State Sen. Gilda Jacobs

    Gilda Jacobs didn't expect to pursue a career in Michigan state politics.
    But when you win an election after campaigning only three weeks - the writing's on the wall.
    "It sort of happened by accident, but I think I was sort of destined to do this," the District 14 Senator said in an interview on Michigan Women's Forum's cable show, which airs on public access stations around the Detroit metro area.
    Long active in Democratic politics, Jacobs started out at the grass roots level and eventually volunteered for Michigan Citizens Lobby, founded by Doug Ross, a former gubernatorial candidate. When Ross won election to the state Senate, Jacobs worked part-time in his district office and soon realized she had what it took to serve in local government.
    In 1980, she lost a county election by 212 votes, but ended up replacing the successful candidate, who had been the mayor of Huntington Woods. Appointed for two years, she earned three subsequent four-year terms.
    "It was a great way for me to keep my fingers in politics and still have a regular job," said Jacobs, who worked for 12 years as director of JARC, a Jewish social service agency.
    Then came the mid-summer call that changed everything. Jacobs was told Oakland County commissioner Dennis Aaron had died suddenly just a few weeks before the August primary.
    "There wasn't anybody running on the Democratic ticket a friend of mine said, 'Gilda, I think you should run as a write-in candidate.'."
    After talking it over with her husband, John, she decided to do it - and won. Jacobs served four years on the commission before pursuing a state House seat vacated by a term-limited representative.
    One of her first calls was to Maxine Berman, veteran state lawmaker and now director of special projects for Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
    "She told me who I ought to be talking to. I hadn't a clue about lobbyists and that whole scene in Lansing," Jacobs said.
    The advice worked - the first woman to be elected in Huntington Woods soon became the first woman elected to a major leadership position in the House as chair of the Democratic caucus. But as she and other House women moved up the ladder, fewer and fewer women have come along to replace them.
    "I think a couple of things are going on," Jacobs said. "As we moved out, we saw fewer women winning their seats in the House. With term limits, you have to...be in a position to take six years out of your life. I think a lot of women are saying 'I don't think I want to do that'."
     Women may also be intimidated by the amount of money it takes to pursue a state office; however, Jacobs said she and others are proof women can do just as well at fund-raising as men. What it really comes down to is providing support for women interested in pursuing leadership positions.
    "We really need to encourage women and give them the emotional and psychological tools to say 'Of course you can do this.'," Jacobs said.

This story was taken from an interview with Sen. Jacobs on Michigan Women's Forum, a public access cable show devoted to informing and inspiring women. It is currently shown on SWOCC Channel 12, as well as other public access channels in the Detroit metropolitan area. If you'd like to see the show in your community, call 248.568.0581.



				Jacobs' political path started in city, county government
		Sen. Gilda Jacobs D-Huntington Woods Dist. 14 - Southeast Oakland Co. Lansing Office 1015 Farnum Building P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 517.373.7888 888.937.4453 Recent bills: Lifting state 'blue laws' that prohibit liquor sales on Sunday Requiring the State High School Athletic Association to comply with Open Meeting and Freedom of Information Acts
				Gilda Jacobs didn't expect to pursue a career in Michigan state politics. But when you win an election after campaigning only three weeks - the writing's on the wall. "It sort of happened by accident, but I think I was sort of destined to do this," the District 14 Senator said in an interview on Michigan Women's Forum's cable show, which airs on public access stations around the Detroit metro area. Long active in Democratic politics, Jacobs started out at the grass roots level and eventually volunteered for Michigan Citizens Lobby, founded by Doug Ross, a former gubernatorial candidate. When Ross won election to the state Senate, Jacobs worked part-time in his district office and soon realized she had what it took to serve in local government. In 1980, she lost a county election by 212 votes, but ended up replacing the successful candidate, who had been the mayor of Huntington Woods. Appointed for two years, she earned three subsequent four-year terms. "It was a great way for me to keep my fingers in politics and still have a regular job," said Jacobs, who worked for 12 years as director of JARC, a Jewish social service agency. Then came the mid-summer call that changed everything. Jacobs was told Oakland County commissioner Dennis Aaron had died suddenly just a few weeks before the August primary. "There wasn't anybody running on the Democratic ticket a friend of mine said, 'Gilda, I think you should run as a write-in candidate.'." After talking it over with her husband, John, she decided to do it - and won. Jacobs served four years on the commission before pursuing a state House seat vacated by a term-limited representative. One of her first calls was to Maxine Berman, veteran state lawmaker and now director of special projects for Gov. Jennifer Granholm. "She told me who I ought to be talking to. I hadn't a clue about lobbyists and that whole scene in Lansing," Jacobs said. The advice worked - the first woman to be elected in Huntington Woods soon became the first woman elected to a major leadership position in the House as chair of the Democratic caucus. But as she and other House women moved up the ladder, fewer and fewer women have come along to replace them. "I think a couple of things are going on," Jacobs said. "As we moved out, we saw fewer women winning their seats in the House. With term limits, you have to...be in a position to take six years out of your life. I think a lot of women are saying 'I don't think I want to do that'." Women may also be intimidated by the amount of money it takes to pursue a state office; however, Jacobs said she and others are proof women can do just as well at fund-raising as men. What it really comes down to is providing support for women interested in pursuing leadership positions. "We really need to encourage women and give them the emotional and psychological tools to say 'Of course you can do this.'," Jacobs said. This story was taken from an interview with Sen. Jacobs on Michigan Women's Forum, a public access cable show devoted to informing and inspiring women. It is currently shown on SWOCC Channel 12, as well as other public access channels in the Detroit metropolitan area. If you'd like to see the show in your community, call 248.568.0581.