SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - It started with lunch. Community relations consultant Chris Hunter was dining with women friends who’d been elected to serve the City and County of Sacramento. Realizing her companions had much to add to California’s political history, Hunter began research for a book recently published as “We can Do This!”

Riveter Rosie’s wartime mantra is relevant, considers the author. “These women were often up against the odds. They did a great job.” Despite stridency associated with many 1970s activists, Hunter’s subjects were not consciously feminists or political animals. “They were mainly teachers, nurses and moms,” says Arcade resident Hunter. “They stepped up because they wanted better communities.”

The book spotlights the ‘first and second wave’ of women whose service eased the way for those who followed in more recent years. Former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo collaborated in the project and regards the history long overdue. “It’s time women who helped shape Sacramento in this era were given the respect they deserve,” she says. “They had huge impact.”

Several of Hunter’s 1970s pioneers served unincorporated Sacramento. The first woman elected to Sacramento’s Board of Supervisors"'former nurse Sandy Smoley"'got paramedics on firetrucks. Supervisor Illa Collin broke ground for the American River Parkway. Supervisor Muriel Johnson campaigned for the arts and persuaded successor Susan Peters to prolong a tradition that for 50 years labeled District 3 “the girls’ seat.”

Sacramento has elected"'and reelected"'two female mayors. Anne Rudin spoke out for gay rights and the banning of assault weapons. Mayor Heather Fargo championed the environment and women’s (and animal) rights.

On the national level, Congressmember Doris Matsui fought for improved health care and ramped up flood prevention. She remains a vocal proponent for girls’ STEM education.

Hunter’s homage includes women who headed action groups. Lung Association leader Jane Hagedorn took on Big Tobacco against choking odds and achieved a public places smoking ban. Carmichael teacher Effie Yeaw founded Save the American River Association and won protection for heritage oaks. “Yeaw was a gentle lady,” notes Hunter. “But she was knowledgeable and articulate. No one could effectively disagree with her.”

Grace (and humor) under fire was a job requirement: male City Councilmembers expected Anne Rudin to make coffee. She wouldn’t. Illa Collin was told not to wear pants to State Reclamation Board meetings. She did. Anne Rudin was offered makeup artists before TV appearances. “It’s not clear if her male colleagues got the same service,” says the author. “At any rate, she declined.”

District 3’s Sandy Smoley endured a divorce while in office. Daily proceedings were covered exhaustively by the press. She later had a double mastectomy. She told Hunter her breasts were front page news in the Sacramento Bee daily. “I’m just glad I didn’t have cervical cancer,” quipped the former Supervisor.

Running for City Council at 30, Kim Mueller (Now the first female District Judge to serve Eastern California) was told she looked too young. To be taken seriously, she acquired a frumpy ‘candidate outfit’ and stomped precincts in matronly pumps.

Trailblazers grinned and bore frivolous interpretations. When women occupied half of the City Council seats in 1990; someone (not a female councilmember) suggested the term ‘manholes’ was sexist. A ‘sewer furor’ flushed Sacramento onto the world stage. Critics attributed the absurdity to “women taking over the council.” Maintenance covers was eventually deemed politically correct. “Words do have power,” notes author Hunter. “Man"'as the generic"'was dropped. Into the sewer, one presumes.”

For wives and moms in office, election success meant long hours. Sacramento’s first black woman city councilmember, Lauren Hammond, tried to tally her working week. “I stopped counting at 60 hours,” Hammond said. “It was probably close to 80.”

Comments Hunter: “These women worked hard. They raised children; they ran homes, and they ran cities. I felt honored talking to them. They’re mostly retired now but they’re still passionate about their communities.”

Hunter will donate book copies to area high schools. “I want to encourage involvement in local government and to show girls whose shoulders they will stand on,” she says. “These female pioneers worked around obstacles with humor and common sense. Their persistence won in the end.”

“We Can Do This” proceeds will support the League of Women Voters’ Anne Rudin Scholarship. The book is available in public libraries, bookstores and online. For information, visit www.wecandothissacramento.com