Background
Steelman, Sara Gerling was born on April 24, 1946 in Wichita, Kansas, United States. Daughter of Paul Henry and Amy (Gessner) Gerling.
Steelman, Sara Gerling was born on April 24, 1946 in Wichita, Kansas, United States. Daughter of Paul Henry and Amy (Gessner) Gerling.
She graduated with a degree in Zoology from the University of Chicago in 1967 and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in behavioural genetics from Stanford University in 1976.
Steelman is married to John Henry Steelman, a mathematics professor at Indiana University. She is a 1963 graduate of Southeast High Schoo in Wichita, Kansas. She was first elected to represent the 62nd legislative district in 1990, defeated Republican Paul Wass.
She was also a supporter of reform of house rules to provide more openness and more participation by rank and file legislators.
She proposed a keg registration law to combat underage drinking. She was defeated for re-election in 2002 by 24-year-old Republican Dave L. Reed.
Both candidates made improving the local economic climate part of their platforms. As a challenger, Reed raised $120,000 for the campaign and knocked on 11,000 doors in the district.
During the campaign, Steelman "erupted" on the district"s airwaves with taxpayer-funded "public service announcements" for the first time in a decade.
She then worked as director of the Indiana Arts Council</a>.
Co-chair committee women in politics Pittsburgh Institute Politics, 1993—2002. Board directors Adagio Health. Member of League of Women Voters, American Association of University Women (Notable Woman 1991), Common Cause, New Century Club (treasurer).
Married John Henry Steelman. 1 child Amy.