Editorial: Breaking the glass ceiling

Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001 | 9:42 a.m.

Once again Nevada ranks near the top in the percentage of women elected to the Legislature. This year the Center for American Women and Policy notes that 23 women, or 35 percent, make up Nevada's Legislature. That is impressive since the average female composition of legislatures in the nation is 22 percent.

What also is positive is that the women here aren't relegated to just being backbenchers -- several hold key leadership posts. In the Senate, Republican Ann O'Connell chairs the important Government Affairs Committee and Democrat Dina Titus is the minority leader. In the Assembly, Democrat Barbara Buckley recently was named majority leader.

This national review was limited to state legislatures, but it should be said that women play an equal role, if not greater, elsewhere in Nevada government. Statewide-elected officials include the controller, attorney general and lieutenant governor. In the judiciary, three of the seven Supreme Court justices are women. Locally, four women serve on the seven-member Clark County Commission, which arguably is the most powerful elected board in the state.

Still, the glass ceiling that hasn't been broken through is the one that leads to the governor's office. But given the success of women so far in Nevada politics, that shouldn't be counted out yet -- even though the men who control the casino industry's campaign largess haven't been receptive to women gubernatorial candidates so far. Who knows, one day a woman may come along who gains the industry's favor. Better yet, maybe a woman will win the state's top job without the industry's support. Now that would make for truly refreshing politics in Nevada -- for both men and women.