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Kids get to cast ballots for council races

A national program to educate children about voting comes to Citrus, offering a mock vote for the Inverness election.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published February 3, 2005

INVERNESS - People voting in this year's Inverness City Council election are likely to see some younger voters at the polls - including some who might still be learning the alphabet.

Citrus County students, from kindergarten to high school seniors, are encouraged to pick their favorite candidates for the City Council election and cast ballots.

The students' votes won't count toward the election totals, but that's not the point, according to officials at the Supervisor of Elections Office.

The point, they say, is to get kids excited about voting and to encourage students to learn about the candidates and the democratic process.

Also, perhaps students can encourage their parents to come vote, too, said Tammy Smith, who works at the elections office.

"It's a situation where the kids will come home and go with the parents voting," Smith said. "The trickle-up effect is when they come home and tell their parents they want to go vote."

Eleven students had participated in early voting by Tuesday evening, Smith said. Early voting is still ongoing, and Election Day for Inverness will be Tuesday, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The program is part of a regional educational campaign called Kids Voting Tampa Bay, a local part of a national organization called Kids Voting USA. This election is the first in which Citrus students can participate by voting in mock elections that parallel local elections, Smith said.

"The advantage is through the curriculum," Smith said. "The kids will gain civic lessons and confidence that their voice counts."

The St. Petersburg Times provided financial support to bring Kids Voting USA to the Tampa Bay area.

According to its Web site, Kids Voting USA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that teaches students about the democratic concepts, such as the importance of political participation.

The curriculum was endorsed by Citrus school superintendent Sandra "Sam" Himmel, said Inverness City Clerk Debbie Davis.

Students study the candidates before going to the polls for early voting or on Election Day.

Davis said she was impressed with the program and described the way teachers explain democratic ideals to students.

To have a say in classroom decisions, students must be aware of the consequences of all the options before making choices, she said. The same could be said for elections, she said. Voters must be informed about the candidates and their views in order to make a good decision, she said.

By teaching students about the importance of making informed decisions, both in the classroom and on Election Day, teachers can help encourage future generations to vote and to be aware of local politics, she said.

Although only Inverness voters may vote in the City Council election, the students' version is open to all, regardless where the students live or where they go to school, Smith said. Students who attend private schools or who are schooled at home are welcome, too.

Early voting is at the Supervisor of Elections office. Students who want to participate in early voting should come into the office in downtown Inverness. They should be accompanied by adults, who can provide the students assistance in casting their ballots, Smith said.

They each will receive a ballot and will vote in a separate voting booth than the registered voters, Smith said. Once the students mark their choices, the ballots will be inserted into a voting machine that is separate from the machine used for registered voters' ballots.

Both the ballots and the machine used are shaped differently from the registered voters' ballots and machines, so there will not be any confusion, Smith said.

Officials plan to expand the program for the 2006 election, Smith said.

Volunteers are still needed for to help with early voting for the Kids Voting Tampa Bay program. Volunteers will receive Kids Voting T-shirts. Anyone interested may contact Tammy Smith or Patrick Thomas at 341-6740.

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 860-7312 or vansickle@sptimes.com

THE JOB: City Council members serve four-year terms and are paid $350 per month. They also are eligible to receive health insurance and retirement benefits.

THE VOTING: Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Because of construction at City Hall, the polling place will be the First Baptist Church's Friendship Hall, 123 S Seminole Ave. Early voting (Monday through Saturday) is available through and including Monday at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Inverness.

THE CANDIDATES: Two races are on the ballot: City Council Seat 2 and Seat 4.

Candidates for Seat 2 are Marci A. Miller, 47, and Bill Sheen, 49.

Miller, an office manager at Citrus Anesthesia, said her priority, if elected, would be to keep Inverness affordable and to keep a close watch on managing growth. Sheen, a public relations specialist, said he would work with the county to provide better public transportation for residents and to work more closely with local education institutions.

Candidates for Seat 4 are incumbent Jacquie Hepfer, 53, and Sophie Diaz-Fonseca, 45.

Hepfer is the county's Teen Court services coordinator. She said that, if re-elected, she would continue with the city projects already in the works as well as build a skateboard park. Diaz-Fonseca said that, if elected, she would build better relations between local businesses and the City Council and improve water quality and infrastructure.

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 01:07:17]