In addition, they say, appointive posts are a ladder to other political jobs.

To date, the representation of women in North Dakota's 1,000 appointive posts has grown from 25 percent to 30 percent, Ms. League said.

She may teach first or practice law and accept an appointive post in government, which is how her public career began.

Mr. Bush is a 41-year-old Miami developer whose only service in public office has been as Florida Commerce Secretary, an appointive post, in 1987-88.

He is still in New York and if Washington beckons, it will most likely be for an appointive post.

Like Mr. Hynes, he held a series of appointive posts, but he left government 13 years ago for private business and a law practice.

Several New York City mayors later received appointive posts.

But here is a politician who has never held elective office or an appointive political post.

Both had legislative experience, and both served in appointive posts.

Thus, Gordon plans to make the Ombudsman an elective post rather than an appointive post.