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Where are the Women Candidates?By Suzanne Gillis For years Vermont’s Congressional delegation has been a Dream Team. Not to all, but clearly to most, as they have been re-elected by Vermonters time and again. Jim, Patrick, and Bernie have been serving in Washington, D.C. for years; Sanders since 1991, Leahy and Jeffords since 1974. On April 20, U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords broke the bad news: he announced he would not run again. This is a great loss – he will be missed by so many of us here in the Green Mountains. No more Dream Team after 2006. But wait. Is it possible we can once again elect someone who stands for the same principals as Senator Jeffords? Reproductive rights, clean air and water, alternative energy development, sufficient funding for special education, support for farmers, civil rights for gay men and women, to name a few. We believe most Vermonters want to be represented by someone who reflects the values of the majority of Vermonters, with as much courage to fight for what is right, even if it means departing from their party as Jeffords did in 2001. Words that have been universally used by those on both sides of the aisle to describe Jim Jeffords are “independent;” “intelligent,” “trustworthy;”…A Gentleman. Surely there are more men eager and ready to step into his shoes. Across the front page of the Burlington Free Press on April 21, just under the article about Jeffords’ announcement not to seek re-election, under the headline: “Who Will Be Our Next Senator?” were the photos of six individuals – Bernie, Jim, Richard, Howard, Brian, and Peter. Looking at those photos made me feel like I got slapped with a wet fish. Don’t get me wrong. My gripe is not personal. I just could not help wondering. Where are all the women? Not one. And hey, it’s 2005 and this is Vermont … the state that elected one of the only women governors in the nation to date, Madeleine Kunin – and we elected her three times. So what if it was twenty years ago. So what, indeed. So I was wondering, why haven’t any women prepared – or been groomed by the parties — to run for the United States Senate when such an opening occurred? So I’m asking. And so far no answer… so while I wait for the call… I have been imagining what the Free Press story would have looked like if it were something like this… Who Will Be Our Next Senator? And all the photos across the front page were women instead of all men. For example, women like Major General Martha Rainville; Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz; House Speaker Gaye Symington; Susan Bartlett, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; or Billi Gosh, Vermont’s Democratic Committee woman. Imagine how different you would feel picking up your morning paper and seeing all those women’s faces across the front page. Independent thinking women with intelligence and integrity. Gentlewomen. Imagine.
A printer friendly version of this article is available. Vermont Woman is a forum for news, issues, features, arts and entertainment from the perspective, experience, and voices of Vermont women. Vermont Woman is a monthly newspaper published in South Burlington, Vermont and is excerpted here on this site. All content ©Copyright 2006, Vermont Woman Publishing |
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