Celebrating decades of Public Service Involvement by women in Government
FIRST ROW (l to r): Legislators Linda Ervin, Mary Kuhn, Peggy Chase, Julie Abbott, Debra Cody and Colleen Gunnip
SECOND ROW (l to r): Jamie McNamara (Clerk), Debbie Kaminski (Asst. Clerk) and Tammy Barber (Deputy Clerk)
For more than 100 years, women have played an integral role in government and shaping Onondaga County into the community we call home.
In 1920, Chairman John R. Chamberlain, in his inaugural address, officially welcomed the first two women to serve. Fast forward to today and you’ll find six women serving: Republicans Julie Abbott, Debra Cody and Colleen Gunnip and Democrats Peggy Chase, Linda Ervin and Mary Kuhn. Combined, they represent thousands of county residents and while their views on important issues often differ, sometimes quite significantly, they all agree that they stand up for what they believe is in the best interests of the taxpayers and they serve to make our community a better place to live.
Legislator Gunnip is the ‘newbie’ – having first been elected in 2021 to represent the 4th District. “Service to others is the most important calling a person can have” says Gunnip, who previously served as Town Councilor and Supervisor in Salina. “I love to find ways to make our community a better place to live by finding ways to decrease spending, increase revenues, lower taxes, and take advantage of economic development opportunities and sharing services.”
Legislator Ervin (17th District) has served on the Legislature since 2010. Before that, she was on the Jamesville-DeWitt Board of Education where she learned to make change requires one to have a seat at the table. “I chose to serve on the Legislature to add my voice to a larger ‘table’ knowing that my voice is based on very different experiences than the others on the Legislature” she says. “I have had the opportunity to craft and change policy to improve the quality of life for my constituents and all residents of the County.”
As a Registered Nurse, Legislator Chase (9th District) often brings insightful and informed questions to the Health & Human Services committee on which she serves. “I always advocate for my district but my job is to advocate for the entire county” she explains. “I have, first of all, been their eyes and ears. I have been active in community organizations discussing issues that affect my constituents. I am always their voice.”
Legislator Abbott (6th District) was first inspired to serve in the third grade after hearing a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “I’ve lived my life from then on with positive advocacy – at first through journalism, as a mom instilling to my 5 boys and now as a lawmaker to anyone who will listen” she says. “As we express the frustrations of a system, think: what can we do to fix it? That, to me is true positive forward momentum for our communities and actual leadership.”
Legislators Abbott, Cody and Gunnip were selected as committee chairs this year. In the Legislature’s office, four of six staff positions are held by women, including Clerk Jamie McNamara.
So, as we celebrate National Women’s History Month, we salute all the ladies of the Legislature, who have been making history here at home for years.
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