Council Member Betsy Hodges today won the Minneapolis mayoral endorsement of womenwinning, an organization that promotes pro-choice female political candidates.

"The Minneapolis mayor is such a prominent position of power in this state, and we believe that it's good to have women in positions of power- it's our goal that the next mayor of Minneapolis is a woman," said executive director Lauren Beecham.

The last woman to serve as mayor was Sharon Sayles Belton, who lost reelection in 2001. A half-dozen people are campaigning to replace her successor, Mayor R. T. Rybak, who is stepping down at the end of the year. Former City Council president Jackie Cherryhomes is the only other female candidate.

The organization will host fundraisers for Hodges and offer advice and training.