Media Contact:
Jean Wilson,
Jean.C.Wilson@TDWPac.org

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Tennessee Democratic Women's Political Action Committee (TDWPAC)
Third Annual Silent Auction

WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 5:30 to 8:30 P.M.

WHERE: Grace's Plaza, 4077 Hillsboro Road, Green Hills (former location of Davis-Kidd Booksellers)

WHY: TDWPAC was formed in January 2005 after members of the Nashville community saw a need for more Democratic elected women in Tennessee statewide politics. TDWPac is currently the single Tennessee PAC giving money only to Democratic women candidates for office, and since its inception has contributed over $13,000 to campaigns across the state.

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT: The auction will also feature an opportunity for attendees to meet women legislators from throughout the area as well as candidates in 2007 local elections. All Democratic women currently serving in the Tennessee legislature have been invited, as well as a number of women serving in Nashville Metro Government and the metro Nashville Board of Education.

Guests will enjoy a musical performance by supporters of the group. Items offered for sale include a painting by renowned local artist Juliana Ericson; a discount for real estate services from local realtors Pam Kidd and Keri Cannon; several cameras; a selection of electronic items including one laptop and two desktop computers; tickets to the Nashville Symphony at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center; and various packages for vacation real estate and professional services, including legal consultation and mediation work. There will also be a wide selection of jewelry and handcrafted items. Food will be catered by Macke's Restaurant of Grace's Plaza, Green Hills.

For more information, people interested in attending the Silent Auction should visit www.TDWPac.org or call 615-372-8682.

OTHER FACTS RELATING TO WOMEN'S ELECTORAL STATISTICS IN TENNESSEE:

Tennessee is losing ground. Only 15.9% of the Tennessee Legislature in 2007 is female - this represents a drop from 17.4% in 2006.

In 2006 the Tennessee Economic Council on Women found that Tennessee ranks dead last of the 50 states in political participation for women, for the fourth straight year. (1) This is due partly to low numbers of women registered to vote, but also to low numbers of women running for and being elected to office. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2002's elections for U.S. Senator; Tennessee Governor; and local races, 61.4% of eligible women were registered to vote in Tennessee, but only 44.1% of them voted on Election Day. (2)

A 2004 report from the Institute for Women's Policy Research in Washington, D.C., ranked Tennessee #36 out of 50 states for women's voter registration in 2000. (3) This is despite national trending toward more women registering to vote than men, by a difference of nearly nine million voters nationwide in 2000. (4)

In 2004, Tennessee's low rankings for women on such issues as employment and earnings; social and economic autonomy; and health and well-being, combined with its low number of women participating in government, earned Tennessee the title of one of a handful of "Worst States for Women" in the U.S. as measured by the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR). (5)

Study groups have found women are more likely to enter politics because of a local or family related concern. Because women enter the political process with a mission to improve their communities, women are more likely to fight for issues such as health care, education, and economic justice. (6) In 2001, a World Bank report on gender discrimination indicated that less corruption exists when more women govern. (7)

(1) Source: TEC 2006 Biennial Report
(2) U.S. Census Bureau, Reported Voting and Registration of the Total Voting-Age Population, by Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin, for States: November 2002, http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting/p20-552.html
for States: November 2002, http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/voting/p20-552.html
(3) Institute for Women's Policy Research, http://www.iwpr.org/States2004/SWS2004/data.htm
(4) Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics, http://www.cawp.rutgers.edu/Facts/Elections/GenderGapAdvisory04.pdf
(5) Institute for Women's Policy Research, http://www.iwpr.org/States2004/SWS2004/best_worst.htm
(6) EMILY's List Fact Sheet, "Women in Office Make a Difference"
(7) "In Time of Trouble, Nations Turn to Women," St. Louis Dispatch, Jan. 22, 2006; see also http://tinyurl.com/252kvs