The territory of Utah started early in women's suffrage, temporarily allowing females the vote in 1870 — a quarter of a century before the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The state also had women in local politics early, starting with the Kanab Ladies Town Board in 1912. Kanab thus had Utah's first female mayor, Mary G. Wolley Howard — the fourth female mayor in the nation.

Women now make up about 30 percent of elected officials from Utah's 25 biggest cities, but Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini is the sole female mayor in that group.

In contrast, women make up 49.5 percent of Utah's 2.6 million-strong population.

"There has been a long, continuing conversation about what difference does it make for women to be in politics," said Kathryn L. MacKay, associate professor of history at Weber State University. "We need to hear women's voices in the political arena because women have different concerns from their own experiences — particularly in a democracy."

MacKay, author of "Women in Politics: Powering the Public Sphere," was quick to point out that women aren't categorically without fault.

"I don't think women are any more ethical or any more wise than men," she said.

Women often get involved in politics through volunteering and school positions, MacKay said. However, they seldom rise to the top rungs of power.

In Utah, that tends to play out the same way it does in states on the East Coast, she said. But in surrounding states, Utah sticks out for its high percentage of men in positions of political authority.

Alice Steiner, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, encourages the fairer sex to get involved politically in any way they can.

"Women are not as competitive as men, and therefore I think that they are a moderating influence, or they can be a moderating influence," Steiner said. "It does seem women have a different bent on the way they look at things — maybe a lot more, 'Are we doing the right thing?' than the bottom line."

To learn more about local politics or to volunteer with the League of Women Voters, visit wvutah.org/league.html.

E-MAIL: rpalmer@desnews.com