Through the changes of city government, from an alderman system to the current Council and City Manager system, women have been involved in Auburn politics.
Except for a nine-year gap from 1963-72, at least one woman served on the Council from 1955-2013, according to David Dorton, director of public affairs for Auburn.
In 2013, former Councilwoman Shelia Eckman won election to her current position on the Lee County Commission and Ron Anders was appointed as her replacement on the Council.
For more than a year, the Auburn City Council conducted city business as a council of nine men.
That changed Nov. 3, when two women, Beth Witten of Ward 3 and Lynda Tremaine of Ward 5, took their positions as newly elected members of the Council. Witten and Tremaine agree the council should reflect the population.
"During the campaign, I heard a lot, 'We're so glad that you're running," Tremaine said. "'We need a woman on the City Council,' and I heard it from men. It's not just a women's issue, I've never thought of myself as a women's libber (liberator), but it's just right."
Witten runs Blue Turtle Creative, a marketing and event management firm, while Tremaine is retired from the education field after 24 years, 16 of which she served as principal of Wrights Mill Road Elementary School.
"I'm in the throes of raising my family, running a business and have been involved in the community for a while," Witten said. "So even as women, we bring different perspectives of where we are in our worlds."
Both new council members noted there were some differences between how their male counterparts handled meetings.
"I laughed and told Beth at one meeting, I looked around and said, 'We're the only two taking notes,'" Tremaine said. "I think women do things differently."
Being new on the Council means having to catch up to members who have served longer, according to the pair.
"It really is still in the learning process at this stage," Witten said. "Even though we go through training and we talk about it, it's really different when you're actually in the process of doing it."
Witten said her two daughters were her motivation to serve on the Council.
"I just want to make sure that Auburn looks the way I envision it to be when (my daughters) are looking to go to college," Witten said. "They hopefully will choose Auburn as a possibility for where they plan to go."
Witten moved to Auburn 17 years ago and said she has watched the city grow.
"I feel like we can do some things with more intent and purpose in how we plan, develop and grow," Witten said. "I'm really a kind of hands-on person, and sitting on the sideline didn't cut it for me."
Tremaine said she got involved in city government after she spoke at a Board of Zoning Adjustment meeting and helped stop a development in her neighborhood.
"I had people calling me and saying, 'We need people like you,'" Tremaine said. "'We need people who really care and are in it for what's best for the city,'"
Despite the support, Tremaine said she had to think about running.
"I did not even go up and qualify until the last day, because I had never run for anything before," Tremaine said.
For anyone considering public service, Witten and Tremaine both said a person has to be committed.
"If (public service) isn't in your heart, it's going to be burden," Tremaine said. "This is not an easy task. Beth and I both know we're not going to make everyone happy with our decisions."
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