Tradition of Meet the Candidates night continues
A Central Davis Junior High student introduces a candidate during the evening event.
With the election coming up, Colt, an eighth-grade student at Central Davis Junior High School, knew it would be the ideal time to enroll in a civics government class.
“I wanted to know more about the candidates and what they are going to do, because I didn’t know a lot,” Colt said.
Colt was preparing for what has become a mainstay in the world of local and state government and politics — a Meet The Candidate night at the school.
The event is a tradition that has been ongoing for more than 15 years and is led entirely by civics government class students.
The event features candidates for congress, governor, attorney general, state auditor, state treasurer and the Board of Education of the Davis School District.
Central Davis Junior High Civics Teacher Merrill Johnson, who helps the students plan the event, said
“It’s a great experience for them to step out of their comfort zones and to do things they didn’t think they were capable of doing.”
Leading up to the event, students learn about government and discuss their responsibilities as citizens as part of the event planning. During the evening students introduce each candidate. The candidates are then given time for a two-minute speech and a one-minute rebuttal opportunity.
“It’s a great way for them to see how they can make a difference,” Johnson said, “even though they don’t have the right to vote, to see that they can influence elections and help people vote. This also gives students the chance to see if that is a path they want to follow and run for office and see the process they have to go through to get there. I see this as an opportunity for them to grow in many ways.”
Ninth-grade student Anastasia has taken the class two years in a row because she enjoys participating in politics.
“What I’ve learned with this event is that you can get to know your candidates and what they want to do for your community,” Anastasia said. “Students are the future and if someone wants to be a candidate, this way they can be informed with politics.”