In 1978, Cal Cities elected Helen Putnam as its first woman president. She was an educator and civic leader for over half a century, serving as a teacher and principal before terms on the school board and county board of supervisors. Putnam also oversaw the growth and revitalization of Petaluma, a riverfront city in southern Sonoma County, as a three-term mayor — and the city’s first woman mayor.

Putnam is often remembered by her favorite motto: “Full speed ahead.” In 1982, Cal Cities created the Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in her honor that continues to this date, bestowed upon city governments that demonstrate innovative problem-solving.

After her passing in 1984, an editorial in the local Press Democrat newspaper described her as someone whose politics were grounded in “goodwill and consensus.”

“As a woman in the public life way before the advent of the women’s movement, she was a pioneer,” said the editorial. First elected as mayor at the age of 56, Putnam also refused to let age be a barrier, and said, “In some small way, I’d like to encourage people to realize that the important thing is that we’re here, and if you want to get into something, don’t let the fact that you’re older deter you”. 

This Women’s History Month, I’m inspired by all of California’s women city leaders who are pioneers in their own right, just like Helen Putnam.

We know that government — at every level — is more productive and effective when it’s made up of people who look like the communities they represent. A diverse and inclusive government helps ensure that local decisions are fair, unbiased, and equitable for all segments of a community.

We also know that representation among local governing bodies is growing. A recent Pew Charitable Trusts study found that among the 15 largest cities across the country, female council members increased from 31% in 2016 to 47% in 2024. According to the Center for American Women, women make up nearly 40% of California’s municipal leaders.

We’re also seeing a growing number of women represented in the state Legislature, with many cutting their teeth in local government first. Following the 2024 election, women hold a record 49% of the seats in the Legislature. This is up from only 31% in 2020. Of all the newly elected lawmakers, ten are women who previously served in local government.

Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who chairs the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and was the first female mayor of Winters, celebrated this record-breaking legislative milestone in December. “California continues to lead the nation in advancing gender equity, proving that when women lead, our state prospers,” she said. “Gender-diverse legislatures are shown to perform better when more diverse points of view are included. This record-breaking representation means more perspectives and solutions that meet the needs of communities and families across our state.”

This Women’s History Month, I’m inspired by the trailblazing women leading their communities and those who came before them. Like Putnam, they are leading “full speed ahead.”