South Dakota has a long history of women holding elective office, but we're increasingly worried about the future for female office holders at the state level.

Last month, a team of Journal reporters took an exhaustive look at the subject of women in politics here. What they found was a lot of people who say women make good legislators, but far too few women who actually seek that office.

Ever since 1923, when Gladys Pyle of Huron became the first female legislator in state history, there have always been at least a few women elected to the state Legislature.

But the number of women serving in Pierre peaked at 26 in the early 1990s. Today, the number of women legislators has fallen to just 18 out of 105 lawmakers. Since more than 50 percent of the state's population is female, it is alarming that just 17 percent of our legislators are women.

To help change that, more women need to be asked to run for office. Recruitment is key to getting women into public service in larger numbers. Too often, potential women candidates haven't been asked or encouraged to run. And women, it seems, need more of a 'push' from friends, family and mentors than men do to enter the political arena.

South Dakota women are already sitting on city councils, county commissions and school boards in more proportionate numbers. But when it comes to serving in our traditionally male-dominated state Legislature, they also need to hear the message "Yes, you can."

We realize that statewide elective office is stressful and demanding duty for men and women alike. For both sexes, the personal and financial costs of campaigning can make the price of public service too high. Then, if you're lucky enough to be elected, the hard work really begins.

Often, women with children and families at home can't see their way clear to making the sacrifices necessary to run for office, serve for two months in the citizen Legislature and also meet the demands of constituents year round.

That's unfortunate because those multi-tasking skills that make women good at juggling domestic and professional demands also make them good legislators.

We add our voice to what we hope will become a growing chorus encouraging more South Dakota women to seek legislative office. Eighteen of 105 is just not a number to be satisfied with.