R.I. group hopes more women will run for office

PROVIDENCE - The numbers are stark.

-- The number of women currently in statewide office: 0

-- The number of women who have served as Governor: 0

-- As Lieutenant Governor: 0

-- As Attorney General: 1

-- As General Treasurer: 1

-- As Secretary of State: 3

-- As U.S. Senator: 0

-- As Congresswoman: 1

"I can name on my fingers the women who have been in higher political office in Rhode Island," says Lisa Pelosi, director of programs for Leadership Rhode Island.

The phenomenon, she says, "is something we are all aware of, but nobody has stopped to ask the question why is that? Why are not as many women running for higher office?

"They have the passion, they have the commitment to change what they want to see changed," she says, then answers her own question: "They don't know what the first step is."

Leadership Rhode Island is stepping in to offer a series of workshops to school women interested in the political process on how to go about seeking and holding office.

The first session, concentrating on getting involved in electoral politics and making the first step toward becoming a candidate will be held next month at the Gatehouse Restaurant.

Brown University Professor Jennifer Lawless, who is running for the 2nd District Congressional seat, Sen. Elizabeth Roberts, who is running for lieutenant governor and South Kingstown Town Council member Cynthia Gleason will tell why they ran for office and the challenges they faced or are facing as a female candidate.

Articulating why you want to run for a political office is a key first step, Pelosi said. "If you can't articulate it, then you can't go to the next step.

"When you make a decision to run for office," says Pelosi, who was press secretary to former Gov. Lincoln Almond and worked for the late Sen. John Chafee as well as Connecticut Rep. Nancy Johnson, "it affects your family, your friends, your work. You have to take into account what it means for everyone, not just you."

The first workshop will also broach an issue Pelosi says is particularly difficult for women: asking for money to run a campaign

Future workshops, which will resume in March for three consecutive Saturdays, will focus on developing a message, public speaking and dealing with the media, building a campaign organization and support from political parties.

A key component to the workshops, Pelosi said, is that after they are over, participants will be given a list of mentors who they can turn to for support and guidance as they try to put what they learned into practice.

"We have a lot of homegrown talent," Pelosi said, women (and men as well) who can work with the workshop graduates, giving them the benefit of their experince.

Registration fee for the workshops is $35 in advance, $40 at the door. If you attend the November workshop, you may attend all three of the sessions next year for $100. If you don't attend in November the cost for the 2006 workshops is $150.

More information is available by calling Pelosi at 273-1574 or e-mailing lpelosi@leadershipri.org.

This article, written by Jim Baron, appeared on October 5, 2005, in the Pawtucket Times.