Press release from AZ Democratic Party:

We’re looking for a few good women who are ready to run…

Emerge Arizona is now accepting applications for the 2013 Candidate Training Program

Dear friends,

Another Election Day has come and gone, and we’re already thinking about the women who will represent Arizona’s political future in the next election cycle.

Emerge Arizona offers a six month program that will covers topics such as fundraising, public speaking, field organization and political influence. Former graduates of the Emerge Arizona training program include Rep. Katie Hobbs, Flagstaff City Council member Karla Brewster and former Rep. Pat Fleming.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Applicants must be women who are registered Democrats and who reside in the state of Arizona.

• Time commitment of one Saturday a month from January through June, 2013, plus homework and preparation

• Application fee of $50 (non-refundable)

• Applications are available online, and require 2 letters of recommendation and a photo.

• Tuition for the six month program is $350. Emerge Arizona believes that tuition should NOT be a barrier to participation in the program. Partial financial aid may be awarded after admission to the program.

• Application deadline is November 15, 2012. Interviews will be scheduled for late November, with class selection completed by December 1.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Emerge Arizona seeks dynamic and self-motivated women who are interested and committed to running for elective office and who have:

• Evidence of political leadership experience or potential, and meaningful involvement in workplace or community;

• Interest in running for political office;

• Ability to articulate a personal political vision;

• Commitment to full participation and attendance requirements of the trainings.

Emerge Arizona will select between 15-25 women from across the state who meet the above criteria and who have the potential to be political leaders.

Emerge embraces diversity and encourages applications from all women regardless of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, marital status, religious affiliation, sexual orientation or physical abilities.

If you are interested, go to www.emergeaz.org/training for more information and a link to the online application. If you have any questions, contact Rosalie Hirano at rosalie@emergeaz.org.

Lots of Democratic women serve in political offices in Southern Arizona such as: State Senators Linda Lopez, Olivia Cajero Bedford, Paula Aboud, State House Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales, newly elected Reps. Andrea Dalessandro, Rosanna Gabaldon, Victoria Steele, Stefanie Mach. On the local level women who serve in Pima County are Attorney Barbara LaWall, Recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, District 3 Supervisor Sharon Bronson, and Tucson Councilmembers Shirley Scott, Karin Uhlich, Regina Romero.

And congratulations to political newcomers Dr. Sylvia Lee elected to the PCC Governing Board, and to Kristel Foster to the TUSD Governing Board.

The AP news article reprinted in the Arizona Daily Star today (“Even untainted by scandal, women lag noticeably in electoral sphere”) discusses why less women run for political office. (click here):

The number of women in Congress has plateaued since 2007, with just 17 women in the 100-member Senate and 72 in the 435-member House. In state legislatures nationwide, 1,738 lawmakers are women, compared with 1,809 last year, and the percentage of women holding statewide office has fallen from 27.6 percent in 2001 to 21.9 percent today. Just six states have female governors.

We are one of those states with a woman Governor, Jan Brewer, who just won her own term in November, 2010 after taking over in January 2009 when then-Governor Janet Napolitano left to become head of federal Homeland Security. Brewer is a Republican and Napolitano is a Democrat.

I wrote about women candidates in last year’s Arizona elections (click here) and many women ran for almost all races in the legislature and state-wide offices.

In the current 2011 election for the City of Tucson, only one woman (Mary DeCamp, a Green Party member) is running for Mayor. Councilmembers Karin Uhlich (Ward 3) and Shirley Scott (Ward 4) were considering bids for Mayor as well, but opted to stay in their Council seats. In Wards 1, 2 and 4, women are running: Democratic Councilmember Regina Romero for re-election, Republican challenger Jennifer Rawson, and Democratic Councilmember Shirley Scott for re-election.

On the Southern Arizona legislative front there are several women politicians: LD 25 Senator Gail Griffin (R), LD 25 House Rep. Peggy Judd (R), LD 26 House Rep. Terri Proud (R), LD 27 Senator Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), LD 27 House Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales (D), LD 28 Senator Paula Aboud (D), LD 29 Senator Linda Lopez (D). And CD 8 is represented in U.S. Congress by Democrat Gabrielle Giffords, who is recovering from that tragic shooting on January 8, 2011.

I think women don’t run because politics is still perceived as a “dirty game”, with long hours and often disagreeable constituents and issues. Plus women may still have to multi-task with children, meal preparation/housework, etc.

What do you think readers? The AP article goes on to say that perhaps more women should run for office, due to the number of recent sex scandals involving male politicians (i.e. former VP candidate/U.S. Senator John Edwards, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Congressman Anthony Weiner). The assumption there is that perhaps women politicians wouldn’t fall prey to sexual temptations or scandals.

Before the August 24 Arizona primary, I wrote an article noting that there seemed to be a woman candidate running for almost every Arizona public office (click here), but of course there are less now in the General Election.

Here’s a list of the women candidates seeking office in Southern Arizona and statewide. Most of these candidates have been endorsed by the Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC), EXCEPT for Republicans Governor Brewer, candidates Ruth McClung, Brenda Burns, Gail Griffin, Peggy Judd, and Terri Proud, and Democratic candidate Margaret DiFrank.

The AWPC only endorses women candidates who are pro-choice.

Congressional District 7: Ruth McClung (R), candidate
Congressional District 8: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D), incumbent

Governor Jan Brewer (R), incumbent (appointed)
Attorney General – Felecia Rotellini (D), candidate
Superintendent of Public Instruction – Penny Kotterman (D), candidate
Corporation Commission (2 seats) – Brenda Burns (R), candidate

Southern AZ legislators:

LD 25 Senate – Gail Griffin (R) candidate, former legislator
LD 25 House (2 seats) – Rep. Pat Fleming (D),incumbent and Peggy Judd (R) candidate

LD 26 Senate – Cheryl Cage (D), candidate
LD 26 House (2 seats) – Terri Proud (R) candidate, and Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D), incumbent

LD 27 Senate – Rep. Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), candidate, current legislator
LD 27 House – Sally Ann Gonzales (D), former legislator

LD 28 Senate – Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent

LD 29 Senate – Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent (unopposed)

LD 30 House – Andrea Dalessandro (D), candidate

Clerk of Superior Court – Margaret DiFrank (D) candidate, Clerk Patti Noland (R), incumbent

After the General Election 5 of the 6 Southern Arizona State Senators could be women, mostly Democrats — incumbents Senators Paula Aboud and Linda Lopez, plus veteran legislator Olivia Cajero Bedford, former legislator Gail Griffin, and newcomer Cheryl Cage.

Here’s their mission statement of AWPC:

“The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus is the state affiliate of the National Women’s Political Caucus. We are the only multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing the number of pro-choice women in elected and appointed office. We work to help women attain leadership positions at all levels of government.”

Early voting starts on October 7 for the November 2nd General Election.