Not Just One of the Boys

Saturday, May 28-- She's one of the boys on the dais...in fact, she's the only one who's not a boy.

But it's a position Mayor Pam O'Connor doesn't seem to mind being in. It's not something she reallyeven notices.

"When I'm at a meeting, I'm not thinking about gender," she said.

While it may not faze O'Connor, having one woman on the council is a far cry from the way things were in the 80's when several women sat on the council. Okay. Once there was a time, in fact, when female councilmenbers were in the majority in Santa Monica.

What happened?

O'Connor says she believes women are less likely to run because they have family obligations.

"There are demands on a woman's time. So how do you say I want to take on this extra job?" she asked. "And you're out in a public role. Do you want to put up with putting yourself out there?"

O'Connor behaves herself with finesse and style when she allows fellow councilmembers to launch into long soliloquies that turn some council meetings into drawn out dramas. (Though she has been known to yawn and sometimes complain its hard to string together sentences at such a late hour.)

But having the right touch is important; mediating between professionals is critical. And setting the right example...well, as the only woman on the dais it is something O'Connor has to think about.

"I hope what I bring to it will help the community work together," she said. "I hope I'm a role model some women can look up to."