List of Women in County and Municipal Service

WOMEN'S DIVISION 1959 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE 1625 EYE STREET, N. W. WASHINGTON 6, D. C. WOMEN IN COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL OFFICE At the County Level Women have won widespread acceptance as public office holders in local areas. From all indications, their solid gains at the community level continue to expand. In 1958 the Women's Bureau of the U. S. Department of Labor estimated the number of women holding office in counties as follows: "It is estimated that about 18,000 women serve in such county positions as circuit and county clerk, tax collector, auditor, treasurer and superintendent of schools."* In 1959, the best available information arriving from 32 States yields a time- lier estimate of some 20,000 women in the United States who occupy county office - or an increase of approximately 2, 000. The positions held by women, as listed in the returns, include the following: judge justice of the peace county clerk county supervisor member of school board county treasurer county recorder county auditor tax collector treasurer member of board of education probate clerk assessor superintendent of schools member of county commission or board member of jury committee registrar of voters. At the Municipal Level Four women serve as mayors of cities with population of 28,000 and over. ** They are: Culver City, California Mary Louise Richardson San Juan, Puerto Rico Dona Felisa Ricon de Gautier Stratford, Connecticut Ethel S. Haley Barberton, Onio Mrs. Catherine R. Dobbs A few women serve as city managers and substantial numbers sit on city councils or hold responsible jobs as city clerks and chief finance officers. A reliable estimate of the number of such office holders in 1958 came to 10,000. * * 1958 Handbook on Women Workers (U.S. Department of Labor Bulletin 266) ** Source: Conference of Mayors, Washington, D. C. oul