As the first woman to represent Broome County in the State Assembly, I greatly appreciate the efforts of those who helped pave the way for women lawmakers in our area. Charla G. Hull was among these women; self-educated in law, she was the first woman to be nominated for county-wide office when she ran for County Clerk in 1945. Although she lost that race, later that year she was named United State Commissioner, a titled that was later changed to United States Magistrate for the Northern Judicial District. She held this position for 45 years and stayed active in the community serving as the spokeswoman for the local League of Women Voters.