The following is from Rose Sullivan, President of Middlesex County NOW-NJ:

Men Won't Share

Greetings!

Below is a letter I wrote which is printed in the Sunday, Star-Ledger [12/5/2004]. I am still fuming over the incident I outlined. When the paper featured an editorial on the subject, I just had to write in.

I ended the letter with "Something to think about." The truth is, it all comes down to money. The "old boys club," gives business and favors to "other boys." That is why we are shut out, not because we lack the skills and qualifications!

Men Won't Share

by Rose Sullivan, letter to the editor

Thank you for your editorial concerning the dismal state of female representation in New Jersey government. I attended a meeting to explore recommending the need for a Commission on Women in Middlesex County. We were asked to come up with a Mission Statement to validate the group. I said the group should dedicate themselves to educating young women about the political process. The intent was to discover and nurture future leaders from the local population.

I was told the Commission would never get approved if that was their purpose. Both parties in New Jersey have done nothing to foster adding women to public office. When will we learn and stop giving our money and support? If you look behind the candidate, you will see most of the grassroots work is done by women. Until this is turned around, so much for "equality" in our highly educated state. Could there also be a relationship between New Jersey's high per-capita income and keeping women out of government? Something to think about!

Rose Sullivan
Old Bridge, NJ 08857