, ▁the ▁Indiana ▁Division ▁of ▁the ▁Federal ▁Writ ers ▁Project , ▁and ▁an ▁appointment ▁to ▁the ▁Governor ' s ▁Saf ety ▁Council ▁under ▁the ▁Mc N utt ▁administration . ▁ ▁Polit ician ▁Bal z ' s ▁political ▁activities ▁began ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 3 0 s ▁after ▁she ▁suggested ▁establish ing ▁a ▁New ▁Harm ony ▁Memorial ▁the ▁preserve ▁the ▁historic ▁community ▁of ▁New ▁Harm ony , ▁Indiana . ▁Governor ▁M . ▁Cl iff ord ▁Town send ▁appointed ▁Bal z ▁to ▁the ▁New ▁Harm ony ▁Memorial ▁Commission , ▁where ▁she ▁served ▁as ▁its ▁president ▁from ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁to ▁ 1 9 4 7 . ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁Bal z ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁woman ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁Indiana ▁Senate , ▁where ▁she ▁served ▁two ▁consecutive ▁four - year ▁terms ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 5 0 ▁representing ▁Johnson ▁and ▁Mar ion ▁Count ies . ▁Bal z ▁served ▁on ▁the ▁Committee ▁on ▁B ene vol ent ▁Institution s ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁session ▁of ▁the ▁Indiana ▁General ▁Assembly , ▁she ▁cha ired ▁the ▁Senate ▁Committee ▁on ▁Public ▁Health . ▁As ▁a ▁women ' s ▁rights ▁advoc ate , ▁Bal z ▁supported ▁reg ulation ▁of ▁women ' s ▁working ▁hours ▁and ▁w ages . ▁Her ▁other ▁legisl ative ▁interests ▁included ▁lic ens ing ▁n urs ing ▁home ▁care , ▁efforts ▁to ▁improve ▁school ▁attend ance , ▁and ▁establish ing ▁a ▁mer it ▁system ▁for ▁state ▁employees .