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A student on city council?
Students could be a formidable presence in Kent if mobilized
Jenna Staul
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
It's been nearly two decades since a Kent State student served on Kent City Council. If you ask Ward 4 councilman John Kuhar, there's good reason for that.
"I think students are so wrapped up in day-to-day things and what they came here for - to get their diploma - that they don't really have time for something like city council," Kuhar said. "And I don't know that it should be a priority for them. Council and local government can be pretty demanding."
In a city of nearly 28,000 residents, Kent State's 22,000 students could become a formidable presence in city government, said at-large councilman Rick Hawksley, if only they were mobilized.
"Students could own the council if they really wanted to," said Hawksley, who is currently the Democratic candidate for mayor. "But the key would be to register students. You would have to start (campaigning) early and register students."
The last Kent State student to serve as a councilman was John Thomas in 1991, Ward 3 Councilman Wayne Wilson said. Last year, Kent State graduate student Doron Kutash unsuccessfully sought a vacated seat on the council after at-large councilman William Schultz died.
| City Council Qualifications: &bull The deadline to file for an at-large position on council is 4 p.m. May 4 at the Portage County Board of Elections in Ravenna. &bull Candidates can only file as an independent at this time. The deadline to file as a Democrat or Republican has passed. &bull Candidates must gather a minimum of 68 signatures from Kent residents on a petition submitted by the deadline. &bull Candidates are required to be registered to vote in Kent and must have an address in the community. There is no established length of time that a candidate must live in the city. |
"I think students are so wrapped up in day-to-day things and what they came here for - to get their diploma - that they don't really have time for something like city council," Kuhar said. "And I don't know that it should be a priority for them. Council and local government can be pretty demanding."
In a city of nearly 28,000 residents, Kent State's 22,000 students could become a formidable presence in city government, said at-large councilman Rick Hawksley, if only they were mobilized.
"Students could own the council if they really wanted to," said Hawksley, who is currently the Democratic candidate for mayor. "But the key would be to register students. You would have to start (campaigning) early and register students."
The last Kent State student to serve as a councilman was John Thomas in 1991, Ward 3 Councilman Wayne Wilson said. Last year, Kent State graduate student Doron Kutash unsuccessfully sought a vacated seat on the council after at-large councilman William Schultz died.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Mary Jo
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:30 AM EST
I think this would be a better than books experience, if a political science major or similar type major would try to take this job on. I would think that KSU would somehow encourage this type of experience and maybe allow it to be used as credits or something toward their degree. (Continued…)
Vaughn
posted 4/15/09 @ 1:03 PM EST
I think you need to also mention that a student can also run as a minor party candidate. The current minor parties in Ohio are: Green Party, Socialist Party, Libertarian Party, and Constitution Party. (Continued…)
Robin Anderson
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:53 PM EST
Aw...gawd! What a bunch of "young-skulls-full-of-mush", eh?
All while the students of K.S.U. and/or their guardians, those paying not only Ohio State Income Tax dollars but TUITION to attend K. (Continued…)
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