Mitchell, Betty Wakeman

Betty Wakeman Mitchell campaigned in the Republican Party primaries to represent Washington County, New York in the Assembly in 1918. Her platform emphasized improvements on "home governance" and labor laws for farmers and factory workers. Before her campaign, Mitchell was told by the members of her party that she could not garner 20 of 390 signatures necessary to file her petition to represent Washington County in the race. She actually received 701 signatures. Mitchell often brought her children, ages 2 and 4, along on her campaigns. Wearing signs emblazoned with the words, "Vote for Mama," her children became her most dedicated campaigners and were immensely popular with voters. She was defeated in the Republican primary by Eugene R. Norton who had previously held the position in 1905 and 1912. Betty Wakeman Mitchell was the daughter of Abram Wakeman, the Secretary of the Lower Wall Street Business Man's Association. She married Commander Willis G. Mitchell of US Navy on 3 September 1906. The two had 3 children together. Mrs. Mitchell was a dedicated Suffragist and was particularly interested in public health improvements to alleviate maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Along with membership to many committees in the New York State Woman Suffrage Party, she held leadership positions as the party's Chairman of the Rural Problems Committee. She was also the Chairman of the Committee on Efficiency in Government of the State League of Women Voters.