’S ASSOCIATED PRESS/PAT WELLENBACH MAIN WOMEN The success of the state’s two top leaders may have more to do with voters’ independent streak than it does with gender politics.

By Garry Boulard women in leadership in the Legislature. The faith that people here have in their women hen was sworn in leaders has actually increased.” as the new speaker of the Maine Maine is not No. 1 in elected women. With House of Representatives last only 29 percent of elective offices occupied December, she regarded it as a nat- by women, it ranks 14th. That includes, how- Wural progression in a state that prides itself on ever, both U.S. senators and one of its two its gender-neutral politics. members of Congress—, the “This is a place where women have been mother of Speaker Pingree and former Maine politically embraced for a long time,” says Senate majority leader. Women also make up Pingree, 32, reflecting on the fact that she eight of the 35-member Senate and 46 of the and Senate President Elizabeth “Libby” 151-member House. Mitchell had made history in Maine by being Some observers think the success of the first two women to lead their chambers women in leadership roles owes a lot to how simultaneously. people in Maine look at politics. She pointed to the career of the legendary “Maine is a fiercely egalitarian state,” says of Maine, who served Mark Brewer, a professor of political science in the U.S. House for nine years before win- at the University of Maine. “People just go ning election to the U.S. Senate where she their own way here, and as a result, they was the only woman in that chamber for are much more likely to think about what a nearly a quarter of a century. woman candidate stands for than the fact that “Maine has for years elected women to the she is a woman, which may not always be Legislature,” says Pingree. “What is differ- the case in other parts of the country.” ent is that we are now also open to having HISTORY-MAKING PAIR Garry Boulard is a free-lance writer in Albuquerque, N.M., Maine voters in November returned Pin- and a frequent contributor to State Legislatures. gree to the House and Mitchell to the Senate.

26 state legislatures JULY/AUGUST 2009 Left, Hannah Pingree, left, is escorted into the House of Representa- tives at the State House in Augusta, Maine, in December prior to her swearing in as speaker of the House.

Below, Senate President Elizabeth Libby Mitchell: “No political party or single elected official has a monopoly on good ideas.”

MAINE SENATE

JULY/AUGUST 2009 state legislatures 27 she says. She pointed to her successful 2008 capacity for working their way up the legisla- legislation to eliminate toxic chemicals that tive ladder into leadership positions, and that children are exposed to in household prod- once they are in those positions they display Senator ucts, and said it was more than likely inspired the same staying power as male incumbents.” margaret craven by the fact that she is a woman. Maine “I want to have children some day, so OBSTACLES REMAIN the issue of children being exposed to toxic Despite what has happened in Colorado, chemicals was obviously something that I Maine, New Hampshire, and other states regarded as being significant, something I where women have increased their leader- Just weeks after that election, Pingree was just naturally felt strongly about,” says Pin- ship presence, formidable obstacles remain, named speaker and Mitchell, a former House gree. says Elizabeth Ossoff, research director at the speaker, was named Senate president. They Such perspectives show that the increasing Center for the Study of American Democracy won their posts by unanimous votes. number of women both as members and lead- and Citizenship at Saint Anselm College. Mitchell, 69, has described her leadership “I don’t think the rise of women leaders style as one of not talking to people but with at the legislative level is a surprise, given the them. “No political party or single elected number of women going to college and pur- official has a monopoly on good ideas,” she “Maine is suing careers that are open to them moving said when elected to lead the Senate. She’s into leadership positions,” says Ossof. won praise from her colleagues for trying to “The more accommodating we as a cul- understand the perspective and needs of each ture become of women moving into positions senator. a fiercely of leadership outside the legislatures, the “I have known both Libby and Hannah for more accommodating we will be of women a long time and also have previously served moving into leadership positions inside the under male leaders,” says Senator Margaret legislatures,” she says. Craven. “I think the management style is dif- But Ossoff also thinks the number of ferent. We have not been requested nearly as egalitarian women legislative leaders may be low much to stay within party lines or to be influ- because of the overall lack of women legisla- enced by the leader’s point of view.” tive members. As Maine’s legislators this spring have Craven agrees: “You do have to get out struggled with a bill making same-sex state. People there and try. And that is true both for run- marriage legal, Mitchell tried to hear as ning for office and for trying to become a many points of view as possible before she leader.” announced where she stood. “She stepped Unlike many female state legislative down from the podium and spoke publicly of candidates across the country, Craven was her own feelings late into the debate,” says go their own helped by Maine’s campaign laws that make Craven. “She had not even spoken to us in it easy for more people to contribute small caucus about that. amounts of money to a candidate. “I could “This is typical of her leadership style. not have competed otherwise,” says Cra- She puts an issue out there and lets people way here.” ven, “and I think the money factor is some- come to the conclusion that they feel most thing that many women candidates have to comfortable with.” ­­­---- Mark Brewer, University of Maine weigh.” But once in the , Craven says PUSHING HER AGENDA ers in state legislatures is not only good for she has seen no obvious obstacles to women Pingree also has adopted an inclusive the women in question, but also for the leg- moving up the leadership ladder. “I think leadership approach. But she admits that she islatures, says Debbie Walsh, the director of here we are judged by the job we do—and has strong feelings about what the House’s the Center for American Women and Politics that applies to both male and female mem- agenda should be and that her priorities may at Rutgers University. bers.” be influenced by her gender. “There may be instances when a woman Pingree recalls the 1992 race when her “I have seen women members step up and legislator will look at things differently than mother initially ran for the Legislature and take prominent roles on issues such as insur- a male legislator,” says Walsh, “and to the was derisively characterized by a male oppo- ance regulation and business and economic extent that legislatures are enhanced by hav- nent as “Little Alice in Wonderland.” development,” says Pingree, “while some of ing different points of view, that’s a good “The faith in women leaders has actually my male colleagues have been more inter- thing.” grown, at least in Maine, over the years,” ested in things like children’s issues. Walsh also thinks the advent of women she says. “I am certain that we are going to “But being a woman does bring unique in legislative leadership positions is likely to be seeing many more woman leaders in the and different perspectives to legislation,” increase. “We have seen that women have a future.”

28 state legislatures JULY/AUGUST 2009