AUBURN - It was a political debate different from all the rest.
Auburn mayoral candidates Timothy Lattimore, Michael Quill and David Dempsey stood in front of an assembly of some 40 Tyburn Academy of Mary Immaculate students Friday and offered them a window into the political process.
They answered questions from several students from what they plan to do to about the deterioration of Auburn's parks and playgrounds to how they would protect and preserve city roads.
And while they delivered points off their political platforms, what they really did was show students, most of whom are not yet old enough to vote, what it is like to be involved in the political process and how they too can make a difference by choosing their government leaders.
“They are the future of our community,” Quill said. “This exposes them to something different. ... It just opens another door for them.”
The journalism and public speaking classes at Tyburn organized the second annual Meet the Candidates forum, giving students a chance to question the candidates, learn what it takes to put on such an event and give them exposure to professional public speakers, said journalism teacher Bob Naas. Other students gained a unique insight into politics and learned the benefits of debate and discussion, he said.
“The reason I'm in this political race is to give the next
generation better than I had,” Lattimore said. “You can go to other places for college, but come back home. They are our resource and we have to get them back somehow.”
For Dempsey, it was a chance to give the students a glimpse of public service first-hand.
“It's very important that we speak to the youth of the community to let them know where we stand on the issues and who our leaders are,” Dempsey said. “We need to help them understand public service.”
The forum came about after Tyburn students met District Attorney James Vargason at the Fall Garden Party fundraiser last year when Vargason was running against Thomas Leone for Cayuga County Court Judge, Naas said.
“We thought, ‘Wouldn't it be nice to do a press conference with people running for public office,'” Naas said.
At that time, they invited Vargason and Leone to the school to discuss the issues. The journalism and public speaking students decided to organize the forum again this year. Naas said they worked strenuously to get the forum set up, find a time that was suitable for all three candidates and their schedules, buy refreshments and find a greeter.
“Students see some of the issues facing the city and they make us aware of why we really need to work together to solve the problems,” said principal Jeanne Hogan.
And that is exactly what the forum accomplished. TJ Dygert, 18, of Auburn, intends to hand in his ballot on Tuesday. But it still educated the younger students who do not yet have that right.
“Even though they are not old enough to make a difference,” he said, “they still need to know what's going on.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
They answered questions from several students from what they plan to do to about the deterioration of Auburn's parks and playgrounds to how they would protect and preserve city roads.
And while they delivered points off their political platforms, what they really did was show students, most of whom are not yet old enough to vote, what it is like to be involved in the political process and how they too can make a difference by choosing their government leaders.
“They are the future of our community,” Quill said. “This exposes them to something different. ... It just opens another door for them.”
The journalism and public speaking classes at Tyburn organized the second annual Meet the Candidates forum, giving students a chance to question the candidates, learn what it takes to put on such an event and give them exposure to professional public speakers, said journalism teacher Bob Naas. Other students gained a unique insight into politics and learned the benefits of debate and discussion, he said.
“The reason I'm in this political race is to give the next
generation better than I had,” Lattimore said. “You can go to other places for college, but come back home. They are our resource and we have to get them back somehow.”
For Dempsey, it was a chance to give the students a glimpse of public service first-hand.
“It's very important that we speak to the youth of the community to let them know where we stand on the issues and who our leaders are,” Dempsey said. “We need to help them understand public service.”
The forum came about after Tyburn students met District Attorney James Vargason at the Fall Garden Party fundraiser last year when Vargason was running against Thomas Leone for Cayuga County Court Judge, Naas said.
“We thought, ‘Wouldn't it be nice to do a press conference with people running for public office,'” Naas said.
At that time, they invited Vargason and Leone to the school to discuss the issues. The journalism and public speaking students decided to organize the forum again this year. Naas said they worked strenuously to get the forum set up, find a time that was suitable for all three candidates and their schedules, buy refreshments and find a greeter.
“Students see some of the issues facing the city and they make us aware of why we really need to work together to solve the problems,” said principal Jeanne Hogan.
And that is exactly what the forum accomplished. TJ Dygert, 18, of Auburn, intends to hand in his ballot on Tuesday. But it still educated the younger students who do not yet have that right.
“Even though they are not old enough to make a difference,” he said, “they still need to know what's going on.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at alyssa.sunkin@lee.net or 253-5311 ext. 239
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