Today’s Woman in the Lens is a “hats-off” to a Republican woman running for the US Senate from the state of Missouri. Palladian View does not endorse in contested primaries, but we do like to draw attention to Republican women who embody the principle of “Building leaders of tomorrow by empowering women today.” Mrs. Sarah Steelman is certainly one of these women.
Sarah Steelman earned a Masters degree in Economics and a Bachelors degree in History from the University of Missouri. Her father-in-law is a former Missouri State Republican Party Chairman. Before her own election to the Missouri state senate in 1998, she was the Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She had also worked as an economist for the Missouri Department of Revenue, and as an adjunct professor of Economics at Lincoln University of Missouri.
In 1998, she won election as a state senator, defeating a popular Democrat incumbent running for his 5th term. She won with 58% of the vote, and won reelection the next time with 71% of the vote. During Mrs. Steelman’s 2nd term, she offered herself as candidate for State Treasurer winning a crowded primary, and was the first Republican woman elected to that office.
In 2008, she decided not to seek re-election as Treasurer, but ran unsuccessfully for Governor instead. Had she won, she would have been Missouri’s first female governor.
Sarah Steelman has been an active member of her community for decades having served as the Director of Big Brother/Big Sister—a program that advocates for mentors for children in need and has seen solid results. She is a current board member of the Missouri Club for Growth and has consulted for Empowerment Financial Group.
Palladian View is pleased to spotlight this conservative Republican woman leader who has accomplished much for the Republican Party and her state.
