unite nations/washington seven u.s. women senators urge president barack obama thursday push election unite nations first female secretary-general late year u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon former south korean foreign minister due step end 2016 two five-year term man hold top job world organization since inception 70 years ago 15-member security council include veto power china russia unite state britain france recommend candidate election 193-member general assembly succeed ban ask unite state play lead role press strong consideration qualify women seven democratic senators write obama lead barbara boxer senior member senate foreign relations committee letter also sign senators patty murray mazie hirono tammy baldwin kirsten gillibrand jeanne shaheen barbara mikulski response senators letter senior obama administration official say would welcome selection woman next secretary-general ultimately support best candidate either gender fifty-three 53 countries lead colombia push female secretary-general several civil society group also lobby woman lead organization seven candidates put forward include three women u.n. cultural organization unesco director-general irina bokova former croatian foreign minister vesna pusic moldova former foreign minister natalia gherman four candidates former macedonian foreign minister srgjan kerim montenegro foreign minister igor luksic former slovenian president danilo turk former u.n. high commissioner refugees antonio guterres would say guterres get good chance enter race still think win candidate enter yet senior security council diplomat say condition anonymity diplomats say potential female candidates include helen clark former new zealand prime minister head u.n. development programme argentine foreign minister susana malcorra european union commissioner budget human resources kristalina georgieva u.n. top job traditionally rotate regions eastern europe next list u.n. uphold consideration regional rotation give full consideration gender equality u.s. senators write u.s. congressional aide say female senators include republicans approach back letter obama none yet sign republicans see many u.n. action attempt improperly influence u.s. policy u.s. senators urge obama push female u.n. secretary-general