DC Youth Vote for Fenty as Top Mayoral Candidate

DCPS High School Students Ask Tough Questions at Mayoral Candidate Forum

Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 18, 2006

On Tuesday, January 31, nearly 800 D.C. High School students attended a forum at the University of the District of Columbia to hear from five D.C. Mayoral candidates. D.C. Youth had the opportunity to ask the candidates tough questions in relation to their concerns regarding education, gun violence, deplorable conditions of public schools, jobs, baseball and then were able to cast a ballot for the candidate they felt best represented youth interests.

The youth overwhelmingly supported Candidate Adrian Fenty, currently Ward 4 Councilman. Mr. Fenty received 72% of the youth votes. Mr. Fenty was distantly followed by Linda Cropp, Chair of the DC City Council. Ms. Cropp received 15% of the youth vote. The remaining three candidates each received 7% or less of the youth vote.

When asked why they supported the candidate of their choice, the young people had a lot to say. Many of their questions to the candidates centered around public education, the condition of their schools, the availability of parks and recreation services, the prevalence of violence, and youth employment opportunities. According to the comments on one ballot, the young person supported Mr. Fenty because, “My candidate spoke about real stuff that will help me—like gang violence and safety”. Other students commented that Mr. Fenty “speaks the truth”; “is tired just like us about people making promises that they don’t keep”, “is stylish and gets right to the point”; “is in tune with what needs to be done”.

The Forum was sponsored by ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together), Inc, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the DC Department of Health, and broadcast live by WPFW Radio. The Mock Election was administered and managed by the Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition. Students came from all across the city and represented Ballou, Anacostia, Dunbar, Coolidge, Cardozo, Wilson, Woodson, Banneker and Eastern High Schools.

It is important to note that while Mr. Fenty won the overwhelming majority of votes, one in four of the young people who were at the forum opted not to vote and turned in a blank ballot. This is significant, because it may indicate that there are many issues related to young people that went unaddressed by the candidates.

ROOT, Inc. is a non-profit organization in the Washington, D.C. area that advocates and intervenes on behalf homicide victims and their families. ROOT motivates and mobilizes communities to take a proactive approach to reducing homicides and the gun violence occurring in cities

Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition is a multigenerational group of youth, parents, teachers, advocates, and community members who are working to build a more a fair and effective youth justice system in the District. Citing the variety of shortcomings in the District’s juvenile system, from over-representation of poor youth of color to substandard and dangerous facilities, the Coalition has spent the past four years calling for comprehensive reforms in juvenile justice policy.

For additional information, contact the Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition at: 202-588-9300 or ROOT at 202-332-7668.

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