Not enough women in the pipeline?

David McLennan says there aren't enough women in the pipeline.

A professor of political science at Peace College in Raleigh, McLennan has studied women running for office in North Carolina for years.

He says women have done well in races for school board, local and legislative races in urban areas, judicial positions and statewide executive offices. They haven't done well in law enforcement positions and local and legislative races in rural areas.

The problems end up dragging down overall balance, however. While 54 percent of registered voters are women, only 16 percent of the candidates on the November ballot were women, he said. 

A lack of women in lower level races also means a smaller pool for more important posts. With fewer women on rural town councils, there are fewer candidates for rural legislative seats; and fewer female district attorneys and sheriffs may be one reason no woman has run for attorney general.

Even in statewide executive races, McLennan said women's successes have been due to their support in the growing metropolitan areas.

"People in urban areas are more used to seeing women in positions of power," he said. "As the power in the state shifts to the metropolitan areas, we're going to see more women do well as a result."

Still, the lag in rural areas means it may take longer to see a gender balance in the legislature.