to regional cities or suburban communities, defined as counties with an average population density between 250 and 750 people per square mile, fall in the middle in terms of women's representation with 23 percent women commissioners. However, these counties have the lowest representation of women of color at just 4 percent.

Breaking through barriers

Despite the dismal representation numbers for women on county commissions across North Carolina, there are areas where progress is being made. In five counties in the state, for example, women actually make up a majority of the board of commissioners. Those are Avery, Cabarrus, Catawba, Durham and Orange counties.

Carter and McLennan emphasize that when qualified women run for office, they win. Reflective Democracy Campaign's research on representation among candidates seeking office nationally has confirmed that womenand people of color, once on the ballot, are elected at the same rates as white men.

Women and people of color, once on the ballot, are elected at the same rates as white men.

McLennan, who formerly led the N.C. Center for Women in Public Service (now merged with the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership) and helped women across the state run for office, pointed out that women need to be asked more often to run for office. He also said leaders of both parties must prioritize identifying women candidates.

Carter added that community-based organizations and advocacy groups, which often have more diverse leadership and members, should play a greater role lifting up female leaders for elected office.

"There are qualified women and qualified women of color in all 100 counties,"