In the North Country, it’s all about the women

In today’s edition of WNBZ’s local news, Jon Alexander reports on the surge in political power for women elected to office in Essex County.

The addition of the four supervisors from Essex, Crown Point, Ticonderoga and Minerva swell the total number of female supervisors in Essex County to seven – an all-time high.

According to Jon’s reporting, New York state as a whole ranks 24th in terms of women’s involvement in politics.

But I’m guessing that the North Country would far much better.

Most of our Assemblymembers — Dede Scozzafava, Janet Duprey, Teresa Sayward, and Addie Russell — are women.

State Senator Betty Little and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wield enormous influence in our region.

More examples? For the first time ever, a woman, Terry Martino, is executive director of the Adirondack Park Agency.

Women lead North Country Community College and the Adirondack Medical Center, two of the biggest employers in the region.

Last year’s heated fight over Essex County’s DA post was between two women.

“It’s obviously a sign of the times, it’s a generational shift,” newly sworn in Ticonderoga supervisor Deb Malaney told WNBZ. “Women have been in the work force for sometime now and we are coming forward to serve.”

Attitudes among men have also changed. Assemblywoman Janet Duprey told me once that her family tried to dissuade her from entering politics, because it wasn’t something that “good girls” do.

“When I walked into the board of supervisors, some of the guys called me powder puff,” Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward told WNBZ.

“I have never used a powder puff in my life. That’s what you were greeted with. I will say that there were men on the board at the time, like George Cannon, who took me under their wing.”

How does the gender revolution change the political culture in the North Country? And is it remarkable that a rural, generally conservative area leads the state in women’s leadership?

Your opinions welcome below.