Why Recruiting Women Candidates for Office can be Difficult
The NFRW continues to emphasize that one of its main goals is recruiting women to run for political office. One Federation member in Nebraska, Jean Stothert, a current member of the Omaha City Council and candidate for Mayor of Omaha, has witnessed first-hand the difficulties a female candidate for office can encounter.
Jean has been a conservative voice on the Omaha, Nebraska, City Council for the past 3 ½ years, fighting the Democratic mayor's increased fees and taxes as well as his close relationship with unions. Needless to say, unions are not supporting Jean's candidacy.
Over the past few days, Jean has come under vicious attacks from negative push polls, false mailers, vile and disgusting tweets and most recently an Omaha City Council colleague displaying a derogatory t-shirt about Jean. Both the t-shirt and the tweets were "some of the worst" examples of sexism in politics that Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, has ever seen. "This is just really beyond the pale and quite disgusting," said Walsh.
Nebraska U. S. Senator Deb Fischer and former Governor Kay Orr have both rushed to Jean's defense and, according to Senator Fischer, decry the "vile attacks" she is facing. Former Governor Orr describes the attacks as "both vile and dishonest" and calls for all conservative women across the country to answer the call to action by being willing to put a stop to such derogatory campaign tactics.
The Omaha World-Herald recently published an article illustrating the savage treatment Jean has been receiving as a conservative female candidate trying to become the first female mayor of Omaha in city history. Jean's campaign points out the difficulty female candidates can encounter when outrageous, sexist claims are made against them.
NFRW Thanks Missouri Representative Jo Ann Emerson
Representative Jo Ann Emerson, (R-Mo.), the first Republican woman to represent Missouri in Congress, recently resigned her seat after winning a 10th term in Congress. Representative Emerson held a senior position on the powerful Appropriations Committee and was chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.
Representative Emerson has been a Missouri Federation of Republican Women member for many years and, as reported by Kathy L. Chinn, president of the Missouri Federation, she has demonstrated inspiring leadership and constituent representation for the citizens of the 8th Congressional District of Missouri. President Chinn echoes the sentiments of all that Representative Emerson has certainly been a Republican leader and will be missed as she retires from office. We thank her for her service and wish great success in the future.
Nominating Committee Members and Alternates Chosen
As you know, the National Federation of Republican Women Board of Directors, at its Spring Board Meeting in March, 2013, elected the following women as Nominating Committee members and alternates:
Chairman: Brenda K SmithThe Nominating Committee has set April 19, 2013, as the deadline by which documents from candidates and letters of recommendation for candidates must be received. Be certain to mail/e-mail all documents to all Nominating Committee members and alternates in the event an alternate is called into service.
Secretary: Jeanita McNulty
Member: Dena Barnes
Member: Beverly Owensby
Member: Roseann Slonsky-Breault
Member: Dianne Thompson
Member: Dulany Woodward
Alternate 1: Sally Taylor
Alternate 2: Bea Kehr
Among items considered by Nominating Committee members and alternates will be the duties and responsibilities of each particular office and each candidate's Federation work, knowledge of Federation procedures, leadership and ability to work with others, dedication to the organization in past endeavors and energy and time to carry out their duties if elected.
Each candidate for office is required to provide the Nominating Committee members and alternates with her bio, contact information including cell phone number, reason for seeking office, willingness to serve, print quality high resolution digital photo and verification that her current dues are paid with an NFRW local club.
