CLEVELAND — The former mayor of Cleveland believes being the first is about overcoming obstacles so others behind you don’t have to.

What You Need To Know

  • Jane Campbell served as the 56th and first female mayor of Cleveland, Ohio from Jan. 1, 2002 to Jan. 1, 2006

  • Campbell has spent decades in public service in a variety of role, on the local, state and federal levels

  • In 2019, Campbell became the president and CEO of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society

“I’m happy we take a month to celebrate the fact that women are very much part of history," said Jane Campbell. "When I was in college back in the day, women’s history, I was a American History major at the University of Michigan. I know that’s not popular in Ohio. Nevertheless, that’s where I went, and in order for us to include women’s history as an undergraduate, I became a teaching fellow because I knew more about it than anybody on the faculty. There was not a single woman on the faculty, now we have a whole different situation and the fact that we take March a moment to tell women’s history is great."

Back in Cleveland, Campbell believed some her political opponents thought her gender could be an issue in holding office. 

“When I was mayor of Cleveland — literally in the debates, this happened — somebody asked me, a respected columnist — not like a wacko — but an actual person in the debate interview (asked), 'Commissioner Campbell' — I was county commissioner at the time — ‘do you think you are tough enough to be mayor?’ Now, I am telling you they didn’t ask any of the men that question and they had never asked any of the men that had run. It was a question that they asked because they couldn’t conceptualize of a female leading the city," Campbell said. 

Campbell believes the future of women in politics is very bright. 

“I’m thrilled with Vice President Harris. I think she has done a remarkable job of being a strong leader, being a real partner with President Biden, and President Biden has down the job a good job of making sure that she is a partner and she has to be not just the first woman Vice President but the first Black Vice President (and) the first South Asian Vice President. She has a lot of people with their eyes on her and she is just moving forward doing her work and doing it with class and grace,” said Campbell.