Indiana doesn’t have a good track record when it comes to electing women to political office, and advocates hope the nomination of Hillary Clinton to run for president of the United States will bring a change to the Hoosier State’s political makeup. Indiana ranks 34th in the nation for the percentage of women serving in the Legislature. It is one of eight states that never have had a female governor or U.S. senator. Indiana’s four largest cities – Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and South Bend – have never had female mayors. Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson is the only female mayor of a city of 30-thousand or more in the state. She says an attitude needs to be adjusted, adding that just recently she was approached by someone needing to fill some jobs.
Shelli VanDenburgh is a former state representative in Indiana and is running for office again. She thinks Hillary Clinton’s nomination will inspire women.
Mara Candelaria Reardon was the first Latina woman elected in Indiana in 2006. She says women often underestimate themselves, and more need to step up because they make great leaders.