Grassroots organization aims to support women running for municipal government

Saint John, NB:  A team of women with experience running election campaigns and holding municipal office have set up See Jane Run, a grassroots organization designed to support women who live in the Saint John region, who have aspirations to run for municipal office.

“Municipal governments in our region need more women around the table,” says founding member and Rothesay Councillor Tiffany Mackay French. “Heathy governments require a diversity of perspectives to effectively represent the people in their communities. See Jane Run is about encouraging more women to put their names on the ballot.”

The See Jane Run team includes Mackay French; along with entrepreneur, community organizer and Mayoral candidate (Grand Bay-Westfield) Brittany Merrifield; and experienced campaign communications director and President of Duke Creative Collective Katie Bowden. The three will provide guidance and support to prospective candidates on Facebook, and then more focused support in a private candidates-only private Facebook group.

“As a province, we need more women running for office, and more people prepared to vote for them,” says Merrifield. “Municipal roles can be a perfect first step in a career in politics, and we want to support that pipeline of representation.”

In New Brunswick, Women for 50% has worked to promote female candidacy at the provincial level. On the municipal level, Moncton has a group called Femmocracy Now, and Fredericton has a group called Women+ in Politics: Fredericton, but there was no similar group in the Saint John area.

Before launching See Jane Run, Mackay French reached out to the other groups to learn what works, and then began to tap her network for experienced women willing to contribute.

“Potential candidates, or even those who are just interested in exploring the idea, should seek us out on Facebook at @seejanerunNB and start the conversation,” says Mackay French. “We’re here to help.”