home news sports culture ideas up-to-date

You are viewing
Volume 38 Issue 9
February 13, 2001

To return to the current issue please click here.

Vote initiative seeks to curb youths’ apathy

BY JORDAN CURRIER
MESA LEGEND
Submitted February 13, 2001

MCC and KPHO-TV5 co-hosted a special forum on the future of voting in Arizona, Jan. 29, as part of a new initiative to encourage civic participation.

Kim Patterson/MESA LEGEND

MCCD Governing Board member Linda Rosenthal was in attendance at a Jan. 29 forum designed to encourage public debate.

The initiative was spearheaded by MCCD governing board member Linda Rosenthal, who was in attendance at the forum, the second in a series of community-based think groups that are targeting young voters.

The forum was held in the Kirk Center’s Navajo Room where students, faculty and members of the community discussed voting and election issues with panelists.

The forum was moderated by KPHO-TV5 news anchor Cary Pfeffer. Panelists were Arizona Secretary of State Betsey Bayless; Phoenix Sen. Chris Cummiskey and Mesa Sen. David Petersen, co-chairs of the legislative task force on elections; Jason Rose, political consultant and owner of Rose and Co. in Phoenix, and Christa Severns, political consultant and owner of GrossfeldSeverns Inc. in Tempe.

The forum was coordinated by Phil Gordon, Phoenix City Council member and Bernie Ronan, executive director for the Center for Public Policy and Service.

Scottsdale Community College film students also assisted in filming the forum for possible distribution to public access channels throughout the county.

According to Ronan, one of the major priorities for the forum was to encourage student voting.

"The more chances students have to talk about issues like voting, the more you’ll be inclined to vote because you understand the importance," Ronan said.

Panelists discussed what issues they believe are crucial concerning the electoral process in Arizona and the country, followed by a brief question-and-answer period with audience members.

Issues raised included electoral reform, the future of electronic and Internet voting, public financing of elections, as well as the turmoil in Florida during the last presidential election regarding punch ballots and accurate vote-counting.

Gordon believes discussion of electoral reform is important.

"There is some skepticism, legitimately, in terms of ‘does my vote count?’ I think what we want is a systemic change in the voting pattern, whether you’re a college student or a senior (citizen)," Gordon said.

Shane Tower, an MCC student, attended the forum and believes the involvement of 18 - to 21-year-old voters is vital.

"If we did all vote, it would make more of a difference, they would have to pay attention to what we want," he said.

"I always love talking about these issues because I feel so strongly about them," Secretary Bayless said. "I always benefit from listening to the opinions of other people."

Back to Top | Previous Page | Home