From the Funhouse Commons
Why ask the candidates for county council about the CAO, or the role of the new county manager – when you ask them what kind of pizza they like? Or what’s their favorite song? Or can they get rid of homework? These could be the kind of questions asked by our at the Candidate’s Forum for Kids on January 28th at the Funhouse.
Kate Hansen, campaign manager for the Ayers campaign, and former business manager of the Funhouse came up with the inspired idea: an afternoon with candidates Greg Ayers, Lisa Byers, and Rick Hughes. All three campaigns jumped at the chance to have a Q&A with our island’s youngest constituents. And the Funhouse provides the perfect venue, “We thought this could be a fun, educational experience for the children in our after school program,” says Krista Bouchey, program director of The Funhouse Commons.
While the under-18 group can’t vote, any election offers excellent teaching moments: how elections work, what democracy means, the value of leadership. Engaging children in politics helps them understand the world and their place in it, and starts to shift their thinking from “me” to “we.” For the young people attending this event, this could be their first experience of meeting a candidate and tracking how that person becomes one of their representatives.
The event will be at the Funhouse, Monday January 28 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact Krista Bouchey at 376-7177.
Founded by generous members of the Orcas Island community in 2000, The Funhouse Commons is a 501(c)3 non- profit community center with hands-on science exhibits, multi-media labs, art studio, recording studio, climbing wall and much more. The Funhouse Commons also provides essential Teen, After School, Education and Mentor programs for the youth of Orcas Island. www.funhousecommons.org
This should be the most interesting candidate forum of the entire election and should be required of all elected officials. The kids in our community represent some of the most well informed and resonable thinkers we have and I expect that they will hit our candidates with questions and thoughts that the “jaded” electorate hasn’t even considered.