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A pioneering and visionary spirit
In San Jose, California in 1974, Janet Gray Hayes was the first woman elected mayor of a major American city. Four years later, she was re-elected by a 72 percent margin. By the time Hayes’ administration ended, the city had earned a AAA bond rating, a feat not repeated since. San Jose came to be known as the “feminist capital of the country.”
These days, women often occupy seats of power. But in the ‘70s this was something new, and the nation was watching. “As mayor, I realized that women had to do more than just a good job,” she asserts. “They had to excel.” Hayes’ quest to redress political imbalances continues today. She approaches the issue at its most basic level by preparing women to enter elected office. To this end, Hayes and her husband Kenneth established a scholarship at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs for undergraduates, especially women, pursuing careers in the field of public service.
“I encourage and support other women,” Hayes says candidly. Over her eight years as mayor, she appointed several women to top administrative positions. With her encouragement and example, more and more women ran for office and won. San Jose’s City Council soon had more women than men. Says Hayes, “Establishing a scholarship to help other women enter elected office ensures that the balance of gender representation will continue. Also, I was elected as an environmentalist mayor. SPEA’s focus on both the environment and policy makes this a good match.”
Though she was a California mayor, Hayes’ Indiana connections run deep. Her mother was the president of a male-dominated school board in Rushville, Indiana for nine years and a highly successful businesswoman in her own right. Her niece is a school principal in the Indianapolis area. Politics and leadership run in the family.
Reflecting on her years in office and as a political leader, Hayes sums up her experience: “Being mayor was a pleasure most of the time, a pain part of the time, and an honor all of the time.”
—Cary Boyce
Learn more about the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at http://www.spea.indiana.edu.