10/27/2004
Political Women Go Hunting
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius' willingness to participate in events like the Kansas Governor's One Shot Turkey Hunt shows she recognizes the power of the sportsmen's vote, a group that continues to influence elections and boost local economies.
Governor Sebelius is one of a growing number of political women courting the outdoorsmen and women of their electorate. And for good reason.
Hunting's Political WomenSebelius was not the only politician to participate in the spring turkey hunting tradition this year. Political figures in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Michigan also suited up. Among them were: Michigan Rep. Sue Tabor, who killed her first turkey in spring 2002. "I am truly blessed to say that I am a genuine turkey hunter," she said. "Turkey hunting is the finest there is." Rep. Tabor says programs like the NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program, of which she is a member, are one of the best ways to advance America's hunting heritage. More specifically, they teach women about the outdoors who, in turn, pass that knowledge on to their kids, she said. "The key to such programs is that women are inviting women to participate. And women and children are the hope of hunting." Michigan Sen. Michelle McManus, who became so enamored by Rep. Tabor's turkey hunting adventures that she, too, wanted to bring a bird within gun range. Her first gobbler was taken in 2003. And when she arrived at Senate chambers after shooting it the very same morning, she walked to the podium and reported her harvest to fellow lawmakers. This year, she shot an 18-pound turkey on her family farm in southern Grand Traverse County. |
Statistics show that the nation's 80 million hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers have contributed more than $108 billion to the U.S. economy in recent years. Of that amount, hunting and fishing generated $70 billion.
Although these pastimes lack stock options and 401k plans, a "corporation" of sportsmen would rank No. 11 on the Fortune 500 list. Hunting and fishing licenses, travel expenses, including meals, and outdoor equipment sales are small costs that add up to billions of dollars.
Contributions to the job market also are significant. Across the country, sportsmen support the roughly 1.6 million jobs that are needed to supply the growing outdoors industry. That's more than the number of employees at Wal-Mart, America's largest employer.
In Kansas, where a declining farm community drives much of the economy, hunters' contributions are especially important. Kansas is a leading agriculture state; close to 50 million acres are devoted to farming. But it is a profession that is slowly dying, leaving local governments dependent on outside income.
"We are blessed with some of the best hunting and fishing areas in the country, and more people need to know about them," the governor said — even more reason for her to participate in televised hunts.
In her second year of turkey hunting, Sebelius and Mike Hayden, Kansas Director of Wildlife and Parks, watched five toms strut into range before she killed an Eastern that weighed 17 pounds. ESPN was there to film it.
"There were three birds that offered good shots, and I really wanted to make sure I got one."
Eventually, the beaming governor replayed her moments of indecision, using swaying hands to point an imaginary gun at one gobbler, then another.
"Growing up, it never crossed my mind that I might shoot a turkey, let alone on a governor's hunt," she told The Kansas City Star. "What a great experience this has been."
"It's good to be associated with political figures who aren't afraid to endorse hunting," said Rob Keck, CEO of the NWTF. "Gov. Sebelius understands that hunting is good for her state and for this country."
Sebelius was not the only governor to participate in the spring turkey hunting tradition. Governors and lieutenant governors in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Michigan suited up this year.
The Kansas Governor's One Shot Turkey Hunt in which Sebelius shot — and killed — her bird began in 1986, when then-Gov. Hayden took office. It was his idea to implement the hunt to show off Kansas as an emerging economy. Since then, other states have followed.
At last year's event, she missed three birds. But her aim improved when a friend noticed she was left-eye dominant and taught her to shoot left-handed.
Later in the season, she hunted with Keck and killed another turkey on camera. But it wasn't "any ole turkey," she said. "It was a big ole turkey." About 22 pounds, in fact.
"I am very supportive of hunting," Sebelius said. It is a tradition that cannot be denied in a state where pioneers and Indians killed animals to feed their families, build their homes and clothe themselves. On the state seal, a farmer plows a field, a wagon train heads west and a buffalo flees from two Indians who need the meat for their tribe.
A Hunt for All
Aides to the governor say she believes that hunting and fishing should remain sports available to all people, not just the wealthy. It is a belief she held long before her party included in its 2005 platform. She also is working with farmers to make unused lands available for public outdoor pursuits.
Most turkey hunting in Kansas is done on private land. But because guiding and outfitting are becoming more prevalent, the average turkey hunter has to look harder for places to go since most of what's available is tied up in leases for paying clients. So to provide equal opportunity, the state leases private land for public access.
Recently, the governor announced that Kansas residents who are active in the U.S. Army and Air National Guard will receive free state hunting and fishing licenses and state park permits.
The courage of a woman
In January 2003, Sebelius was sworn into office as the 44th governor of Kansas, the 10th Democrat, the second woman and the first daughter of a governor in U.S. history to earn the same title.
She faced a Legislature skeptical of her campaign promises and a state budget crisis--the worst in modern times. Her biggest freshman year accomplishment was helping to balance a $10.2 million budget without a general tax increase and without cuts to education, something plenty of legislators, analysts and armchair politicians said couldn't be done. In her first few weeks as governor, she launched an extraordinary effort to uncover wasteful government spending and, so far, she claims to have saved taxpayers $100 million.
She began her climb up the government ladder in 1986, when she was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. In 1994, Sebelius left the House to run for state insurance commissioner and stunned political forecasters by winning--the first time a Democrat had won in more than 100 years. She is credited with bringing the agency out from under the influence of the insurance industry. She refused to take campaign contributions from insurers and blocked the proposed merger of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, the state's largest health insurer, with an Indiana-based company. The decision by Sebelius marked the first time the corporation had been rebuffed in its acquisition attempts.
As the 2002 election season approached, there was little doubt that Sebelius, the only statewide Democratic officeholder, would run for governor. The election was called early when there was no question who would win. She easily defeated her opponent, getting 53 percent. Though he trailed in the polls throughout the campaign, many thought her challenger would catch Sebelius, 54, in a state that generally votes Republican. Only about 28 percent of Kansans are Democrat. Armchair politicians were wrong again.
During her inauguration, she wore an ankle-length red coat, a color often associated with confidence, courage and power.
