Gender balance sought on city boards

Spencer Mayor Reynold Peterson was mindful of the city's imbalance Monday night, when he urged women to apply for a current vacancy on the Spencer Airport Board of Trustees. The board is comprised of four men and the application deadline, to fill the fifth seat, is Friday, June 26.

"Quite honestly, traditionally, the male gender has stepped forward to fulfill community roles a lot more than the female gender," Peterson said. "I think if you look at city council people across the state, you'd see, probably, about the same results."

Proponents of gender balance look at board and commission appointments as a pipeline to elected office. Mary Huston was the last woman to serve on the Spencer City Council, from 1988 to 1994. The terms of other female council members include Katie Howe, from 1976 to 1978; Tamy Cassady, from 1980 to 1982 and Bonnie Vetter, from 1986 to 1989.

Spencer has never had a woman serve as mayor.

Men make up the majority on 13 of the city's 14 non-elected boards, according to information from the Spencer City Clerk's Office. Overall, 59 of the 77 people serving in city-appointed roles are men. The five women on the Spencer Public Library Board are the exception. They outnumber the four male board members there.

"It's been a slow process, but we have been trying," Peterson said.

There will be added urgency in a mayor's call for gender-balancing applicants in three years. Gov. Chet Culver concluded the 2009 Legislative session by signing House File 243, which requires cities to strive for gender balance on city-appointed boards and commissions starting in 2012.

Under the law, cities will have to make appointments that approach a 50/50 ratio among the genders. If a candidate can't be found to help balance the gender ratio, mayors and councils will have to wait three months before filling the vacancy with another choice.

"It doesn't apply right now," said Spencer City Attorney Don Hemphill. "But the mayor wants to strive toward some gender balance. He had accepted that prospect even before this bill (was signed into law)."

City Clerk and Treasurer Donna Fisher has been with the city since 1978, including time as Spencer's interim city manager. She said mayors have historically been interested in trying trying to establish a good ratio with commission appointments, but equally reluctant to corner candidates who may not otherwise be interested in accepting an appointed role.

"They've not necessarily received applications from females and it has not really been their practice to go out and try to solicit particular people for the board because they like to have people who are really interested in serving on that board," she explained.

The airport board has typically drawn applicants from men. Many have had past experience as contractors or pilots.

"I'd hate to have female versus male overshadow the fact that it is a very, very important board," Fisher said. "The airport is a very important asset to the community and we want somebody that really wants to dedicate their time to promoting the airport and has an interest in that. I would feel bad if we end up getting a candidate that's not qualified because we're having to look at gender. I think there are qualified female candidates, so I just hope they step up."

Fisher is disappointed an amendment to HF 243 failed. It would have given smaller communities more flexibility when making appointments. She feels a city Spencer's size has a smaller pool of volunteers to draw from, compared to Cedar Rapids, Sioux City or Des Moines.

Ward 3 Spencer City Council Member Steve Bomgaars, has been the city council's most outspoken official on issue. He would like to see cities take Mayor Peterson's approach to filling vacancies -- as opposed to a state mandate.

"That being said, I think there is a talent pool out there that we need to reach," Bomgaars said. "I think that is what's behind the state law. When you look at just demographics throughout the state and look at our colleges and universities: There are more women in college now then there are men. We're graduating more women from medical schools and law schools -- and all of the graduate colleges.

"So it's easy to say 'well, we need to get the best person.' Yes, we do. But, have we, in the past, discouraged women? And maybe it has been in subtle forms, but now I think it's time that we encouraged them and I think that's the basis behind the state law."

BY THE NUMBERS:

Airport Board (5) -- Men 4, with one vacancy

Civil Service Commission (3) -- Men 2, Women 1

Collection Rate Review Board (3) -- Men 2, Women 1

Compensation Advisory Board (7) -- Men 4, Women 3

Electrical Board of Examiners (3) -- Men 3, Women 0

Golf Course Board (5) -- Men 4, Women 1

Historic Preservation Committee (7) -- Men 6, Women 1

Library Board (9) -- Women 5, Men 4

Park Board (5) -- Men 4, Women 1

Planning and Zoning Commission (7) -- Men 5, Women 2

Plumbing Board of Examiners (3) -- Men 3, Women 0

Renaissance Initiative Committee (9) -- Men 7, Women 2

Utilities Board (5) -- Men 5, Women 0

Zoning Board of Adjustment (7) -- Men 6, Women 1

Total (78) -- Men 59, Women 18, with one vacancy