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r sitions <br /> conscious or unconscious, there seem to be underlying e <br /> Whether y g P <br /> or, Ill/ assumptions which tend to exclude consideration of and search for women as <br /> amp <br /> potential appointees. We invite you to look at the list of appointees which <br /> is attached and we acknowledge that the record of this administration is better <br /> than that of the past two administrations. <br /> In the past, women's organizations have requested lists of vacancies on boards, <br /> commission and committees. They have distributed applications to their members <br /> and have also submitted lists of women to be contacted. <br /> THIS HAS NOT ACHIEVED GENDER BALANCE IN THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS. <br /> After looking over data available from present and past county administrations <br /> it is our opinion that the best way to achieve equality in the appointment process <br /> is to put the requirement in the Charter as has been done in three states, Kansas, <br /> Florida and Iowa. We sUhmit copies of language used in legislation from these states. <br /> IIAny language used in our Charter could be written so that it would not require <br /> resignations from any current appointees. <br /> Although the number of women in elected office increases each year, we have <br /> only a few women on City and County Councils, even fewer in our State legislatures <br /> and only a handful in our national Congress. When research was done on the . <br /> backgrounds of women who have been successful in their bids for public office, it <br /> was found that among women officeholders 55% of state senators, 42% of state . <br /> representatives, 41% of county commissioners and 36% of county council members <br /> had previously served on boards and commissions and considered those appointments <br /> as a major factor in their political success. The appointment to boards and <br /> commissions has always served as a training ground or "stepping stone" for men. <br /> We would like to challenge this Commission to offer women the same training <br /> ground opportunity by placing a requirement in our Charter that appointments <br /> 111/. include no more than a bare majority from each gender. 565 <br />