May 28 – PLATTSBURGH – In 1975, Janet Duprey was told that a woman could not be elected to the Clinton County Legislature.
The friend who said that claimed that “a woman can’t do the job” and urged Duprey’s husband to rush to the open seat.
“By the time he left the house, you should know I was going to run,” Duprey laughed as she recalled the story during the third annual Women in Local Politics forum at Clinton Community College, hosted by CCC’s Center For Governance and Cultural Affairs. Commission on April 23.
‘If anyone can do it, I can do it too’
Duprey was only 29 years old when that conversation took place, and later that year, as a Republican, she became the youngest woman elected to represent the county’s Area 7 district.
“I was young. I had no idea. I had no idea what I was getting into,” she said.
“But I just felt like if anyone can do it, I can do it. And I just went from there.”
Although even after being elected — a feat she said was unachievable — Duprey was not immediately welcomed into her new position.
On the night of her swearing-in in 1976, she was told by a male counterpart that they did not want her there and that they would get rid of her in two years.
Duprey, however, retained the Area 7 seat until 1986, but endured many “nasty” treatments early on. However, she was especially proud of having advocated for equal pay for female corrections officers in the province during that time.
After her term as a legislator, she became county treasurer until 2006. Shortly thereafter, she was elected to the New York State Assembly, where she served until her retirement in 2017.
In total, she ended her career with 41 years of public service.
“How did that work for him?” she said, referring to the colleague who wanted to get rid of her.
VALUABLE INSIGHTS
As inspiring as Duprey’s stories of overcoming the challenges of being a woman in politics may be, they are not unique to her.
The forum, moderated by Thom Hallock of Mountain Lake PBS, lasted about 90 minutes and gave Duprey and three more local women – Champlain Mayor Janet McFetridge, Clinton County Legislator Patty Waldron and Dannemora City Supervisor Deborah Coryer – the opportunity to share and discuss similar experiences they have faced during their political careers.
Participants had the opportunity to gain insights from these women leaders as they shared their experiences, challenges, and triumphs in navigating the political landscape at the local level.
The forum also provided valuable perspectives on the importance of gender diversity and representation in local government.
SHOWING YOUR GRIT
Waldron, who was also a guest at last year’s forum, has been the only woman in the Clinton County Legislature for nearly a decade.
She said it is important for women not to be “victims” early in their political careers and to approach the job from the same point of view as anyone else.
“And that you represent the district and you intend to plow through it and represent your district the best way you know how,” said Waldron, a Democrat who serves the county’s Area 6 district.
“As if I represent the people here and it has nothing to do with my gender.”
Although Waldron called the nine men she works with in the Legislature “great,” she said over the years, she had to learn how to communicate effectively with them in a way that they would listen.
“I think men can get away with what they can,” she said. “And showing your courage like that and letting them know that it wasn’t just something I said, like I really meant it.”
“They’re great men, but it takes a long time to get to know these guys,” she continued.
“You’re part of the group and they listen to you and help you along, but often I don’t mind presenting them with an idea and letting them run with it… That seems to work sometimes. Like I said, they’re great people, but it’s a hurdle you have to overcome. I think they understand you if you talk to them the way their wife talks to them, otherwise they won’t hear you.”
SUBTLE, BUT STILL THERE
McFetridge differs from Waldron in that they both serve on boards with a balanced gender ratio.
McFetridge, who also served as a village board trustee for six years before being elected mayor in 2019, said when and if she is treated differently as a woman, it doesn’t happen at her own village meetings, but at meetings where gender balance does not exist. as present.
“I notice that when I go to meetings…whether a county meeting or with some people from the city of Champlain or the other cities or the village of Rouses Point, the behavior is subtle, but it’s still there,” McFetridge said .
“It’s like being somewhat ignored, or not being asked for your opinion, or not being asked to comment on something. Even inappropriate jokes and comments that probably shouldn’t be said. I still see that – it’s changed – but I still see that.”
McFetridge also found that she had to change her naturally quiet behavior in order to be heard by others in the room who were louder than her.
“I’d rather be able to sit back and say, ‘Have you considered this idea?’ and I say it a little bit softly, but when I do that, they don’t even respond, so it’s changed my behavior a little bit.”
PROVE THEM WRONG
Coryer, a retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, joined the Dannemora Town Board as a council member in 2008 for a four-year term. From there, she served as city clerk and tax collector for 10 years before being elected supervisor in 2022.
Currently, Coryer is the only woman on her board and has drawn on her military experience to help navigate that.
“I’ve had two different people that I’ve worked with who just didn’t think I knew anything about anything, and so you just have to prove them wrong, and if you have to do it in public, then it’s just one done once.” ,” she said.
“But overall I haven’t had to deal with that much, and I think because I have a lot of experience in a male atmosphere.”
Answering a question about what advice she would give to women who might want to run for politics, Coryer said, “Learn as much as you can about what it entails.”
“If you want to run for a city or town seat to start, and want to know what’s expected of you, learn as much as you can about the area you’ll be representing. And then once you’ve done that, let yourself be Don’t be deterred, then absolutely jump feet first and give it all you can.’
“Start attending board meetings and get a little involved,” McFetridge added.
“You can sit on a planning board or zoning board, or run for school board. So there are other ways you can see how the process works. We need women, we need women in this. They work well together. solvers.”
Email: cnewton@pressrepublican.com
Twitter: CarlySNewton
