In the first few months of this year two identical historical events occurred in two cities in the U.S.

Early this year the metropolis of St. Paul, MN, swore in an all-female city council.  The first in the city's history.

The three returning councilmembers: Councilmember Rebecca Noecker, Ward 2, begins her third term; Councilmember Mitra Jalali, Ward 4, begins her third term; and Councilmember Nelsie Yang, Ward 6, begins her second term. 

The four newly elected councilmembers include: Anika Bowie, Ward 1; Saura Jost, Ward 3; Hwa Jeong Kim, Ward 5; and Cheniqua Johnson, Ward 7. 

Additionally significant - the majority of the council members are women of color, and all are younger than the age of 40.

In the picturesque little city on the Gulfcoast of Florida, Gulfport elected an all-female, five member city council and a female mayor.

On April 1, Gulfport swore in Mayor Karen Love, Ward 2 council member Marlene Shaw and Ward 4 council member Nancy Earley.

They joined reelected council members April Thanos and Cosi Jackson to complete the city’s first all-female City Council — and one of the few, if any, in the state.

According to a recent report from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, nearly 34% of municipal officers in Florida are women, compared to the national average of 32%. Florida ranks 18th nationally with 34% female representation in local government.

“There is just not enough data out there,” said Jean Sinzdak, associate director of the center, explaining the difficulty of tracking leadership compositions across all municipalities nationwide.

“It’s hard to tell where Gulfport stands on a statewide or national level, as far as an all-female government,” Sinzdak said. “But it is rare and quite an accomplishment for the city.”

All-female councils remain uncommon but not unprecedented in American history. In 1888, Oskaloosa, Kansas, became the first town in the United States known to have an all-woman government, with Mayor Mary Lowman leading the council.

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For more stories of remarkable women, see HERSTORY on womensvoicesmedia.org