Westchester NOW

Despite a surprise spring snowstorm, Supreme Court Justice Joan Lefkowitz braved the elements to share her insights on the election process and women as candidates for elected office.

When Lefkowitz was elected to the 9th Judicial District, she was only the second woman ever elected in that district. At one point, she served as the sole woman on that bench.

Based on her experiences, Lefkowitz contended competence is not enough; candidates need political skills to go along with that - and money. She recommended a prospective candidate get a mentor, join a political party, and contact and get to know the local political leaders. Potential candidates should become district leaders for their party. That job requires walking with petitions to get signatures for candidates to be placed on the ballot. She reminded the audience, "don't be shy," tell the county leader of their political ambitions.

The audience was skeptical as to electing judges. Lefkowitz pointed out, however, appointments are also political. Governor Pataki has "run out" of Republicans for the Second Department Appellate Division, and rather than rely on Democrats, he is assigning justices from outside the area. Suzanne Berger, Greenburg Democratic Town Committee Chair, added that elected officials who do the appointing appoint major contributors.

As moderator, I brought up a report of the results of a 2004 study by Brown University that showed that the two major reasons that more women do not run for political office are 1) lack of confidence regarding their ability to hold political office and 2) lack of encouragement to run. The study further showed, however, that when women do run, they perform as well as men in raising funds for campaigns and getting elected.

Berger said she did not see active recruitment as "her charge." Those interested are screened for qualification. Justice Lefkowitz described taking on political candidacy as requiring "fire in the belly," without it, a candidate's "not going to get there."

An audience member announced she was planning to challenge an incumbent Republican for a town-wide office where she lives. Berger herself has run for town justice and lost the election by a mere 200 votes. Her advice to the audience member? Meet more voters, it makes a difference. She also mentioned the Yale Women's Campaign School runs a program for potential political candidates with a focus on expanding one's circle. It starts with the candidate, better or worse, according to Berger, "that's the system we find ourselves in."

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