Young Democrats attend local party HQ opening

With the election less then two months away, the time is right for campaigning. And the Young Democrats are doing just that.

The organization attended the opening of the Cabell County Democratic Head-quarters Sept. 13. Signs for Democratic candidates from the city council to the House of Delegates and even Al Gore were posted on the walls.

"One major goal of our organization is to get students involved with campaigns," Young Democrats President Nate Kuratomi said. "West Virginia is an important state for Al Gore to win, so the organization plans to do everything we can to make it happen."

Education, taxes, and Social Security were some of the issues discussed. The opening provided the organization to see firsthand how local citizens campaign.

"We are affected daily by politics," Michael Safcsak, Wheeling freshman, said.

"Job creation and funding for education are just a couple of important issues. Politics not only affects the present but also the future," he said.

And most politicians agree Marshall students are a part of that future. Class will be in session on election day, but many individuals will still vote.

"I'm really interested in the upcoming election," Joab Dellinger, Pekin, Ill. junior said. "The Democrats have a lot of great candidates, such as David Felinton, who will really work for Marshall students."

Many candidates want to recruit students to help on campaigns.

There are still the annual buttons, pens and bumper stickers that need to be handed out to interested individuals.

"Students need to become involved with campaigning," Kuratomi said.

"A woman's right to choose, minimum wage benefits, and student loans would not have been possible if it wasn't for the democrats. And these issues need to be protected."

"Working voters' registration tables, campaigning door-to-door and passing out literature to citizens are all in the plan for the semester," Kuratomi said. "Young Democrats is also planning many upcoming events ... for campus." Young Democrats meet every Wednesday in Memorial Student Center, 2E10, at 9:15 p.m.

Election Day is Nov. 7 and citizens are required to register by Oct.10 before voting in the election.