Rep. Julia Brownley, D-26 Congressional District, speaks to members of the Ventura County Women's Political Council in early February. Courtesy photo.
Amigos805 staff report
The Ventura County Women’s Political Council is off to a busy start, with more events planned as it celebrates the election of its first board of officers this month.
A discussion in January on religion and the 40th anniversary of Roe vs.Wade was followed in February by a presentation by a representative for the newly created 26th Congressional district. Meanwhile plans are in the works to present an educational panel this spring and to put on a separate event to honor a longtime local Latina community advocate.
The multi-partisan organization has set itself the task of “Bringing Women’s Perspectives to Every Issue.”
New officers include Arlene Miro as president, Carol Kurtz as vice president of political action, Sharon Hillbrant as secretary, Peg Eldredge as treasurer of the board and Oneita Hirata as treasurer of political action.
Hillbrant, who prevously served as chair of the Ventura County Democratic Committee, said the VCWPC was formed a little over a year ago to have a direct impact in local elections. In fact, 11 of the 16 candidates it supported were elected in November, including Vianey Lopez for the Hueneme School District Board.
“She is very articulate and very sharp,” Hillbrant said. “We feel very good to have this young women coming up and carrying the banner.”
Hillbrant said groups like VCWPC are needed to shake up the political establishment locally, in the state and nationwide.
“Our goal this coming year is to do quite a bit of training of women to help them get into political office,” she said.
“While the glass ceiling is quite cracked, it is still there. Less than one-third of state and federal offices are held by women. We have had women go into Congress but so many have retired and no one is taking their place.”
Besides financial endorsements and training, VCWPC is also helping political novices by introducing them to movers and shakers, Hillbrant said.
With the growing Latino population, the group is seeking to help more Latinas gain political office, she said.
“We want to attract young Latinas because there are big changes coming, especially in California,” she said.
Members of VCWPC include former Port Hueneme City Councilwoman Marcela Morales and community advocate Irma Lopez, who is being honored by the group later this year, Hillbrant said.
The group supports women candidates of any political party who believe in acheiving equality for all women.
“These are great issues and these women care about the issues that I care about,” Lopez said. “We all want a better world for our children.”
In 2013, VCWPC has already joined with Ventura County Reproductive Rights Network to present the “Religion & Roe” event held in January.
VCWPC also received more than 100 reservations for its Feb. 2 event at the Tower Club in Oxnard featuring Rep. Julia Brownley, D-26 District.
For information on the Ventura County Women’s Political Council, send an email to vcwpcouncil@gmail.com or visit www.vcwpc.org
Rep. Julia Brownley, D-26 Congressional District, speaks to members of the Ventura County Women's Political Council in early February. Courtesy photo.
Mistress of Ceremonies, Celeste Weingardt, a member of the Ventura County Women's Political Council's 2012 Steering Committee, opens the group's February meeting in Oxnard. Courtesy photo.
Irma Lopez, a member of the Ventura County Women's Political Council, reads a certificate to be presented to Rep. Julia Brownley, D-26 Congressional District. Courtesy photo.