for women to explore opportunities to run for public office, it's now. The director of Iowa State University's Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics says legislative redistricting typically opens up new opportunities for women to be elected to public office.
And redistricting couldn't have come at a better time for women, says Bystrom (right), who also reports that the November 2010 election marked the first time in 31 years that the number of women elected to the U.S. Congress decreased. Iowa has yet to break its own political "glass ceiling," being one of four states -- along with Delaware, Mississippi and Vermont -- to never elect a woman to the U.S. Congress.
That's why the Catt Center is presenting "Ready to Run Iowa: Campaign Training for Women," on Friday, June 10. The workshop is designed for anyone interested in running for all levels of office, getting appointed to public boards and commissions, working on a candidate or issue campaign, or learning more about the political system. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at ISU's Scheman Building, Iowa State Center.
"This is a big year [for women in politics] for many reasons," said Bystrom. "When new districts are drawn -- not only on the federal level but on the state level -- redistricting causes changes and opens up opportunities for women."
Balancing local and county boards and commissions
A new Iowa law extending general balance to local and county boards and commissions also creates opportunities for women's public service, according to Bystrom.
"Another thing we push in our Ready to Run Campaign School is not just running for office; it's serving on local and state boards and commissions," she said. "Iowa has had a gender balance mandate on state boards and commissions since 1987. That was extended to local and county boards by the 2010 legislature and it goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012. So 2012 presents numerous opportunities for Iowa women to step up and run for political office or serve on boards and commissions."
The workshop addresses both of those opportunities by offering participants one of two tracks -- one for women who might be considering a run for public office, and the other for women who may desire greater political leadership to have an impact on important issues.
Political leaders scheduled to participate include: Iowa Lieutenant Gov. Kim Reynolds (R); former Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson (D); State Rep. Linda L. Upmeyer (R-Garner), House majority leader; State Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City), Senate assistant minority leader; State Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Red Oak); State Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines (D-Des Moines); Carlisle Mayor Ruth Randleman, who serves on the Iowa Finance Authority Board of Directors; and Lucy Martin, Story County auditor.
Jennifer L. Lawless -- director of the Women & Politics Institute at American University and co-author of the book "It Takes A Candidate: Why Women Don't Run for Office" -- will present the morning plenary keynote titled, "Making a Difference: What Women Need to Know." Lawless was a 2006 candidate for a U.S. House of Representatives seat in Rhode Island.
The luncheon keynote, "Communication Strategies for Candidates, Campaigns and Advocates," will be given by campaign strategist Jessica Vanden Berg, partner, Maverick Strategies and Mail in Arlington, Va.
Nicole Schlinger, president, Capital Resources Inc./Campaign
Headquarters, will deliver the
afternoon plenary keynote, "Fundraising for Success."
Additional topics that will be covered include launching your campaign, advocating an issue, navigating Iowa's political parties as a potential candidate, and navigating the routes to public service and political leadership.
Discounted price through May 28
Registration is available online and will cost $75 on or before May 28 and $100 after that date. The fee includes all sessions and training materials; breakfast, lunch and afternoon refreshments; workshop notebook; and a campaign training manual. Sponsorships -- including funds provided by Mediacom, the Ames Chamber of Commerce, Hy-Vee, the League of Women Voters of Ames, and Mary Jo and Richard Stanley of Muscatine -- keep the tuition below the actual cost of offering the school. Scholarships are also available for travel and registration.
Ready to Run™ was established by the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. It has helped New Jersey climb from the bottom third of all states in the proportion of women in legislature to 12th.
Additional information may be obtained online, or by contacting the Catt Center at 515-294-3181, or cattcntr@iastate.edu.
