A significant moment in Iowa’s history

Clinton Herald Editorial

January 19, 2007 10:20 am

— Amidst the flurry of activity at the Iowa Statehouse on Jan. 8 — the first day of the new legislative session with a horde of freshly elected Senators and Representatives — a few moments were set aside to be spent on a significant moment in Iowa’s history.
On that day, Polly Bukta took the oath of office as speaker pro tempore of the Iowa House of Representatives, the first woman to ascend to that rank in the history of the state.
Bukta should by now be a household name to almost every Clinton resident. After a long career as a teacher, Bukta was first elected to the Legislature in 1996. She represents House District 26, which encompasses the city of Clinton and some its surrounding areas.
As a Democrat, Bukta spent 10 years in the Legislature as a member of the minority party, including a stint as assistant minority leader. But when Democrats won control of the house in the November elections, Bukta climbed the ladder with everyone else, including Speaker of the House Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines.
Party affiliations aside, we’re happy to see more and more women attaining significant political positions both at the state and national level, just as we are happy to see racial backgrounds becoming less of an issue for voters. Once we get used to the idea of a female president or black governor or anything that runs counter to the old standby of electing and appointing white males to anything and everything, we think voters will be treated to a better system of state government.
Much like integration of professional sports improved the quality of play by ensuring rosters would be chosen based on skill more than skin, the full integration of politics will allow all voters to choose between the best possible candidates. While there are no formal barriers in place within Iowa’s political scene, that it took until 2007 for a woman to be appointed speaker pro tem leads us to conclude that Bukta’s accomplishment is reason for celebration.
While we’re thrilled at the local connection, we know this is not just about Polly Bukta, or Clinton or House District 26. It’s about Iowa, and it’s a story that deserves to be told.