Women hold only 22 percent of the seats in the Utah House of Representatives and a dismal 14 percent of Senate seats. Both percentages have declined slightly since 2004.

In a1996 study by the Council of State Governments, Utah ranked in the bottom third of the 50 states in the number of women holding statewide and legislative office, yet Utah suffragettes were some of the nation's first and most active. Utah was one of the first three states in the nation to allow women to vote and hold office, and, in 1870, was one of only two territories to grant women suffrage before any state permitted women to vote. So the current dearth of women in elected office is ironic as well as troubling.

The Utah Constitution states: "Both male and female citizens of this state shall enjoy equally all civil, political and religious rights and privileges." However, when too few women participate in the political process, women's "rights and privileges" are undermined. In states where the sexes are more equally represented, public policy is more favorable toward women and the issues that particularly affect them, such as child care and women's health.

But equal representation isn't likely in Utah any time soon. Of the 16 state Senate seats to be filled this year, three have attracted no women candidates at all, and there are no female incumbents. In the House, where all 75 seats are up for grabs, the situation is worse: No women have filed as candidates in 36 of the 75 districts.

County races are even more predominantly male. In Davis, women have filed for only two offices. Utah, Summit and Wasatch counties have no women running; one woman has filed in Washington County.

Even worse, six longtime women leaders, Sens. Karen Hale and Patrice Arent and County Commissioners Carol Page, Davis; Camille Cain, Weber; and Suzanne Rees, Box Elder, did not seek re-election. They will be missed.

We applaud those women who have thrown their hats into the ring. We only wish more had done so.