Stevens, Sarah Christie

Sarah Christie Stevens was the first woman elected County Superintendent of Schools for Blue Earth, Minnesota. Stevens, long a proponent of women's rights and equal education served in the positions from 1890 to 1892. Stevens ran for re-election in 1892, and campaigned again in 1894, but lost both times to her Republican rival. In her 1890 campaign Stevens, a lifelong supporter of temperance, gained support of women's organizations in the county. She spoke in front of large audiences during the campaign, noting that women had ìsuccessfully administered affairs without losing their womanly graces." Gaining support from the Alliance and Prohibition parties, local civil war veterans, and the Democratic backed local newspapers, Stevens won the race by 301 votes. When facing re-election in 1892, Stevens lacked support from the local Alliance party, which had broken apart, due to internal disagreements. The illness of Stevens' daughter Mary also drew Stevens' attention from the race. When Stevens lost to her Republican opponent again in 1894, she withdrew from local politics.