
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 24, 1995                   TAG: 9504240068
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

FEMALE CANDIDATES ENCOURAGED

Virginia's poor record in electing female legislators may be a holdover from the days when the late Sen. Harry F. Byrd's rural-based, Democratic political machine controlled the state, a professor told a weekend conference for aspiring politicians.

Toni Michelle Travis, professor of public and international affairs at George Mason University, noted that a few women served in the House of Delegates in the 1920s, but none served from 1934 to 1954.

Travis was one of the speakers at a conference designed to show women how to run for office. About 75 women attended the event, sponsored by the Richmond law firm of Mays & Valentine and by Make Women Count, a political action committee.

Sixteen of Virginia's 140 legislators - 11 percent - are women. Only Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kentucky and Alabama have a lower percentage. The national average is 21 percent.

Virginia did not ratify the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote, until 1952 - 32 years after the amendment was ratified nationally.

Travis noted that after women received the right to vote, there were fears that they would radically ``change things around.'' Women have show different priorities, concentrating on children, education and other issues, but their agenda has been mainstream, she said.

Representatives of the two political parties said they expected more women will be elected than in the past.

by CNB