Let’s celebrate women in positions of political leadership and encourage others to join them, not challenge others’ candidacy due to a desire to improve gender balance in Congress. I read the recent opinion piece raising concerns with the leading candidate to fill Rep. Kuster’s seat with a gnawing sense of unease. My discomfort was difficult to place. I consider myself a feminist, a champion of women’s rights and female candidates for political office. I worked as a federal civil servant myself for over a decade. I fully support the aims of Women Run and am grateful for the organization’s work.

I fear that an individual in our community critiquing a strong candidate’s early lead on gender grounds diminishes the accomplishments of stateswomen (of which we have so many in New Hampshire) who succeeded not because they were women, but because they are incredible leaders and were themselves such strong candidates. Let’s choose the best candidate to fill the indefatigable shoes of Rep. Annie Kuster. I support Colin Van Ostern as that choice, not only because I think he is a devoted and capable leader for New Hampshire, but because he has spent years both supporting Women Run and similar efforts, and also working to make progress on issues that I care about, from reproductive rights to childcare and healthcare.

Caitlin Fennessy

Concord