Clark County seems to have a new Political Action Committee (PAC) claiming “the need for women to have a strong voice in our community continues to remain critical. H-RoC is an independent, non-partisan PAC committed to the advancement of women’s leadership…”
The group of women desire to accomplish by three steps,
1. Engaging and connecting women at all levels of our community as leaders, activists and informed citizens;
2. Providing support and mentoring for women participating in civic and political life;
3. Coordinating collaborative efforts for change through effective and efficient actions and our unwavering commitment to the return of civil discourse.
H-RoC is an acronym for “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Rules the World,” a phrase created by William Ross Wallace meaning, “Mothers are the most powerful people, because they shape their children’s personalities.”
Like many older sayings, they are used to mean other things in modern times, as this new group uses it to describe their group in supporting women’s involvement locally.
However, H-Rocs’ claim of “nonpartisan” seems a bit premature as a review of their chairs seems to be a Who’s Who of local Democrats and CRC supporters. In fact, I see not one well known local Republican female included in their group.
Group chairs include Lisa Schauer, Vice President of Business Development at MacKay & Sposito, Inc.; Carol Curtis, a member of the Executive Board of Columbia River Economic Development Council since 1984; Heidi Johnson Bixby, currently serving as Chair of Columbia Springs where she has been a Board Member since 2005; Betty Sue Morris, well known Democrat who served eight years as a State Representative for the 18th District and 12 years as a Clark County Commissioner.
Other chairs include Renee Nutter and Jada Rupley, neither of whom seems to have had much interaction with Republicans, other than Renee Nutter making a small contribution to Jaime Herrera Beutler once.
This new “nonpartisan” Democrat group recently announced through the Columbian paper over the weekend of their intent to host a discussion over cocktails, presumably in regards to encouraging more women to enter the political discourse or seek some sort of local leadership role.
A worthy notion and something I too would like to see more women stepping out and getting more involved in. Sometimes, the female perspective will see things in a different light and bring about some needed change.
Speakers announced for this “nonpartisan” discussion are, “Addison Jacobs, a lobbyist for the Port of Vancouver; Rhona Sen Hoss, assistant director of development at Washington State University Vancouver; and Lisa Shauer” and not mentioned in the Columbian announcement, it is limited to only 25 people.
Immediately, it appears the speaker list isn’t exactly “nonpartisan” either. And only 25 people? Surely there are more women locally than just 25 believing we need more female presence in political leadership?
A fairly well known and outspoken conservative woman, Lynda Wilson seeing the announcement shot off an email to H-RoC asking to be included. She emailed them at 9:20 PM Sunday evening.
At 7:40 AM Monday morning she received the reply, “Unfortunately, we are full” with additional comment of they will notify her if there is a cancellation, along with words hoping to see her at the next function, “in the end of January.”
Since Lynda is well a known and prominent member of the conservative group, We the People and a PCO for the Republican Party, was there an effort to ensure the event is filled and not open to women like Lynda?
I find it unusual that such an event filled up so quickly considering a weekend announcement when few people pay as much attention to online announcements as they do during the week.
Since the “nonpartisan” group is all about empowering more women, shouldn’t every effort be made to include more women than just Democrat leaning women?
Several women are running for office this election, especially in the 49th Legislative District. I would almost place a bet that not one of the 3 Republican women running in that race will receive any support from this “nonpartisan” group empowering women to make public office bids.
The one Democrat woman likely already has received support from them.
By all appearances of the names associated with leading this group, the claim of “nonpartisan” seems specious at best.
It’s just a shame that Democrats no longer can deal in honesty and try to make themselves appear what they clearly are not.
But it is humorous that they feel we don’t notice, especially considering they apparently now define women by their genitals.
