First lady Jenny Sanford's new role in the governor's office makes her the most visible -- and, arguably, the most powerful -- woman in state government.

But, ladies, don't cheer yet. It's a classic case of "on the other hand..."

Yes, Jenny Sanford is helping fill in as chief of staff, the point person who helps decide what the governor will focus on and whom he will see.

But Gov. Mark Sanford:

• Eliminated funding in June for the only state agency that focused on women's issues, the S.C. Commission on Women. The commission continues to exist in name, but lost its two full-time staff positions and its $99,955 budget.

• Lost his highest-profile female lieutenant, former state Rep. Rita Allison, when she stepped down late last month. She was Sanford's education director but took another job with the S.C. Commission on Higher Education. She has not returned calls seeking comment on her new job or why she left Sanford's staff.

• Has four women and 16 men on his full-time, paid executive staff. The average salary among the men is $71,010. The average salary for the women is $59,751.

Overall, South Carolina continues to rank last in the nation in the rate of women in political office. The Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Women's Policy Research ranks S.C. 50th in office-holding and 46th overall in the status of women.

There are 14 women and 110 men in the S.C. House, and two women and 44 men in the S.C. Senate. There are no women in the congressional delegation, and Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum is the only woman elected to office statewide.

The General Assembly's Women's Caucus has gotten involved in some policy issues, including legislation on domestic violence and equal pay for equal work.

But the caucus has had only measured success, and has not sought a high profile. A newer group, the House Republican Women's Caucus, has been actively raising money and pursuing its own agenda.

A women's group called the S.C. B-List organized in 2001 as a nonpartisan political action committee. Their goal: Raise money for female candidates.

The group backed three women in last year's election. None won.

B-List director Kris Geddings has moved to Charlotte. The list's main activities this year have been clearing up outstanding debts and resolving disputed campaign filings with the state Ethics Commission.

The group has $10,288 left in its bank account. Geddings could not be reached for comment Friday.

Furman University's Riley Institute is organizing a seminar next month to draw attention to, and analysis of, the topic. The seminar is called "Women and Leadership: Transforming Public Leadership." Furman spokesman Vince Moore would not give any more details, but promised there would be "a lot of big names" involved.

Political scientist Laura Woliver says women and women's groups would be wise to join together, to advocate for more political power. Unless women participate, she said, issues such as health care and education will continue to get short shrift.

Woliver, associate director of the USC Women's Studies program, said a lot of powerful women's groups exist, from sorority alumni associations to church groups to party organizations.

"There's a lot of potential, but it's very diffuse," Woliver said. "That's why it would be good to have a coalition, because all the disparate people could get together to talk about women's issues."