GOP works to appeal to suburban women

After years of losing female voters -- and elections -- to Democrats, Republican women in the state House are stepping up efforts to reverse the erosion.

With key election battles forming across the suburbs and state, a dozen female GOP state representatives have formed the "Women's Voices" political committee to drum up volunteers and highlight their party's appeal to women.

A three-day introduction tour started in the suburbs Monday and wraps up in Springfield Wednesday.

"We really hope to see the role of women in the GOP grow," said state Rep. Carolyn Krause of Mount Prospect as she walked the halls of Palatine's Fremd High School after a panel discussion. "It is so important to our party."

Democrats have, in part, made inroads into former GOP suburban territory by drawing in women on key issues like education and health care.

Krause says Republicans should do a better job showcasing their strengths on those issues and others that matter to women, including juvenile justice and family values.

"The Republican party can and does have a number of issues that are important to women," Krause said.

However, the Republican's longstanding internal divide over hot button issues quickly popped up Monday when Fremd's women's studies class started asking questions about a new law mandating a moment of silence at school.

The panel largely split by geography on the issue, with suburban Republicans from moderate districts opposing the mandate and downstate lawmakers from heavily conservative districts supporting it.

Meanwhile, some of the members of Women's Voices will likely face tough challenges from Democrats come next year. Krause is not seeking re-election.