Women throwing hats

Aweek ago the Imperial County Registrar of Voters and the city clerks opened up the declaration process for candidates running for office in November. Throughout the county, there are dozens of positions that will be in play in the following months, and candidates will contend to win over the number of citizens who cast ballots.

As usual, several male candidates have already declared. As I have highlighted in other columns, our valley has few women in elected positions, especially at the county level or in the Imperial Irrigation District, whose jurisdictions include large territories and multiple cities.

The exception to the rule is school districts. Perhaps because of their work mostly related to their children’s academic work or because they are more on the lookout for school meetings than us men, women are more likely to run for office in school districts or, where appropriate, in health districts.

The thing is that for the November elections there are already several ladies who have decided to throw their hats into the ring for different offices.

The downside, if one could all it that, is that in some cases these women will be competing for the same positions. On the other, these contests ensure a woman will wind up in these leadership positions.

I am going to omit the names of the candidates due to their number and the fact that at this time, the registration process is still open in some cases.

But it is worth noting three women – Martha Cardenas- Singh, Sylvia Marroquin and Sonia E. Carter – are in the mix for seats on the El Centro City Council.

The status of this city is quite peculiar. Cheryl Viegas- Walker has served on the council for decades, making her one of the longest- serving politicians in recent Imperial Valley history. The thing is, she is also the only woman on the council – and she has been for some time. She may finally have company after November.

The 2020 elections are very likely to encourage many more women to seek elected office in the near future. The Democratic primaries attracted several women who tried to earn their party’s presidential nomination. However, despite being the largest progressive party in the country, Democratic voters pushed ladies aside.

The appointment of Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris as Joe Biden’s running mate is sure to encourage many more women to run in upcoming elections, especially if the former vice president manages to return to the White House.

Good luck to all — particularly female candidates.