From Deseret News archives:
Oops — we forgot a few political pioneers
"Are you guys pig-headed idiots or just *%#$&@ morons?" (This astute question, addressed to Frank, was in reference to the total omission of women in last week's column listing some Utah political pioneers.)
Pignanelli & Webb: Yes, we freely admit to both descriptions. It was a perfectly boneheaded mistake. We have praised some of Utah's female political pioneers in prior columns, and with apologies, we list some of them again:
Olene Walker has been a lifelong political trailblazer and stellar example for women who wish to provide public service. She raised a large family, held responsible positions in the education world, was elected to the Utah House and rose to leadership positions, ran state departments, took at brief run at Congress before joining the Mike Leavitt ticket and becoming Utah's first female lieutenant governor, and then ascended to the governorship. And she was no caretaker, laying the foundation for tax reform and pushing her priorities hard in the Legislature, then running a feisty campaign for another term despite a late start.
Former State Sen. Frances Farley was a true pioneer. A warrior in behalf of the poor and indigent, she was an early champion of removing the sales tax from food, strong environmental protections and advocating civil rights.
The unique urban quality distinctive to the Avenues neighborhood was on the verge of extinction in the late 1970s. Former Salt Lake City Council member Sydney Fonnesbeck turned the tide against obnoxious development through a door-to-door personal campaign to protect single-family housing in this historic area. Her amazing grass-roots efforts set the standard that still exist today for effective populist movements.
Genevieve Atwood, a scientist and geologist, was elected to the Legislature in 1974 while still in her 20s. She became a highly respected lawmaker, was appointed the first female director of Utah's Geological Survey (and the first in the country), ran for Congress and became a distinguished educator.
In the Watergate-blemished election of 1974, Katie Dixon (Frank's mother-in-law) was one of the few Republicans in the country to unseat a Democrat incumbent. Attacked for her early support of the Equal Rights Amendment, Dixon also surmounted objections to install the first day-care center in a local government facility.
• The Connecticut U.S. Senate Democratic primary is Tuesday. If moderate Sen. Joseph Lieberman (vice presidential running mate with Al Gore) loses to arch-liberal Ned Lamont, will that signal that the Democratic Party is veering dangerously to the left?
