AUGUSTA – It’s cliche to talk about “The Year of the Woman” in politics.

The phrase gets rolled out every time there’s a relatively large number of women elected to public office.

This year’s no exception in Maine.

After dropping to just 29 women in the House and 11 in the Senate after the elections in 2004, women posted big gains this year, claiming 45 House seats and 12 Senate seats. Of those, 40 are Democrats and 17 are Republicans.

The numbers, by themselves, don’t tell the entire story. In addition to strong numbers, women also hold key leadership positions in both chambers, and among Democrats and Republicans.

State Sen. Beth Edmonds is entering her second consecutive term as Senate president. Former Speaker of the House and state Sen. Elizabeth Mitchell is the incoming majority leader, and state Sen. Carol Weston will be the floor leader for Republicans.

In the House, state Rep. Hannah Pingree will be the majority leader.

Despite the success, women still account for less than a third of state lawmakers.

Following in the footsteps of powerful women in other states, a group of Democratic Maine women have formed a group with hope of increasing their own numbers.

Called Emerge Maine, the nonprofit organization formed this year to provide aspiring women politicians with campaign skills and leadership training. The group’s mission is to identify, educate and inspire Democratic women to become involved in politics.

“The goal is to create a pipeline and to get women running for the school board, the county commission and the Legislature,” said Pingree, who is among Emerge Maine’s founders. “We want to convince more women that they can run for office and expand the pool of women who are interested and capable.”

Pingree, along with state Rep. Emily Cain, who is also involved with Emerge Maine, also run a political action committee that supports Democratic women candidates.

The list of participants in Emerge Maine is a regular Who’s Who among Democratic women who are already successful politicians: Edmonds, state Sen. and Appropriations Chairwoman Peggy Rotundo, activist Jackie Potter, scientist and Board of Environmental Protection member Elizabeth Ehrenfeld and many others.

“Women aren’t necessarily conditioned as they grow up to consider themselves as elected officials,” Rotundo said Tuesday. “Traditionally, politics has been a lot more of a man’s world, and women have been more reluctant to throw their hat into the ring.”

Pingree, who’s mother, Chellie, had a successful career in state politics before losing a bid for the U.S. Senate, said that national studies show outreach is the key to recruiting women to run for office.

“Women, more often, need to be asked,” Pingree said.

Emerge Maine is currently accepting applications for its six-day training course, which begins Jan. 20, 2007, and continues once a month through June.

Tuition for the program is $250, and scholarships are available. The monthly classes, which will be held around the state, will focus on eight core areas: campaign strategy, fundraising, public speaking, field work, networking, endorsements, media relations and ethics in politics.

And, perhaps more importantly, it will give participants a chance to meet like-minded women.

“The support is very important. Role models are very important,” Rotundo said. “When you see someone who looks like you doing something you’re interested in, you can more easily see yourself doing it.”

Applications are due by Dec. 4 and are available online at www.emergeme.org.

The first Emerge organization was founded in California in 2002. It has since grown into a national organization with affiliates in Arizona, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico and Wisconsin.