Breaking the Glass (Council Chamber) Ceiling

Women may be 51 percent of the U.S. population, but they're woefully underrepresented in government. That's including Elk Grove—at least, when it comes to the city government's most high-profile deliberative bodies.

Elk Grove's lone female City Council member, Sophia Scherman, is set to lose her seat next year (), and just one woman, Nancy Chaires, serves on the city's Planning Commission.

It's a situation Chaires wants to change.

"Decades of scholarly research shows that government is more responsive when it is more representative of its population," said Chaires in an email. "Elk Grove is a fast-growing city and the second largest in Sacramento County. That makes it even more important that we increase the ranks of women involved in local decision-making."

On Tuesday, Chaires and the non-partisan group California Women Lead will hold a training for women interested in being appointed to local boards and commissions—like the Planning Commission, which is appointed by City Council members. The training will "educate women on the process and provide them with resources to be successful applicants," said Chaires.

Scherman and Mona Pasquil, Governor Jerry Brown's Secretary for Appointments, will speak at the workshop, which Chaires will moderate. It will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at .

One final note: Women do hold some prominent positions in local government. The city's top staff job is held by a woman, City Manager Laura Gill. Michelle Orrock serves on the Cosumnes Community Services District board, and several other women serve on various City of Elk Grove committees.

But with a raft of male candidates running for Mayor and City Council in November, it's not looking like those offices will shift gender any time soon.

Patch readers, why do you think women don't hold more elected or appointed government positions in Elk Grove? Have you ever thought of applying for a local board or commission? What stopped you?