Marie Kocoshis knows that women in leadership get it done. In the conference room of the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area, of which she’s co-president, Marie shares her outlook on civic engagement, women’s rights, and the importance of educated voting.

Interview by Maggie Heath-Bourne. Photography by Stacy Wegley.

What is your role here at the League of Women Voters?

I am the co-president. It’s a big job for one person, so co-president seems to work. I chair the natural resources committee and I do things like plan the events. They call me Pinky here.

Why is that?

That’s the name I’ve had since I was 3 years old. That’s what my husband calls me. That’s how I’m known. My uncle gave me that name. I think it’s because I had a pink complexion when I was younger.

What do you think makes the League special?

The whole concept is that the women were home with their children, so they had time to get involved in organizations like this. That’s not as true anymore; however, it’s important because women didn’t have the right to vote for so long. And we were lucky to get suffrage, but other groups had to wait so much longer. We certainly believe we were on the right track when we got women the right to vote, and that’s our legacy.

What does it mean to you to be part of the L.W.V.?

It’s an organization that’s held in very high esteem. The League is organized into local units, state units, and a national unit. We’ve got a lot of backing and we depend on people in the other units to keep us up to date on legal action and things like that. It’s a good organization that does great work. It’s more important now than ever, I think. There are all kinds of other little things we do, like an education committee and a natural resources committee. We’re writing letters for various legislative issues. We do a lot more than just voting issues.

I was involved when I lived in Pittsburgh, but I became active here when I moved here in 2001. I’ve been on the board for some time. Work like this is good because the organization has your back, but you’re also representing them; it can be a burden.

What do you think the value is of undertaking a burden like that?

I think, like many other organizations, we have trouble finding leadership. But I think if you make it clear that there’s a lot of support, people can do more than they think they can. And some people, maybe someone you thought was quiet, can surprise you.

We certainly believe we were on the right track when we got women the right to vote, and that’s our legacy.

I’d imagine with an election coming up, you might be focusing more on voting issues.

Oh, yes, before and after the election. We’ll publish a list of all the elected officials in Hamilton County after the election, as well as the elected officials for each community. It’s important for people to know who is doing things in their community and how to get in contact with them.

You describe yourself as a “religious” voter; what do you say to the person who says, “My vote doesn’t count”?

I can remember a young woman, one of our state representatives, who won by like 60 votes. It can always be really close. Even our current president didn’t win by the popular vote, and individual votes matter. I actually ran into a young woman not too long ago who was telling me she didn’t want to cast the wrong vote. My response was that you have to be educated. Being educated is the one thing you can do, and it’s easy to do.

I’ve heard a lot of people talking about the civic responsibility to vote, rather than it being a right or a privilege. Do you see it as a responsibility?

I certainly do. The people we vote for represent us. We have to educate ourselves, but we also have to educate our legislators on what we need.

I think if people have enough information, they’ll be motivated. We have to go where we’re needed and do our best.

You’re devoted to flexing your civic muscle, but why this particular organization?

I think because it was there when I needed it. I came to Cincinnati and there were these levies on the ballot, and when I wanted to learn more, the League was there. That’s why I want to give my time. We have a lot of interesting, educated, inspiring people who are members, and that’s a perk. You’re working with a lot of people who are intelligent and willing to put the work in and share the vision with me.

We’ve talked about the importance of voting and staying educated, but how do we get people excited about voting?

I think if people have enough information, they’ll be motivated. We have to go where we’re needed and do our best. We have to get people excited about the issues and excited about exercising their right to vote.

Who is the most important woman in your life?

When I moved to Pittsburgh, I met someone. I’ve been a lifelong recycler, and there was an organization for recycling. The woman there was a powerhouse. She was named Laurie Keffer. I learned a lot from her. The lesson I learned is to find out what you want to do and do it. She was very organized. She would take the train to Harrisburg to be on all these committees. There have been a lot of great women, but she stands out for her devotion.

What is the importance of seeing a woman in a leadership role like that?

If you prove yourself and educate yourself, I think women can get it done. There is more pressure for women, maybe, but it’s important to not be discouraged and just keep at it all the time. Women can all relate to being treated differently, like being pushed aside or not valued.

Do you have any advice for our readership?

I think that it’s not as difficult to have an impact as people think. People don’t realize how much they can do. You can’t get everything accomplished right away, but you have to start.

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The League of Women Voters’ Marie Kocoshis: Votes Matter