Tips on how to fund and shape a political campaign will be offered on Feb. 6, 2010, during a non-partisan training and networking event called “Run Women Run.”
“Run Women Run” will be held in Buckman Hall at Rhodes College from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. A reception featuring elected officials and judges from federal, state and local levels will begin at 4:30 p.m.
The event is being organized by a coalition of presenting sponsors including Memphis Area Women’s Council, League of Women Voters of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee Economic Council on Women, National Association of Women Business Owners Memphis Chapter, Tennessee Women’s Political Caucus and Memphis Women’s Political Caucus.
“Too few women serve on our city council, county commission and in our legislature,” said Deborah M. Clubb, executive director of the Memphis Area Women’s Council. “Men can be excellent partners and even leaders on issues critical to women but the record shows that when women are engaged, the policy focus stays on issues at the root of poverty, violence and inequity.
“Fewer than one-fourth of our local elected representatives are women,” Clubb said, “and we believe that lack of representation in some ways allowed travesties such as last year’s rape crisis center crisis to occur.”
Only three women presently serve among 13 members of the Memphis City Council and four serve among 13 members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. Only two suburban aldermen are women and one of the county’s seven mayors is a woman.
Seven women represent Shelby County districts in the state legislature in Nashville – two senators and four House members – in a delegation of 22.
Statewide, Tennessee ranks 39th in women elected to the legislature with 9 women total among 33 Senators and 17 women among 99 House members. That’s 18.2 percent. In 2010 in Congress, Tennessee has one female House member.
Overall, women hold 90 or 16.8 percent of the 535 U.S. House seats and 17 or 17 percent of the 100 U.S. Senate seats. Nationwide, only six women are governors and among the 100 largest cities, 11 had women mayors as of January 2009.
Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy, attorney Ruby Wharton, philanthropist Kathy Buckman Gibson and recent state Senate candidate Adrienne Pakis-Gillon will discuss campaign financing and how to run. State Rep. Karen Camper, Shelby County Commissioner Mike Carpenter and Supreme Court Chief Justice Janice Holder will talk about why to run and developing your message.
Registration is due for “Run Women Run” by Jan. 22 and will be limited to 100 persons. The early registration fee is $20; day-of-event charge, if space is available, will be $25. Students with ID can observe for free.
To register, email dclubb@memphiswomen.org and then mail a check to Memphis Area Women’s Council at 2574 Sam Cooper Blvd., 38112.
Other local sponsors include American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women, Democratic Women of Shelby County, Mothers of the Nile, Public Issues Forum, Ginger Ralston, Women of Style Spirit and Success and YWCA of Greater Memphis. Endorsing organizations include Center for Research on Women, Girls Inc., Network and the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis/Women’s Economic Security Campaign.
Media contact is Deborah M. Clubb, Memphis Area Women’s Council, 378-3866, dclubb@memphiswomen.org
