Date: Fri 13-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Jodi-Rell-BPW-politics

Full Text:

w/photo: Jodi Rell Urges Professional Women To Stay Involved

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Lt Gov Jodi Rell likes to tell the story of how she made the decision to run

for public office in the space of crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge.

"My husband and I were returning from an annual family reunion in

Pennsylvania, where I had asked everyone's opinion about running, and as we

approached the bridge, I told him I had decided not to run because of our

children, who were just 10 and 13 at the time," Mrs Rell said.

Her husband's response stunned her.

"He was always something of a male chauvinist, but he said if that's all that

was stopping me, he would use his vacation - he's a pilot - to take care of

the children during the busiest part of the legislative session," she said.

The point, she told members of the Newtown Business & Professional Women's

Club Monday night, is that "you can't do this by yourself. You have to have

the support of your family."

In 1984, when Jodi Rell decided to run for state representative from the 107th

District, she was like most other women considering a career in politics. She

had no experience other than serving as treasurer for the campaigns of then

State Rep David Smith, also of Brookfield, and she had children to raise. But

she also likes to look at every opportunity as the "chance of a lifetime" and

never wanted to fall victim to what she calls the "coulda, shoulda, woulda,"

regret: "I could have done it, I should have done it, I would have been

successful."

Getting more women involved in politics and in the issues that affect

businesswomen is a goal of the BPW, said Mae Schmidle, BPW second vice

president who, like Mrs Rell, also served in the state legislature. Mrs Rell

served five two-year terms in the House, succeeding David Smith, who had

decided not to run again.

Mrs Rell said women need to get involved, keep up with issues, write letters

to the editor, and support campaigns financially or, if that's impossible, by

volunteering to help.

Women shouldn't align themselves with single-issue candidates, she said.

"Find out where candidates stand on other issues. All issues are women's

issues. Don't ever say you are supporting a woman candidate for the sole fact

that she is a woman."

Mrs Rell serves as Connecticut's second highest ranking official, but many

other women hold high-ranking state positions, including Commissioner of

Agriculture Shirley Ferris, who lives in Newtown.

"Nationwide there has been a 500 percent increase in the number of women

serving in state legislatures since 1969," Mrs Rell said. "In 1994, the most

recent year that statistics are available, 1,517 women were serving in state

legislatures, holding 21 percent of the seats.

On the national level, however, the gains have not been quite as significant.

"There are eight women senators, 47 in the US Congress and one governor -

Christie Todd Whitman of New Jersey," Mrs Rell said. "Former Connecticut Gov

Ella Grasso was the first woman elected governor on her own right, not as a

successor to her husband."

Mrs Rell said the hardest part of campaigning, particularly for women, is

asking for money.

"Women don't ask for a specific amount, and they always are a little timid and

shy about asking for money, perhaps because we are the ones who generally

write the household checks," she said.

"But if we want to put women in office, we have to write a check, attend a

fundraiser. Campaigns are expensive - money is needed for advertising."

Mrs Rell said that although she never particularly had a mentor or role model,

she admired many women in government, most of all Brookfield First Selectman

Bonnie Smith. "I've always admired and respected her because she always does

her homework. She does the job she was elected to do even when people don't

agree with her. That's what you have to do."

As to whether she might run for governor, Mrs Rell said, "You never say no to

an opportunity. But right now I'm content with the job that I have."