State eyes first woman speaker

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As a high school junior in Iowa, Catherine Hanaway had the choice of either writing a paper on politics or volunteering for a political campaign.

She chose the latter.

"It was a way to getting out of writing the paper," said Hanaway, who worked on George Bush's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 1980.

But the experience got her hooked on politics.

More than 20 years after avoiding that paper, Hanaway is on the verge of becoming the first woman House speaker in Missouri history. She was unanimously nominated for the post Wednesday by Republican colleagues after helping the GOP to its first House majority since 1954.

Hanaway helped lead a Republican campaign juggernaut that turned an 11-vote Democratic majority into a 17-vote Republican majority.

She says gender has little to do with getting a job done.

"My colleagues and the people of Missouri have entrusted us with a very serious responsibility and I don't think it matters whether you're a man or a woman," said Hanaway, who turns 39 today.

"It's going to be a tough job which is made tougher with 90 new members."

Proud of accomplishments

That's not to say, however, that the mother of a 4-year-old daughter isn't proud of her accomplishments as a woman.

"The two best things to happen to me in my life was getting married and having a daughter, and I wouldn't have had a chance to do that if I hadn't been a woman," Hanaway said. "I think women bring a different set of life experiences to things than men do."

Hanaway helped raised $1.6 million for the House Republican Campaign Committee and attended more than 300 fund raisers. She also made sure Republican House candidates were trained on how to raise money and get their political message out. Hanaway was re-elected easily to her own seat.

"Regardless of gender, this job is going to be one where you have to reach out to people," Hanaway said.

"It's a gender neutral approach, a conservative approach. That means finding those who have the best answers, whether they are a man, a woman, urban, rural."

Two years ago, Hanaway was named by Republicans as the House minority leader, becoming the first woman to head a political party in the chamber. A forceful speaker, Hanaway has a deep voice and authoritative presence and, on occasion, has been known to smoke cigars.

"It's just something that helps me relax," Hanaway said.

Ann Wagner, co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee and a close friend, said the two have spent many nights on porches talking about politics and the future.

"All those things we talked about and planned and plotted on my little back porch came to fruition on Tuesday," Wagner said.

"She's a natural leader, very smart and very bright but in a practical sense. She's calm, she does not shoot from the hip, she is measured and she is fair. And she's loyal to those who are willing to work for the common good."

In 2000, Hanaway ran her own political consulting firm. She worked on four campaigns that year and won three: George W. Bush's presidential race in Missouri, Matt Blunt for secretary of state and former state Sen. Sam Graves for Congress.

The one she lost: Todd Graves for treasurer.

Gracia Backer, a Democrat who was the first woman majority floor leader in the House, said she has a sense of what her former House colleague is feeling.

Now the director of the state Employment Security Division, Backer said that Hanaway will face additional challenges and pressures as House speaker.

"There are high expectations for her. The bar has been set very, very high and it will be rough," Backer said. "I know from experience that it is often hard to lead. Sometimes, it's like herding worms."

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On the Net

Missouri Legislature:

www.moga.state.mo.us