Time for Ohio to Move Women Forward
For Immediate Release
January 23, 2009
Contact: Cynthia Ruccia, 614-239-8928
Time for Ohio to Move Women Forward
(Columbus, OH) — The New Agenda, a new national nonpartisan women’s rights
organization, calls on both the Ohio Republican and Democratic Parties to
nominate a pool of talented women to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Sen. George V. Voinovich’s decision not to seek re-election next year kicked
off a round of jockeying that must include Ohio women,” said Cynthia Ruccia,
co-Founder of The New Agenda. “Ohio has never elected a woman to the U.S.
Senate even though women represent over 50 percent of the electorate. It’s
time for Ohio to lead in moving women forward.”
Women of this country did not fare well in the 2008 election. After the
November election, ten states have lower representation of women in state
government positions. The U.S. House of Representatives is still 84 percent
male, and women lost four seats overall. The U.S. Senate is 83 percent male.
There are a number of highly qualified women who can ably represent Ohioans
and their interests in the U.S. Senate. That list includes State Auditor
Mary Taylor and former Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Bradley for the
Republicans, and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and former Ohio House
Minority Leader Joyce Beatty for the Democrats.
The New Agenda’s Ruccia has had initial meetings with the leadership of the
Ohio Democratic party, and will be meeting Republican leaders next week.
Ohio is the first state-based chapter of the growing national women’s rights
organization with membership across the country.
Amy Siskind, co-Founder and President of The New Agenda said, “At The New
Agenda we know that our country needs talented women in leadership positions
and we need them now.”
According to the Center for American Women at Rutgers University, of the 50
states, Ohio ranks in the bottom 20 percent for female representation in
government.
