After Women’s Suffrage efforts and the 19th Amendment was adopted granting women the right to vote, there have been many changes in American government, although some slow. In 1917, Montana had one woman in the Congressional House of Representatives. After passage of the 19th Amendment, there were still only eight more women elected to the House by 1929 and none to the Senate. In 1994, the number of women in the House jumped from 28 to 47; but in 2018 a record 102 women won House seats. Today one quarter of U.S. Senators are women, the highest number ever but still far below women’s share of the population.
The growth of number of women serving in the Indiana State Legislature has been important. In 2020, 25 of the 100 House of Representative members are women and 10 members of the 50 Senators are women.
In Montgomery County there are presently no female county commissioners or members of the county council, but Lori Dossett is executive assistant to the county commissioners. Elected female county officials include: Sherri Bentley, assessor, Jennifer Andel, auditor, Karyn Douglas, clerk, Jennifer Bentley, recorder and Heather Laffoon, treasurer. Appointed female county officials include: E911 Director Sherri Henry, Emergency Management Shari Harrington and Health Administrator Amber Reed.
Terri Gadd is the elected Crawfordsville Clerk-Treasurer and Renee Pirtle appointed executive assistant. Jennifer Lowe is an elected member of Crawfordsville City Council for Ward 4. Appointed city officials include: Airport Manager Lori Curless, Parks and Recreational Director Fawn Johnson and Planning Director Brandy Allen.
A number of women serve on township boards in Montgomery County: Kyleen Simpson (Brown), Madonna Light (Clark), Barbara Clark (Coal Creek), Stacie Brooke and Jayne Lough (Franklin), Jamie Selby (Ripley), Meg Johnson and Mitzi Keller (Scott), Deborah Lough and Peggy Whitacre (Sugar Creek), Stacy Guard and Sally Evans (Union), Michelle Kinkead and Tammy Blankenship Williams (Walnut) and N. Kathy Ryker (Wayne).
Women also serve on town boards: Kathy Hesler (Alamo), Kim Carpenter, Nicole Parker, and Noelle Suiter (Darlington),Elizabeth Flohr and Amy Holladay (Ladoga), Janet Heide (Linden), Darlene Servies (New Market), Minnie Howard and Rebeca Scott (New Richmond), Sherry Whetstone (New Ross), Susie Calvert, Kelley Hopkins, Missi Patton and Shawn Wilson (Waveland), Evelyn Swank (Waynetown) and Kathy Pipher (Wingate.
Seven women have been elected to the three public school boards, and 25 also serve as important members of the five public libraries. In addition, women serve on a variety joint boards and commissions — Health department, Jail Bond Commission, Medical Care Trust, Planning Commission, Property Tax Appeals Board, Aviation Commission, Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee, Historic Preservation Commission, Human Rights Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, Plan Commission, Public Works and Safety, Redevelopment Commission and more.
As the 100th anniversary of 19th Amendment is celebrated, the LWV salutes the women and men who work so diligently to make difference in our community, state and nation.
The League of Women Voters 2020 Government Directory, edited by Nancy Bennett, has a comprehensive list of more than 350 elected and appointed citizens who participate as members of 63 boards, commissions, councils, precincts and political parties. Copies of the Governmental Directory with contact information are available. Contact Bennett by email at bennettn71@gmail.com.
The nonpartisan LWV, open to men as well as women, encourages informed and active participation in government. For information about the League, visit the website: www.lwvmontcoin.org or send message to PO Box 101, Crawfordsville, IN 47933.
