Record number of women serving in legislatures across nation

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper 

“Anything you can do, I can do better; I can do anything better than you.”  Some of you may recall these playful lyrics from the musical, Annie Get Your Gun.  In the show, sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler croon about who can sing softer, higher, sweeter; they each boast of their personal abilities and accomplishments, with Annie going toe-to-toe with Frank at each musical interval. 

I was reminded of this male-female bantering upon reading recent data from the Center for American Women and Politics, which shows a record number of women holding office in state legislatures across the United States.  In 2021, 2,279 state legislators – roughly 31 percent – are female.  This represents a quintupling of the number of women serving in state legislatures since 1971, the first year data from CAWP was available. 

The National Conference of State Legislatures compiled data beyond raw numbers; in fact, according to the NCSL, 87 women nationwide held a leadership position in either the House or Senate at the start of the 2021 legislative session.  

Nevada tops the list of states with the most females serving at the statehouse, with an overwhelming majority – 60.3 percent – of legislators being female.  Mississippi, on the other hand, falls in the bottom 10 states, where just 16.1 percent of state legislators are women. 

But that’s not to say Mississippi is complacent when it comes to women in leadership.  In 2018 and for the first time in state history, the Hospitality State elected a woman to the U.S. Senate, Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith. A former state senator, Hyde-Smith also broke the mold by serving as the state’s first female Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner from 2012 to 2018.  

Other notable females in Mississippi leadership include Republican Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who previously served as State Treasurer.  Amy Tuck, who was elected as a Democrat but later changed allegiances to the Republican Party, served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor after having served in the Mississippi State Senate. 

Free Staters are perhaps most familiar with Hattiesburg-native and Democrat Evelyn Gandy (and no, I’m not talking about the parkway).  Ms. Gandy served in three statewide offices: first as Treasurer, then Commissioner of Insurance, and finally as Lieutenant Governor. But the title of first woman elected statewide goes to Democrat Nellah Massey Bailey, who was elected State Tax Collector in 1947. (Fun fact: Ms. Bailey also served as First Lady of Mississippi from 1944 to 1946 after her husband, Thomas Lowry Bailey, was elected Governor.)

But, let’s get back to women in the state legislature.  CAWP data shows that Mississippi had 44 women candidates in 2019, with 28 ultimately capturing seats (17 in the House of Representatives and 11 in the State Senate).  Interestingly, Jones County has two women voices representing its citizens at the Capitol in Jackson: Republican Rep. Robin Robinson and Democrat Rep. Omeria Scott. 

“Each person, man or woman, has a valuable perspective based on life experiences”, stated Representative Robinson.  “As a woman in politics, it is my goal to use my perspective and experiences to represent the people of our great State.”

 

I’m not surprised that women are starting to engage more politically. Indeed, Bloomberg reports that “in every U.S. presidential election since 1964, more women than men have turned out to vote.”  Women are an important voting bloc and their increasing numbers in political races have caused the political parties to take notice – and action. 

For example, the Mississippi Republican Party has recognized the importance of targeting women through programs like its Women Initiative Network (WIN-R), which provides specialized training in politics and public service to women across the state. 

Tate Lewis, executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party, says the party “has benefited from the help of many amazing women who have stepped up to be leaders in our state and party.”  He cites the work of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women and two past chairwomen of the GOP, Evelyn McPhail and Ebbie Spivey, in the 80s and 90s. He points out that a working mom chairs the Republican National Committee and says women “provide an invaluable voice in the shaping and management of politics and public policy.” 

This is a smart move for Republicans, considering the fact that the two genders have “differed markedly in their preferences at the ballot box,” according to Bloomberg, with women preferring Democrat candidates more than men.  While this isn’t necessarily true in a red state like Mississippi, Republicans are wise to recruit women to their ranks.  (As it stands, female legislators in Mississippi are just about evenly split between the two parties.)

From increased voter turnout among women to increased numbers of female candidates and officeholders, the demographic trends are encouraging from this Republican woman’s perspective.  After all, who better to tackle important policy issues like childcare, abortion, and even “pink taxes” on feminine products, than politically-conservative females? 

So men, this is your notice. Women are continuing to make our voices heard in larger numbers.  Pretty soon we’ll be able to truthfully answer Beyoncé’s timeless question of “who runs the world?” Girls, that’s who. 

Governor sets “cultivating empathy” as major personal goal

*Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper.

I watched Gov. Reeves’s State of the State address this week. He spoke about his goals for Mississippi, including growing the state’s economy, investing in workforce development, and pushing hard on COVID-19 vaccination distributions.  But what I felt was the most ambitious part of the speech had little to do with policy goals; in fact, it centered on something very personal – cultivating empathy. 

 

Specifically, Gov. Reeves said he was aiming daily at cultivating “more empathy.  It’s been in short supply in this world for some time now…and too often that leads us to see one another as enemies. It leads to corrosion in trust.”  

 

He continued: “We all want to be treated with grace.  And we’re all made in the image of a perfect God. So, my goal is to act like it.” 

 

I’m trying to remember when, if ever, I heard a government leader talk about empathy. I’m sure they have, but it seems to be more the exception than the rule. 

 

Research professor Brené Brown has spent two decades studying aspects of psychology including courage, vulnerability, shame, and – you guessed it – empathy. In her 2008 book I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), Brown references four attributes of empathy: To be able to see the world as others see it; to be nonjudgmental; to understand another person’s feelings; and to communicate your understanding of that person’s feelings.  

 

Can you imagine how different politics would be if we all – citizens included – practiced a little more empathy? 

 

Likely, it would lead to a decrease in Facebook fightin’ and Twitter tantrums between groups of people who politically disagree and an increase in peaceful holiday gatherings among family members.  I’d also bet it would lead to more substantive policy, instead of disingenuous proposals designed to sow division for the sake of scoring political points. 

 

At least, that’s my guess. 

 

A Washington Post op-ed focused on empathy in politics puts it like this: “Empathy is not a weakness. Listening with genuine curiosity can disarm people and open them to seeing things differently…surviving our divisions might require us all to choose [empathy].” 

 

I agree. We should strive to practice a little more empathy before jumping to political conclusions about why the other side believes what they believe.  

 

That can manifest itself in many ways.  It could mean having a real, honest conversation with someone that you disagree with in order to understand their point of view.  It might mean foregoing a Facebook comment on someone’s post you don’t like.  Small, intentional acts of empathy can help to improve political discourse and cut down on the anger that is plaguing our country.

 

To Gov. Reeves I say, good luck with your personal goal of cultivating more empathy. And thank you for bringing awareness to this psychological necessity of peaceful politics (just in time for the legislative session).  I hope this can be the start of a shift back to a more civil political landscape.

 

After all, like the Governor said, we “cannot allow cruelty to win. We must rise above. We must love our neighbors as ourselves.” 

A tribute to "Uncle Gary"

 *Appeared in the Laurel Leader-Call newspaper

 

Gary Victor Staples, the eldest of thirteen children, passed away on January 2 of this year.  His death shook me. How could this man, whom I have known my whole life, really be gone? I still can’t believe it. 

 

Although most people knew Gary as Representative Staples, I knew him fondly as Uncle Gary.  (My dad, Sam, is his youngest sibling.) He’s been the patriarch of the large Staples family since his birth in 1940. A quick history of Uncle Gary’s life includes a lifetime of service: first, in the U.S. Navy followed by a more than 20-year tenure as a legislator in the Mississippi House of Representatives (District 88 – Jones and Perry Counties). 

 

Uncle Gary spent time as a dairy farmer and retired from BellSouth after a long career with the company.  He put his telecommunications knowledge and experience to work for his legislative constituents, ultimately serving as chairman of the House Energy Committee at the state capitol. That’s pretty heady stuff for a Jones County boy. 

 

Married to the former Betty Norton and the father of two sons (Grant and Garrick), Uncle Gary lived about a mile down the road from us in the Myrick community.  Almost daily, he would drive his tractor down Freedom Road to tend to his cows.  And boy did he love those cows – he even left a radio on for them sometimes.  (Maybe music makes for better steak?) 

 

Uncle Gary was an active member of Farm Bureau and the Cattlemen’s Association, and I remember him taking me to one of their meetings when I was about 10. Even at a young age, I loved Uncle Gary like a second father. 

 

My relationship with him only deepened when I got into politics around 2004. My work at the state capitol often intersected with Gary; in fact, many capitol types began calling him “Uncle Gary!” Although he and I often disagreed politically – and had heated and loud arguments about public policy – I never once left his office without a smile on my face. Uncle Gary just had that effect on people; one felt better for having known him. 

 

Uncle Gary was always so encouraging of my interest in politics and often urged me to write a book about my experiences.  He even had a title picked out: Eye Level with the Eagle. (This is due to my work in the Governor’s Office, which is located on the top floor of a building next to the state capitol.  There is a golden eagle atop the capitol dome.)

 

He was a loud man with a good countenance and wicked sense of style.  I may be biased, but he was certainly one of the most dapper legislators in Jackson. In fact, some of his old Levi Action Suits (think: tasteful leisure suits) are now owned by a friend of mine who continues to wear them.  This friend made a poignant comment – Uncle Gary’s legacy lives on through the suits, which are a metaphor to the many lives he touched. 

 

I honestly didn’t realize just how widely influential Uncle Gary was until he passed. The outpouring of well-wishers from the Free State community and beyond has been incredible.  From Gov. Reeves to Auditor White, from legislators to Jones County residents, innumerable people have sent their condolences and shared stories about how Gary impacted their lives. 

 

One friend described Uncle Gary, calling him “solid as a rock. This world needs more men like him.” (I agree.)  Sen. Joey Fillingane called him “a wonderful legislator and even better man.”  His colleague in the House, Rep. Jerry Turner, shared that Uncle Gary had “earned the respect of the entire legislature, by his unwavering stand for right.” Let me tell you, making friends and earning respect in the legislature is no simple feat. What a testament to my uncle. 

 

It makes me swell with pride to know that Uncle Gary was so well respected by his fellow man.  While I continue to grieve his passing, I know that he’s likely holding court with St. Peter at this very moment. Here’s to Uncle Gary: a husband, a father, a legislator, and – like his name says – a victor.