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Forum: Women In Wyoming's Legislature

  

Credit Wyoming Public Media
Forum on Women in Wyoming’s Legislature - Presented by Leap Into Leadership, Wyoming Public Media and Leadership Wyoming

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Wyoming currently ranks50th in percentage of women in its Legislature. Why is that, and what can be done for both the short and long term to increase the number of women in the Wyoming Legislature?

These questions were also posed by members of the Leadership Wyoming Class of 2016, as part of their individual class project. This Forum brought several key players together to discuss these issues and identify solutions. The Leadership Wyoming Class of 2016 will use information from this Forum to include in their class project research.

The Forum on Women in Wyoming’s Legislature was held February 25th at Cheyenne's Little America Hotelas part of the Leap into Leadership conference. Wyoming Public Media's Caroline Ballardmoderated, and members of the Leadership Wyoming Class of 2016 were in attendance. Take a behind the scenes look at the Forum by following us on Instagram

There were 75 people in attendance. Tracy Wahl, National Public Radio’s Executive Producer for Editorial Franchises, was at the event. The four panelists, Bernadine Craft, Wyoming State Senator (D), Ruth Ann Petroff, Wyoming State Representative (R), Dr. James King, Political Scientist and author of the book The Equality State: Government and Politics in Wyoming, Joan Barron, former journalist for the Casper Star Tribune, and Marguerite Herman, lobbyist on the Board of Directors for the Wyoming League of Women Voters, discussed the challenges and successes of Wyoming women legislators over the years. The forum was moderated by Caroline Ballard, Wyoming Public Radio reporter and Morning Edition host, and concluded with a question and answer session. 

The event was also live-streamed on YouTube. Watch the Forum on the video below.

Let us know what you thought of the Forum by using the hashtag #wylegwomen on Twitter.


Panelists

  • Bernadine Craft – State Senator (D)
  • Ruth Ann Petroff – State Representative (R)
  • Dr. James King – Political Scientist. Author of the book The Equality State: Government and Politics in Wyoming
  • Joan Barron – Former Journalist for the Casper Star Tribune
  • Marguerite Herman – Lobbyist. On the Board of Directors for the Wyoming League of Women Voters

This Forum is part of an independent class project undertaken by members of Leadership Wyoming Class of 2016 for the sole purpose of providing information for their individual class project. It does not constitute any positions of Leadership Wyoming, the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, or of Wyoming Public Media.