She Should Run

She Should Run Member Newsletter : We may not want to admit it, but money matters in politics. A lot. However, research shows women simply don’t give enough. Women represent only 27% of all political donations to candidates, party committees, and PACs. When women don't give, they don't get a voice. And without a voice, they can't effect change. She Should Run feels this is a historic opportunity to fundamentally change women’s approach to political giving. Vote With Your Purse is a nationally acclaimed research study that examines trends in women’s political giving and women’s political fundraising results in election years, as well as provides concrete ideas on how to tap the “power of the purse” for the 2012 elections and beyond. To be successful at the ballot box, women need to support other women. Through Vote With Your Purse, She Should Run is working to put this critical research into the hands of women candidates to help them increase contributions from women donors. Be sure to check out our new report Lesson Learned: Women, Money, and Politics in the 2010 Election Cycle today! Very best, Clare Bresnahan Programs Director  Back to top Meet Katie Leach, Candidate for Broward County School Board (FL-03) "I think women are just great connectors and if you can maximize that, it’s one of the best things we have. Having deep roots in the community really helps too. I’ve had lots smaller events where I'll ask people to come over after dropping their kids off to school and come to my house for coffee. Even if I make no money, I think it’s the best way to reach people, especially people who are involved in their school.” – Katie Leach, Candidate for Broward County School Board (FL-03) When two members of the Broward County School Board were recently arrested, long time resident Katie Leach knew she had to do something. “When this all happened, my children were just starting be involved in school, and I started thinking, ‘Wow, what does the future of our schools look like? What will our community look like?’ I have an education background as well as strong budgetary knowledge and I looked around and didn’t really see anyone stepping up. This is really serving your community, and I just knew I had to do this.” Her campaign experience has taught her a lot. Leach advises other women running for office to make sure they sit down and go over their campaign before deciding to run. “Have a plan. Find out who your stakeholders are and before deciding to run, get a feel for what their issues are. Be sure that their issues are your issues. And if they’re not, make sure they are amenable to hearing your opinions and your issues. Also, sit down with your family and ask, ‘Are you guys willing to walk through this with me?’ Because they will definitely be going through this with you, especially if you have children. You’re doing it for the community, but you also have to be doing it for yourself. Having the support of your family is absolutely critical.” Leach has also focused on reaching out to the women in her district which has made a huge difference for her campaign.

SOURCE: http://www.sheshouldrun.org