For the first time in Contra Costa County history, all three of its representatives in the California Assembly are women.

That bucks state and national trends, where despite comprising slightly more than half the population, women make up less than a third of the California Legislature, 16 percent of the House of Representatives and 17 out of 100 members of the U.S. Senate.

I sat down in a Contra Costa Times conference room recently with Assemblywomen Nancy Skinner, of Berkeley; Susan Bonilla, of Concord; and Joan Buchanan, of Alamo, where we talked broadly about why women are underrepresented, how to encourage more women to seek public office and how women legislate differently than men.

Here's a sample of what they had to say:

Q If women were in charge in Sacramento, would women pass a budget that looks different?

Skinner: We already were. Both Susan and Joan are chairs of subcommittees in the budget process. Susan helped restore some funding that women wouldn't have cut, like child care and adult day care. If we had a greater number of women, I think there would be more willingness to do things like, for example, place nonviolent women prisoners and their children in halfway houses.

Bonilla: In corrections, one of the cuts is to a program that teaches prisoners to read, which reduces recidivism. Locking people up doesn't do anything to reduce recidivism. We've done that. It doesn't
work.

Q Why don't the numbers of women in elected office more closely match their percentage of the overall population?

Buchanan: There are more obstacles for women. If you are someone like myself, who left a private sector career to stay home and raise my five children, it's tougher to raise money.

Bonilla: When you have children, it is very hard for you to be in another city working. Our oldest is a high school senior, but that was very critical. I would not have run if she was not at that age.

Skinner: The job is very hard on families. We are still at a time when women have more responsibility for the familial setting. When we are able change that, I'm not sure yet.

Q Studies show that women want to be recruited to run for public office. Did someone recruit you?

Skinner: The two prior women who held my seat, Assemblywoman Dion Aroner and now (state) Sen. Loni Hancock, haunted me until I said yes.

Buchanan: I wasn't recruited. A number of years ago, as a trustee on the San Ramon Valley School Board, I was asked to run for Assembly and for Congress. But I was single mom with five children, and getting my children through school and into college was a bigger priority. When I did enter the Assembly race, I was ready for a new challenge.

Bonilla: Both (state Sen.) Mark DeSaulnier and (state superintendent of public instruction and former assemblyman) Tom Torlakson approached me and asked me to consider running. (Former Assemblywoman and Yolo County supervisor) Helen Thomson also spoke to me after I had said to people, "No, I will never run." She said, "Don't say that. You can get things done. You can find good people. Don't write it off." It was the one comment that kept me from dismissing it.

Q Elected officials are under a microscope. All three of you came from local elected offices. How has the scrutiny affected your life, and is it a barrier for women?

Skinner: This idea that your life is open season and that, basically, politeness doesn't pertain any longer is harder for some women. As women, we don't tend to engage in that kind of mudslinging, and we don't really like being recipients of it.

Buchanan: I've been accused of giving kids access to pornography and there has been hate stuff on the Internet, and all that. I've been in three very contested races and the funny thing for me was that had my children been in elementary school, it would have been easier. They wouldn't have paid any attention. My oldest son became very protective of his mother as an adult.

Bonilla: On the reverse of that, your family becomes your strongest support net. They are the safe haven, the one place where they will really step up to protect you and encourage you.


Q What unique qualities do women bring to elected office?

Buchanan: I find that women tend to put in more time into the job. A part of it is about how detail-oriented you are, your willingness to really dig a little deeper to understand the subject and your vote.

Bonilla: There is a higher trust in women. Most people realize that a woman running is probably more likely to be doing it to serve the community and has really thought through her motives for running.

Q What is the best way to ensure that qualified women will run for your seats when you leave?

Buchanan: You have to do your job encouraging women, answering their phone calls, helping guide them. Running for state office is so different, in terms of the connections, the people you need to meet in Sacramento, and the level and quality of consultant you need. It's nice to have someone who can help hold your hand.

Skinner: Some colleagues and I created a political action committee, Women in Power, whose purpose is explicitly for democratic women running for state office. On that question, though, while I am keeping my eye open to try and approach women, the only people since I was elected who are communicating with me with clarity that they want to replace me are men.

Bonilla: The bottom line is you have to help women raise money if you are really going to get them elected. I have had women interested in mentoring me but it's like, where were you during the campaign?

Q Why should women run for public office?

Buchanan: I think we are really talking about opportunity. What women deserve is the same opportunities as men. They deserve the same respect, the same pay for the same jobs. Our daughters and granddaughters, we want them to believe they can do anything.

Bonilla: It's not a coincidence that most of the state services are directed toward women and their children. Women are still more vulnerable economically in this country. When we look at the cuts we're making, one if the messages from the Assembly Women's Caucus is the need to be cognizant of the disproportionate burden these cuts are having on women and children.

Q Are you treated differently in Sacramento than your male counterparts?

Buchanan: I do think it takes longer to earn the kind of respect that you need for people to understand that you are a serious lawmaker and understand that you do have deep knowledge of an issue and have something to contribute.

Skinner: With women, in general -- there are always exceptions -- we try to get along. (In the legislature,) we're A-type personalities but we will subjugate the individual desires for the common good. Very few of the men will. So, they will act out way more.

Bonilla: We actually believe in the principle of a collaborative process and teamwork.

Q Do you consult with each other often?

Buchanan: When I'm reading through 200 bills and I have a question on an environment-related bill, I'll write, "Check with Nancy." I'll catch her on the floor and ask her. One of the things Contra Costa gets by having the three of us, is they get the synergy of three women who bring very different talents and interests to the table, and who aren't afraid to sit down and share that knowledge.

Bonilla: We genuinely enjoy each other's company and get along well. That is a tremendous benefit to our constituents because that is not always the case. Having people you can trust that you work with is invaluable. In this line of work, we put a very high value on trust.