Statistics show that women running for office win elections at the same rate as men, but nationwide fewer women choose to take the initial step to run for office.Real Women Run’s goal is to increase the number of women in Utah who are engaged in public life and who run for office, in the belief that greater representation by women at all levels of public service will result in policies, laws and practices that better represent all of society’s interests and aspirations.
In Utah we still have a long way to go to achieve proportional representation for women in elected office:
- One Utah woman currently serves in Congress (only the fourth in Utah history).
- In 2015, 16 women (10 House, 6 Senate) served in Utah’s 104-member Legislature – 15.4%. This is a drop from 17 women (16.3%) in 2014. Utah’s historic high was in 2002, when 24 women served in the Legislature (23.1%).
- No Utah women are currently elected to statewide office.
“Utah women’s voices and perspectives remain unheard or under-represented in the public sector. Now, more than ever, due to this gender-gap in public leadership, Utah women want and need assistance in accessing opportunities for public service through elected office and appointments to boards and commissions,” said Lisa Watts Baskin, a founding member of Real Women Run and its current chair. “Real Women Run continues to offer access and advancement for interested women through its annual trainings. We warmly welcome you and encourage you to attend seminars on campaigning, fundraising, and utilizing social media.”
Expert panelists and speakers will give insights about leadership, volunteering on campaigns, and pursuing elected office or an appointment on a board or commission. This year’s event will feature a keynote address entitled “Why We Need More Women in Politics” by Debbie Walsh, Director of the Center for American Women and Politics, Eagleton Institute, Rutgers University.
Other schedule highlights include:
- Stories of real-life campaigns in “Tales from the Trail” featuring Representative Becky Edwards, former Davis County Commissioner Louenda Downs, Ogden City Council Member Caitlin Gochnour, Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck, and former candidate Josie Valdez;
- Lunch with Mayor Jackie Biskupski;
- A tutorial on the caucus and petition process in “Two Ways to the Ballot” with Chief Deputy/Director of Elections Mark Thomas;
- And a host of breakout sessions featuring experts on campaign fundraising and finance, campaign management and field organization, social and traditional media, and messaging and research.
Cost of this full-day event is just $15. Register online at www.realwomenrun.org or www.ywca.com.