Election days are big for us at NationBuilder. From school board and city council races, to mayoral elections, thousands of candidates were voted into new positions earlier this month.
According to the Center for American Women and Politics, in 2013 only 21.8% of women hold political office in the United States. That number rings extremely low, illustrating our need for more women to represent us at the local and national level.
From the November 5th elections, I've read many inspirational stories about amazing women candidates and their journeys to positions in civil service. Today, I've profiled three prolific women who will soon occupy positions as a School Board member in California, the first Socialist City Council member in Seattle, and a new mayor in Dayton, Ohio.
Jennifer Cochran wins Manhattan Beach, California School Board
After 10 years of holding volunteer and leadership roles in local schools, Jennifer Cochran secured a spot on the Manhattan Beach Unified School Board. Her involvement began in 2003, at the start of a heavy financial crisis that forced the Manhattan Beach School district to cut funding for a number of programs. To help make up for the P.E. instruction that was cut from elementary schools, Cochran initiated the Meadows Elementary Running Club, of which she said, “We have to do the best with what we have and be creative with what we don’t.”
Although her mother spent 28 years promoting public education, Cochran didn’t necessarily intend to follow in her footsteps. Whether it was destiny, tenacity, or a combination of both, there’s no doubt her witness to great leadership and collaboration inspired her own efforts to better the public education experience for her three children and every student of the Manhattan Beach School District.
First modern Socialist candidate elected to Seattle City Council
Further up the coast in Seattle, Kshama Sawant ran for city council as a Socialist, winning 50.3% of the votes. This is the first time in modern history a Socialist has been elected into city government. The monumental victory caught national media attention from both Al Jazeera America and the Huffington Post, praising the shift of votes in favor of what has historically been viewed as an outsider, "radical" party. Sawant organized her campaign around issues important to many liberal voters: raising the minimum wage to $15 and levying a "millionaire" tax to pay for mass transit and public education.
Prior to running for Seattle City Council Sawant was involved with the the city's Occupy Wall Street protests, which included taking over a downtown park and junior college campus during late 2011. It was during this time the 41-year old college economics professor gained a following of supporters to turn out votes for her in 2013.
Nan Whaley moves up from City Commissioner to Mayor of Dayton, Ohio
A number of women took mayoral seats across the country. Among them, Nan Whaley won election as mayor of Dayton, Ohio. Whaley won with 56% of the votes, defeating former county auditor and judge A.J. Wagner. Many think of Dayton as dying city, and Whaley believes she won for her vision of a new Dayton. She told ABC News, "We have challenges and work to do but [people] believe that Dayton's best days are ahead."
Before running for mayor, Whaley served as City Commissioner and was active in the local Five Oaks community. For years, she's been involved in cyclist activism around Dayton, petitioning for a safer bike and pedestrian city. As mayor, Whaley is hoping to create a thriving urban center downtown by creating more bike friendly streets and investing in urban farms.
It's refreshing and inspiring to see voters electing more women to represent local and national communities across the country. Whether it's disrupting the party status-quo, investing in K-12 public education, or challenging an incumbent with forward-thinking ideas for Dayton, this election produced many women leaders that are making some serious traction in their communities. I'm excited to see the results.
