Hopefuls woo young voters
Students ask the questions at candidate debate
Hannah Repplinger won’t be old enough to vote on Nov. 6, but she still wanted to learn about Democrat Drew Edmondson and Republican Kevin Stitt, two candidates for Oklahoma governor.
“I’m going to be honest, I’m not really into politics, but I was really intrigued with everything (from Edmondson),” said Repplinger, 17, a senior at Edmond Memorial High School, who attended a Thursday debate hosted entirely by teenagers, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.
“He was also so cute.” Looks aside, Repplinger said she was interested in hearing the candidates talk about their plans for improving the state’s education system and teacher compensation.
“All my teachers do not get paid enough,” Repplinger said. “For extra credit our teachers have us bring school supplies because they can’t afford it on their own and that’s a huge problem.”
Madison Stephens, 16, said she was impressed by Stitt’s business experience and believed it would be beneficial in the governor’s office, especially in ensuring her classmates have job opportunities when they graduate.
“I liked how (Stitt) plans to recruit good people around him and more businesses to Oklahoma,” said Stephens, who is a student at Weatherford High School.
The debate was hosted by the nonprofit From Now On, which was recently launched by Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.
Thursday’s debate, which was held at Oklahoma City Community College, was the nonprofit’s first organized event with the goal of getting more high school students involved in politics and registered to vote when they turn 18.
Three high school students served as moderators, asking each candidate about education, health care, the economy and several other topics. Each question was written by a student.
When asked how they would improve the state’s high school graduation rate, Stitt said he wanted to add more career-training courses in high school so some students can graduate ready to enter the workforce.
Edmondson said he would focus on increasing school funding so that recently cut courses could be brought back.
“We need to make school more interesting,” Edmondson said.
On Oklahoma’s nation-leading incarceration rate, Edmondson told students he wanted to expand drug, alcohol and mental health treatment programs.
“We need to treat, we need to take care of the problems before they manifest into a prison term,” Edmondson said.
Stitt said other states offered examples of successful programs.
“We have to start thinking about rehabilitation,” said Stitt, pointing to a program in Texas that works with soon-to-be-released inmates to help them learn job skills or start a business.
The candidates also spoke a lot about creating a better future for the next generation of Oklahomans and making the state a place students will want to remain.
“I have actually lived the American Dream ... and I want that for you,” Stitt said. “I want you guys to have a wonderful career and future. I’m going to be fighting for you each and every day.”
Edmondson said he wanted to ensure students have options after high school, which he said starts with a well-funded education system.
“I think we ought to make sure that all of our students have as much opportunity as possible to make all that they can of their lives and their future,” Edmondson said.
When asked about the state’s new medical marijuana law, both candidates said they would enforce the law and work to keep the drug out of the hands of students.
“I’d like to educate students that this is a serious drug, it’s not something to play with,” Stitt said. “I will keep it out of the hands of young people ... make sure you guys know it’s not something to mess around with.”
Some of the students who attended will be old enough to vote next month, but even those who won’t said the debate was a good chance to learn more about the political process.
“It gives students a chance to be more involved in the election and know more about it,” said Avery Rose, 17, a student at Edmond Memorial High School. “We see a lot of stuff on social media, but this really gives you a chance to listen.”
Dylan Youngblood, who is also a student at Edmond Memorial, said the debate forced the candidates to consider the governor’s impact on students.
“The best part was the two candidates got to relate to us students, which is not always what they do,” Youngblood, 17, said. “A lot of the time they get to relate to adults.”