Above: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno speaks about her career path in public service at the seventh annual Running and Winning workshop at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Fall on May 3. Right: Monmouth Regional student Jillian Johnson was one of the 62 young women from area high schools at the workshop. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Middletown High School South student Amy Cohen never thought that a career in government or public policy was in her future. But last week, that option became a possibility.
Cohen was among 61 young women to participate in the seventh annual “Running and Winning” workshop on May 3, designed to encourage young women to consider running for public office.
“I never thought of being in politics,” Cohen said. “I always wanted to be an elementary school teacher. But maybe after this I will change my mind.”
Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan said at the workshop, held at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls, that she never thought she wanted to be in politics either, but is currently seeking a third term on council.
“I never wanted to run for office. I just fell into this,” said Horgan, adding that many women don’t run for office because they think they aren’t qualified.
“Many women think that they don’t know enough. The point of today is to prove that women are qualified.”
The Greater Red Bank Area League of Women Voters initiated “Running and Winning” in 2007. The event is presented with three other co-sponsors: the AAUW Northern Monmouth County Branch, the Junior League of Monmouth County and the Red Bank Chapter of Hadassah.
The 63 high school juniors were split into groups and had the opportunity to interact with 17 women who serve at all levels of government, from boards of education and municipal councils to the state Legislature.
Horgan, along with councilwomen Joy Bastelli of Long Branch and Janice Kroposky of Eatontown, joined Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-11th District) and others as mentors to the high school juniors exploring the role of women in government.
The students also participated in a campaign exercise in which they took on the roles of candidate, campaign manager, publicist and legislative aide.
As part of the campaign, the groups argued the pros and cons of a nonpartisan environmental issue. Using posters, slogans and speeches, each group presented its campaign at the end of the day.
The workshop began with a speech by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who spoke about her own path to politics, which began in 2005 after she became concerned about her children crossing the street to get on and off the school bus.
Guadagno joined the Borough of Monmouth Beach Commission, which propelled her on a political career that included becoming the first female sheriff of Monmouth County and her current role in the administration of Gov. Chris Christie. “Seven or eight years later, I am standing as the first lieutenant governor — all because I got mad about something that happened to my kids, because I believed in something enough to go to meetings at night and fight for my kids during the day,” she said, telling the group of young women that they can be and do anything.
“So long as you have in your heart what I had in my heart — and that is the motivation to get involved in the first place — then you will get up in the morning and do good for the people in your communities, hopefully your county, maybe someday your state. If we have any luck in the future, the president of the United States is in this room.”
Hers was one of many inspirational stories that made some of the young women appreciate what a career in government could provide.
Beck discussed some of the obstacles that she had to overcome, including negative publicity and proving that she could win several times in attaining positions that included a seat on the Red Bank council in 1999, state Assembly in 2007 and state Senate in 2010.
“If you really feel passionately about something and are very committed, don’t let anyone talk you out of your dream, because hard work and your own personal commitment will carry you through a lot,” she told the high school students.
Despite the challenges, Beck said that she enjoys her job and the impact that she makes on a daily basis.
“I am one of 40, and I get to shape the direction of 8 million people. My voice gets to sway the policies that affect 8 million lives, and that is incredibly inspiring to me,” she said. “If your dream is to change the world, then this is the job where you can change the world.”
It was the message that made Monmouth Regional student Hannah Cahill reconsider her own future.
“When I first was coming here, I didn’t know if I wanted a future in politics, and I was just doing this because it looked good on college applications,” Cahill said.
“The women were inspirational. They know what they want to do, and they have the power to change the world — and that is something I would like to do.”
According to Sue Flynn, a member of the workshop steering committee, statistics from the Center for Women in Politics at Rutgers University show that only 35 women serve in the New Jersey Legislature, representing 29.2 percent of the available 120 seats. Gov. Chris Christie currently has six women in his cabinet, representing 27.3 percent of his 22-member cabinet. A 2012 study titled “Men Rule: The Continued Underrepresentation of Women in Politics” revealed that only 50 percent of women surveyed had even considered politics a viable option, compared to 66 percent of men, Flynn told students.
Of the surveyed women, 63 percent said they hadn’t even considered running for public office.
Both Cohen and Cahill admitted that they thought the government was run primarily by men and never realized how many women were involved.
“I had no idea. but I hope that it continues to grow,” Cahill said.
“I want to be able to grow up and impact someone’s life like they have, to be part of something as big and great.”