Democratic strategist to speak on women in politics

A nationally known political strategist will be the next guest speaker in a series at New Mexico State University.

Mary Hughes, co-founder and president of Staton Hughes, a San Francisco-based strategic communications and political consulting firm for Democratic candidates, will speak at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Creative Media Institute’s Digital Media Theatre in Milton Hall. Her talk, “Women in the ’08 Elections: Perception vs. Progress,” is open to the public.

Hughes has directed campaigns and advised several elected officials, including:

• Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to lead her party in Congress.

• Delaine Eastin, the first woman to be superintendent of schools in California.

• Ron Gonzales, the first Latino mayor of San Jose, Calif.

• Donna Hitchens, the first openly lesbian judge elected in the nation.

Hughes also has helped Gabrielle Giffords of Tucson, Ariz., win a seat in Congress, served as executive director of the California Democratic Party and written essays, opinion pieces, articles and book reviews on topics related to American politics.

The series accompanies a university course being co-taught by Lt. Gov. Diane Denish on women, politics and the media.