Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510270011
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Otey got to quiz the candidates at the first election forum he's ever attended. He was a member of a student panel that questioned the candidates at a forum attended by 250 Roanoke Valley high school students. Audience members also were allowed to quiz candidates.
Otey, a William Fleming High School senior, enjoyed asking questions, but he was a little frustrated because some candidates did not answer them directly.
He is too young to vote this year, but he is looking forward to casting his first ballot next year in the presidential election.
The forum was part of a Cox Communications election project at William Fleming and Cave Spring high schools to give students experience with the electoral process.
During the past month, students in government classes at the two schools have learned how to register to vote, discussed the importance of voting and reviewed political issues.
They conducted the forum and held a mock election in the races for the House of Delegates and state Senate.
Students have recorded the election project with video cameras that were provided by Cox Communications. The cable television company also trained the students to use the cameras and provided public access training.
Each school has produced a 30-minute documentary video on each aspect of the project. The videos will be aired on WCOX-Channel 9 during the second week in November. The schools will get to keep the cameras.
Sharron Davies, community relations and education manager for Cox, said the company wanted to offer practical learning experience for the students.
Davies said that the results of the mock election will not be released until Nov. 8 because project leaders did not want the student results to impact the real election.
The forum also was taped and is being televised nightly this week on Channel 9.
Most questions focused on issues that have surfaced during the General Assembly campaign - education, prisons, welfare reform, lottery profits, business and occupational license tax and abortion.
But there were also questions on other issues such as legalization of marijuana and distribution of condoms in schools.
Roanoke Vice Mayor John Edwards, a Democrat who is running against state Sen. Brandon Bell, said he opposes the legalization of marijuana.
"I think that would create more problems than it would solve," Edwards said.
Bell, a Republican, has been criticized by Edwards for his support of charter schools and other stands on education. But Bell defended his record, saying he considers education to be extremely important.
Bell told students that because both his father and mother are teachers, he always has been interested in improving education.
The Democratic and Republican candidates were questioned separately during the forum at the Holiday Inn Tanglewood.
Davies said candidates were grouped by political parties rather than election contests so students would be able to get the clearest picture of the difference between the parties.
Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, said the students were more enthusiastic than the typical forum gathering.
"I haven't seen this much energy in a room in a long time," Cranwell told the students.
Republican Trixie Averill, who is challenging Cranwell, said the state needs "average, real people" in the General Assembly, not career politicians.
Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, told students that the state needs to invest in education, not in overbuilding prisons.
"What we do in public education and higher education today affects what happens tomorrow," Woodrum said.
Newell Falkinburg, Woodrum's Republican opponent, said he sees major problems in education, economic development and welfare.
He said money for schools often doesn't find its way into classrooms.
Many students seemed impressed with the candidates.
Brad Weaver, a Cave Spring High senior, said he was glad that several candidates discussed education.
"I agree with some candidates that the state needs to spend more on higher education," said Weaver, who hopes to attend the University of Virginia.
Heather Proffitt, a Cave Spring senior, said she was impressed with several candidates, especially Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, who is unopposed.
"It was interesting to hear both the Democrats and Republicans. Both parties have good points," Proffitt said.
Kia Freeman, a sophomore at William Fleming, said the candidates seemed to handle themselves well.
But Stephanie Lee, a Cave Spring senior, said she believed a few sidestepped some questions. Still, she said Cranwell was persuasive on some issues.
Theresa Mai, a William Fleming senior, had a special interest in Jeff Artis, a Republican who is challenging Del. Vic Thomas, a Democrat, because she is a volunteer worker in Artis' campaign.
Mai, who wants to become a doctor, said she found the discussion about the high cost of college tuition to be enlightening.
"The news media can't report everything, but here at the forum you can hear the complete answer to questions," she said.
Artis told the students that the Democratic candidates have talked a lot about their support for education during the campaign. But Artis told students that if they check the state's history, they will find that Democrats have not always backed schools.
Thomas defended his party's record on education, saying that Democrats approved legislation to provide $147 million in the next two years for educational technology and disparity funding.
Davies said Cox hopes the election project will help create more interest in politics among students. Voter turnout, in general and specifically by youth, has been declining steadily over the past 12 years. In the 1988 presidential election, fewer than 34 percent of those ages 18 to 34 voted.
Weaver said he believed the election project and forum had helped spark enthusiasm among students. "I have found it interesting, and I believe students are paying more attention to the campaign now."
by CNB