Women politicians in New Jersey on Thursday were reveling in the knowledge that California Democrat Nancy Pelosi is set to become the first female speaker of the House, and said they were optimistic that her rise to power would propel more women to seek office.

"It's great for women, and there is no question about it," said former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. "While people may disagree with her politics, this shows that women can [rise] to leadership and be respected in their parties. We hope that she will do us proud."

The Democrats' sweep in the House of Representatives elections this week means that Pelosi is poised to achieve the highest-ranking political position a woman has ever held in the United States . If chosen speaker by her party as expected, she will take the gavel in January from Dennis Hastert, a Republican congressman from Illinois who has served four terms in the position.

As speaker, Pelosi, 66, would be the second in line, behind the vice president, to succeed to the presidency if George W. Bush became unable to finish his term.

"We just shattered the glass ceiling in Washington , D.C. ," said Democratic Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle. "This just raises the level of women in power and brings us to a new level."

Former GOP Rep. Marge Roukema said she would have preferred a Republican to be the first woman speaker, but hailed the milestone. She said that when she was continually reelected to Congress in the 1980s and '90s, it was considered an unusual accomplishment for a woman by some of her colleagues. She said Pelosi's ascension shows that women are gaining an equal footing in politics.

"It establishes us as high-priority candidates," said Roukema, who served from 1981 to 2003 in the 5th District. "They won't look at us as male candidates or women candidates, but look at us as candidates."

Passaic County Freeholder Sonia Rosado agreed, saying that although the landmark should be celebrated, she said she looks forward to the day when gender and a person's ethnic and cultural background no longer make news.

"I hope that it just becomes another American running for office," said Rosado, a Democrat and the first Latina to serve on the county board. "It's wonderful that she is a woman and is going to make history, but more important is that she is qualified ... and is being seen as equal and capable and able to serve the public in a responsible way."

Others said Pelosi's rise to such an important position makes them believe that it's just a matter of time before the nation has its first woman president.

"With her taking on a leadership role it's a gateway," said Elease Evans, a Democrat who is director of the Passaic County Freeholder Board. "As a female, there is always hope that one day, one of us will sit as the president of these United States ."

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, said that she wrote a letter to Pelosi when she made political history in 2003 by being sworn in as the first female minority leader of the House. She said Pelosi has set a good example for generations to come.

"It convinces our daughters and granddaughters that we are sharing power and that they can aspire to all levels of whatever their choices are," she said. "My granddaughter will hopefully grow up in a world where she doesn't see limitations for women just because they are a woman."

Weinberg said she also hopes that Pelosi will influence women in the Garden State to run for elected positions. New Jersey ranks 31st among the 50 states in the percentage of women in the state Legislature, according to the Center for American Women in Politics at Rutgers University .

"With all due respect to our current leadership, I hope to see a woman as speaker of the Assembly or president of the Senate right here in New Jersey in the near future," Weinberg said.

North Jersey woman officials also talked about Pelosi's policies, saying that they look forward to seeing her work cooperatively with Bush to improve America .

"I'm proud that she is a progressive," said Joanne Atlas, Democratic mayor of Ringwood. "It shows that Americans' minds might be expanding."

Whitman, a Republican and the first and only woman to serve as governor in New Jersey, said she gives Pelosi much credit for succeeding in what she called the "roughest and harshest" of politics.

"She got where she is because she is capable and she has represented her district the way they wanted to be represented," she said.

But River Edge Mayor Margaret Watkins, a Republican, said having Pelosi in the high-ranking position is a bad move.

"It has nothing to do with her being a woman," Watkins said. "I just don't like her politics, and I think it's really going to be a loss for our country."

Some said that they admire the way Pelosi, a mother and grandmother of five, has balanced her public responsibilities with her personal ones.

"I identify with her a great deal," said Bernadette McPherson, Democratic chairwoman of the Bergen County Freeholder Board and Rutherford mayor. "To see someone like [presumed] Speaker Pelosi who combines all things that are important to us, like balancing family and public service, filling such an important role, it's wonderful."

Pelosi, who has represented California 's 8th District since 1987, is expected to be sworn in as speaker in January.