USC Price in Sacramento co-sponsored a panel discussion with the League of California Cities Women’s Caucus on July 20, 2023 to discuss how to break down barriers for women in politics (organized by Bobbie Singh-Allen, Mayor of Elk Grove and Dr Annie Lam, Executive Director of the LOCC Women’s Caucus). The discussion was held at the USC Price in Sacramento in Midtown Sacramento at our campus building at 18th and I Streets.
The panelists included Mayor Singh-Allen, Dawnté Early (Councilmember, West Sacramento), and Lisa Kaplan (Councilmember, Sacramento). I was privileged to serve as moderator and asked questions about their personal stories about why they ran for office. The conversation, which could have easily continued for several hours, highlighted the trials and triumphs that these inspiring women faced as they considered running for office, overcoming negative campaigns and death threats, and managing elected office while also caring for families and children and engaging in important community initiatives.
Left to right: me, Sacramento Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, West Sacramento Councilmember Dawnté Early (photo courtesy of Annie Lam)
Here are some takeaways from the conversation that I found insightful:
Women of color and underrepresented women have experienced disparaging remarks, lack of respect, and barriers to upward mobility their entire lives — their personal lives have been the training ground for “thick skin” so necessary for an effective career in elected politics.
Women generally do not consider themselves viable political candidates, and they face barriers from clubs, their own political parties, and sometimes their own communities.
These women were asked to run by men who acted and continue to be mentors and advisors but also were supported by women. These elected women had close networks with other elected women of support and peer mentoring and coaching that they consistently and regularly engage to obtain information, share experiences (good and bad), and continuously learn how to be more effective elected officials.
Advice they provided:
Ignore social media. Do not engage “trolls.” Ask your supporters to not share social media that they see.
They do not use negative campaigns. Whenever their names are mentioned even in negative ways, this is publicity.
When campaigning, focus on votes and fundraising. Everything else is irrelevant (including social media).
Support women who run. Support can include money but also can include walking the district.
Do not ever take campaigns for granted. Always put in the work.
Every vote matters.
Listen to your own voice. We are enough.
The community needs “we.”
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