On Tuesday, the elected women of Hamilton County gathered in the late afternoon on the courthouse steps in downtown Cincinnati to declare and celebrate March as International Women’s Month.
Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus, who is also the board chair of the Commission for Women & Girls, led the declaration as women from all over the county read independent clauses.
“We have more women elected in Hamilton County than ever before,” said Driehaus. “That’s 47% of the elected officials who are women, so we’re celebrating that.”
So in total, out of Hamilton County’s 492 elected officials, 233 are women, according to Driehaus.
This percentage stands out because Hamilton County has more elected women than any other county in Ohio, she added. The total number of women and council members, mayors and trustees from all 49 jurisdictions is 139. Eight of the 11 county commissioners are women. There are also 23 women judges in Hamilton County and the total number of women on school boards throughout the county is approaching nearly 60, according to Driehaus.
Many elected officials read clauses from the declaration that March is designated as Women’s History Month.
“We’re so excited, but there still continues to be work to be done for women,” Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece said. “For women across this county and nation, you are enough. We are enough.”
“I think it means we have a voice at the table,” she said. “It’s also a new look for Hamilton County: we lead the state when it comes to women elected in the state, but also it shows women and girls that it’s possible.”
The event was also offered as a chance for each of the women to introduce themselves to each other, Driehaus said.
“This kind of event is an opportunity for us to greet each other and know we have each other’s back,” Driehaus said. “There can be difficult decisions made and people who are angry with us. We are from all over the county, from small townships to large city and the county-wides, so I think it’s really important that we stand together in solidarity and say, ‘hey, we’re part of this movement together.’”