Howe, Agnes E.

Agnes E. Howe, a non partisan candidates, was elected as County Superintendent of Schools for Santa Clara County, California in 1918. She graduated from Stanford University in 1897. By 1910 Howe a faculty member at the Santa Clara Normal School. That year she was also a featured speaker at a woman suffrage outdoor event, and active suffrage causes. She was also the president of the Federated Women's Clubs of California, and president of the California Teachers Association. Howe was involved with many educational organizations and forums. In 1914 non partisan organizations named Howe as a candidate for County Superintendent of Schools. Despite her extensive experience in education and support from women's organizations and non partison groups she did not win in the primary race that year. By 1918 she ran a much more extensive and sophisticated campaign, with advertisements in county newspapers, letters from supporters published in the newspapers extolling her qualifications. Howe won a spot in the primary beating out Maud Clark Glasson. By October Glasson publicly praised Howe and endorsed her candidacy. Howe won in the general election beating the incumbent by over seven hundred votes.