Ohio University Chillicothe to celebrate Women’s History Month with screening of Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics

Ohio University Chillicothe has partnered with WOUB Public Media to celebrate Women’s History Month with a screening of Trailblazing Women in Ohio Politics on Tuesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in Ohio University Chillicothe’s Bennett Hall Auditorium. The film will be followed by a panel featuring trailblazing women of Chillicothe. 

The hour-long documentary film was produced by WBGU and examines the achievements of Democratic and Republican women who have broken electoral barriers in Ohio. Greeted with skepticism by voters beginning in the 1960s, each trailblazer overcame obstacles and sometimes hostility to get elected. Featured trailblazers include the first woman Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, the first African American woman lieutenant governor in all 50 states, and the longest-serving woman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Following the screening, a panel of trailblazing women of Chillicothe will discuss the film and the state of women in Ohio Politics. Panelists include Stacy Brooks, Senior Judicial Attorney for the Ohio Supreme Court; Kristal Spetnagel, Chillicothe City Auditor; Dr. Jean Kearney, former Chillicothe City Council Member; Alicia Gray, former Chillicothe City Council Member; Nancy King; former Chillicothe City Council Member, and first woman to hold that office; Margaret Planton, former Mayor of Chillicothe, and first woman to hold that office.

The series will premiere on WOUB TV on Thursday, March 28, at 9 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public and is co-sponsored by the Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library and the Chillicothe-Ross League of Women Voters.