Huda Jones - President of National Federation of Republican Women

When Ronald Reagan attributed his victorious California gubernatorial election to the "little old ladies in tennis shoes," he referred to the thousands of women activists who labored long and hard earning recognition that was far less than the importance of their work. For years, many thought of the National Federation of Republican Women in those terms. And NFRW members were contented with their role as the activists and volunteers of the Republican National Committee.

Today, these women aren't just front-office volunteers. They are campaign managers, press secretaries and, most importantly, winning candidates, themselves.

While many people deserve credit for the change, one Republican stands out. And her name is Huda Jones.

Since her election in 1973 as the federation's at-large representative, Jones knew many barriers had not been broken, but she chose to take on the toughest barrier for women -- fund raising. Born in Beattyville, Ky. this mother of three began her political ascendancy at the age of nine while helping a friend of her father, a tobacco farmer, win a seat on the county board. "I can still remember the dress I wore that day," she says. "Election day came during tobacco season. Everyone old enough to know about tobacco had to help with the harvesting while I was handing out fliers and palmcards for father's friend."

Engaging in grassroots activities throughout the sixties, like selling orange juice for Barry Goldwater, Jones learned the groundwork necessary for campaigning. But the big picture didn't come into focus until 1972 when she was soundly defeated by Democrat Drexel Davis for the Kentucky secretary of state position. The experience 'of running a major race taught her the difference fundraising makes.

When she was elected to the federation, the NFRW was aimed at volunteerism. Jones saw the need to change that role. "For the longest time, Republican women thought we ought to be the volunteer army and the educational arm of the party," she said. "They did not see the need for raising money or forgetting elected."

By the early eighties, her influence helped redirect the NFRW's educational training. Presently, the federation's schools train women as volunteers, managers and victorious candidates.

Although fund raising is still an elusive goal (It wasn't until 1973 that NFRW dues were raised from five cents to 10 cents. Today, the dues are still a paltry $3.00), the glass ceiling began to crack once Jones was elected president of the NFRW in 1990. "Volunteerism and education are great, but that - doesn't get the candidate's words on TV or radio," she announced.

In a manner of speaking, the comer has been turned and members are staring to come around to her way of thinking. They feel a need to support women candidates, but the Federal Elections Commission does not allow the federation, an auxiliary of the RNC, to give to candidates directly. Jones is researching the possibility of an EMILY's List type of operation, .and her fund raising principles are becoming ingrained in the psyche of the federation. "Women are asking me more and more, how the federation can give more money," she says.

The NFRW recently broke with tradition and posted a: $2 million budget without any financial help from the RNC. And just this summer, the federation bought its own office building with donations from state chapters. Currently, the NFRW is hitting the national airwaves with a membership message. And for Jones that means more victories for women and Republicans. "We are making great strides in that direction, and you will see a huge number of Republican women running and winning in the upcoming years," she says.

When her term as NFRW president expires at the end of this month, Jones will return to' Kentucky where she will continue her work as a volunteer, candidate recruiter and campaign trainer. And party faithful can count on her work to continue to help elect women, provided, of course, they're Republicans.

COPYRIGHT 1993 Campaigns & Elections, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group