Marigene Valiquette
Marigene Gertrude Valiquette (born 1924) is a former member of the Ohio General Assembly.[1] She served 24 consecutive years in the state legislature, first as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, beginning in 1963, and subsequently as a member of the Ohio State Senate, from 1969 until 1986.[2]
Marigene Valiquette | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio Senate from the 11th district | |
| In office January 14, 1969 - December 31, 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Frank W. King |
| Succeeded by | Linda J. Furney |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 79th district | |
| In office January 3, 1963 - January 14, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | None (First) |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Wilkowski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1924 (age 96–97) |
| Political party | Democratic |
Career
During her third year of law school at the University of Toledo, Valiquette became a law clerk for Judge Geraldine Macelwane in 1959 after an unsuccessful run for city council.[3]
For most of her 18 years as a state senator, Valiquette was the only female senator in office.[1][2] She became chair of the Judiciary Committee in 1971; later she chaired the Ethics Committee.[2] During a period in the 1980s when the Democratic Party was in the majority, she was a ranking member on both the Finance and the Rules Committee.[2]
In the early 1970s, as a state senator, Valiquette advocated strongly for Ohio's passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA),[2][4] the proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that aimed to guarantee equal rights for women; in February 1974 Ohio became the 33rd state to ratify the ERA.[4]
In 1985 and 1986, Valiquette was absent from the Ohio Senate for a number of months which ended her career. The absences were attributed to family deaths and financial issues.[5]
In 1978, she was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.[6]
References
- "Ohio Women's Hall of Fame Bio: Marigene Valiquette." Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. www.odjfs.state.oh.us. Retrieved 2016-07-03.
- "Ladies' Gallery – Legislators: Marigene Valiquette." Ohio Statehouse. www.ohiostatehouse.org. Retrieved 2016-07-03.
- "Clipped From The News-Messenger". The News-Messenger. 1959-06-23. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
- "Equal Rights Amendment Gains Ohio Ratification: Senate Votes 20-12 For Measure, Making State 33rd to Approve" (February 7, 1974). The Blade (Toledo, OH). p. 1. "Senator Valiquette, who shepherded the ERA issue through the long series of hearings of both houses of the General Assembly, was elated that the long campaign finally was over." Retrieved via Google News 2016-07-03.
- Communications, Emmis (October 1986). Cincinnati Magazine. Emmis Communications.
- "ODJFS Online | SEARCH the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame". web.archive.org. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2020-09-15.