A new Iowa law will ensure gender equality on government boards and commissions.
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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- In March of 2009, the Iowa House of Representatives agreed to mandate gender equality on all state and locally appointed boards and commissions, such as the Historical Preservation and Human Rights Commission.
KTVO spoke with Wapello County Supervisor, Jerry Parker, about the new law. He said one difficulty is trying to find people willing to serve.
"One thing in the law is it says if you legitimately try for three months to get gender-balance on a board and you can't do it, then it's okay to go ahead and appointing maybe all males or all females. One of the questions is going to be...how is the state going to interpret three months of good effort?" asked Supervisor Parker.
He added that anyone with an interest in joining one of the 20 boards or commissions in Ottumwa can contact the Wapello County Supervisors or the Ottumwa City Hall.
