The three co-founders of See Jane Run in a meeting. It's an organization which aims to help women interested in running for elected office. (photo provided by Duke Creative Collective)
Women seeking public office in the Saint John area can benefit from the experience of women who are more seasoned politicians.
See Jane Run, a grassroots organization designed to support women with aspirations to run for municipal office, includes Rothesay town councillor and founder Tiffany Mackay French, Grand Bay-Westfield mayoral candidate Brittany Merrifield, and Duke Creative Collective president Katie Bowden.
During the 2016 campaign, Mackay French found help through groups like Femmocracy Now in Moncton and Women+ in Politics: Fredericton who offer support for women candidates.
“They started a campaign school, they are calling it in Fredericton, for the candidates in a private group. They let me be part of it and it was really fantastic and it was exactly what was needed for women who are thinking about offering,” Mackay French said.
Mackay French decided to fill the gap in the Saint John area with See Jane Run.
“Woman naturally are quite collaborative and I’m definitely finding that through this group. Women want to help each other. They want to brainstorm. They want to say ‘this is the gap I have and this is the knowledge that I am seeking,'” Mackay-French said.
Welcome to See Jane Run! ⭐️ We are a grassroots organization designed to promote and support Saint John region women who…
Posted by See Jane Run on Sunday, February 28, 2021
Candidate Brittany Merrifield is also an entrepreneur and community organizer.
“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.”
Events are being held for candidates in a private See Jane Run Facebook group. One includes Saint John-area politicians Donna Reardon, Nancy Grant and Grace Losier taking part in a question-and-answer session.
Other sessions feature subject like good governance, safe campaigning in a pandemic and reading financial statements.
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