For the gubernatorial election, LMS sets a statewide trend

The seventh- and eighth-graders chose U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) over West Windsor businessman Doug Forrester during a mock election at the school Nov. 2-3.

By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Lawrence Middle School students must know which way the political wind blows, because they came out in favor of electing U.S. Senator Jon Corzine to be the state’s next governor.
   In a mock election Nov. 2-3, the 7th- and 8th-graders favored Sen. Corzine, a Democrat, over Republican businessman Douglas Forrester for the state’s top elected post. Sen. Corzine earned 283 votes from the students and Mr. Forrester received 173 votes.
   Also on the ballot were Jeffrey Pawlowski of the Libertarian Party and Hector L. Castillo, who ran on the Education not Corruption ticket. They received 33 votes and 59 votes, respectively, from the middle school students who cast their ballots online at the school library.
   Jocelyn Rock, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, said she voted for Mr. Forrester because he is a Republican and she had watched some of his campaign commercials on television.
   "His name sounded most familiar," Jocelyn said. "I’m more familiar with Republicans. Most of the people my mom votes for are Republicans. I’m interested in politics somewhat. Mr. Forrester will do a better job, I think."
   Sen. Corzine was the candidate of choice for 14-year-old Cathy Yeager — partially because her family favors Democrats. She said she was leaning toward Sen. Corzine because she does not like what Mr. Forrester is doing and the way he campaigned, such as bringing in Vice President Dick Cheney.
   Posters touting the mock election lined the hallway outside the middle school’s library. The Corzine and Forrester campaigns donated signs, while other signs were hand-made by students. Each student had to fill out a voter registration form to be eligible to vote.
   The mock election stemmed from a suggestion by technology resource teacher Kristen Schwartz, who had observed a similar mock election last year at the Lawrence Intermediate School, said LMS librarian Eileen Cramer, who coordinated last week’s event.
   Ms. Cramer was pleased with mock election, adding that "it added some excitement" to the students’ day. The school’s 7th-graders voted Nov. 2 and the 8th-graders voted Thursday.
   "To me, when a child sees an election poster on the wall (at school), it fosters dialogue at home," Ms. Cramer said. "The student can ask, ‘How do you feel about the election?’"
   In general, elections do not receive the voter turnout that they deserve, she said. Holding a mock election at school is one way to encourage increased voter turnout as children discuss it at home, she said.
   "It bothers me to see a small voter turnout," Ms. Cramer said. "I feel like anything we can do to encourage people to take part in the democratic process is good."