THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2009
NEWS 5A
ELECTION
Candidate ran hoping to inspire younger lawrencians
Low turnout of college-age and young professional residents a staple of city elections
BY MIKE BONTRAGER mbontrager@kansan.com
Tom Johnson, 2005 graduate and general manager for KJHK, was one of eight candidates running for city commission. Johnson ran in order to represent younger people he saw as underrepresented.
Ryan Lawler, Bolingbrook, Ill., senior and community affairs director for the Student Legislative Awareness Board, said most of the candidates for city commission had not expected a large response from the student body.
"As a whole, we're not expecting too much from students," Lawler said. "It's that time of year — finals and projects are on the forefront of students' minds."
But some KU alumni said they thought student involvement in city elections was important because their input could improve Lawrence, city commissioners decide on issues such as safe housing and the availability of jobs.
Johnson said he decided to run because of a lack of involvement from the younger generation in Lawrence politics.
"It's an extremely important set of responsibilities that it's given to our city commissioners," Johnson said. "It's literally five people who vote on the future of the town that you live in."
"I think that there are not enough young professionals taking an active role in city affairs." Johnson said. "I'd like to encourage earlier civic involvement from students, newly graduated professionals and the younger generation in general"
Johnson said that his time at the University had influenced his campaign and that the city shouldn't take the University and students for granted.
"The city should create policies that work for KU and respect its students and the benefits they bring the town," Johnson said.
Instead of investing in advertisements to get his name
NATIONAL Vermont is fourth state to approve same-sex marriage
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont, which invented civil unions, on Tuesday became a pioneer again as the first state to legalize gay marriage through a legislature's vote, suggesting growing popular acceptance of the idea.
The House barely achieved the votes necessary to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to marry beginning September 1. Four states now have same-sex marriage laws and other states soon could follow suit.
Bills to allow same-sex marriage are currently before lawmakers in New Hampshire, Maine, New York and New Jersey. The three other states that currently allow same-sex marriage — Connecticut, Massachusetts and Iowa — each moved to do so through the courts, not legislatures.
"For a popularly elected legislature to make this decision is a much more democratic process," because lawmakers have to answer to the voters every other November, said Eric Davis, a retired Middlebury College political science professor.
Courts typically deal with arcane points of constitutional law. While legislatures debate some of the same principles, the process may become much more personal. In Vermont, some of the most gripping debate came when gay and lesbian lawmakers took to the House floor last Thursday and told their own personal love stories.
Getting gay marriage approved in a political, rather than purely legal, forum is a big step, said Boston University law professor Linda McLain, an expert on family law and policy.
"What may give courage to other legislatures is that this legislature managed to do it," she said.
She added that using the civil rights language of equality — the measure in Vermont was dubbed the marriage equality bill — could help make gay marriage more acceptable elsewhere.
Associated Press
recognized across town, Johnson ran as a one-man band, relying on word of mouth and online activity to promote his campaign. Johnson pledged to spend less than $500 on his campaign because he thought candidates raising thousands of dollars to promote themselves was selfish during an economic crunch.
Jacob Beaumont, May 2008 graduate, helped with candidate Aron Cromwell's campaign and said that in order for young people to have their voices heard, they needed to be involved in city politics and elections.
"Citizens are closest to their government at the city level," Beaumont said. "It is hard for us, as individuals, to influence a decision that the president makes, but reaching out to your city commissioners is incredibly easy."
Johnson said the outcome of the election wasn't as important as representing those who needed a voice in the city. Johnson finished last among the candidates.
"Whether I win or lose," Johnson said. "I've had a great opportunity to be a voice for under-represented individuals in our community and I think I made the most of it."
Edited by Chris Hickerson
Karan Wycoff casts her vote into the machine as Glennet Corel, supervising judge, watches at Checkers Foods, the 29th precinct polling station on Tuesday night. Corel has worked at the polls for many years. Voter turnout this year was about 14 percent.
Tyler Waugh/KANSAN
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