Though college students generally comprise one of the more apathetic voting blocs, members of Bruin Democrats hope to increase student activism in the March city elections by throwing their support to a variety of candidates.
Bruin Democrats endorsed Paul Koretz for member of Los Angeles City Council District 5, Steve Zimmer for member of the Board of Education, District 4 and Jack Weiss for city attorney. The club also endorsed Measure B, the Solar Energy and Job Creation Program, which would increase the production and use of solar energy in Los Angeles.
Flavia de la Fuente, issues director for Bruin Democrats, said the club voted on its decisions after the candidates or members of the campaign spoke at club meetings.
Club members can involve themselves in the campaign of their choice, de la Fuente said. She added that members of Bruin Democrats will do so by attending training and campaign meetings, precinct-walking, distributing voter guides and gathering student pledges.
“We are also trying to approach different student groups that place an effort on tutoring or social justice to get their support,” said Sonya Mehta, events director of Bruin Democrats.
Though less than a month remains before the March 3 election, students are beginning to amp up their effort in the various campaigns.
“We’re just getting started, but based on the amount of people working on the campaigns and expressing interest in working on the campaigns, I think we will do well,” de la Fuente said.
Matt Stevens, a first-year political science student who works with Koretz’s campaign to generate support among UCLA students, said student involvement in the local elections is important because the local government has the most control over issues students deal with daily, such as housing and parking.
Koretz was a student at UCLA and one of the founders of Bruin Democrats, Stevens said. He added that Koretz feels strongly about issues that relate to students, such as public transportation and homeowner-student relations.
“He knows the importance of students to the community and wants them to have a voice,” Stevens said.
Mehta said she thinks the school board election is especially critical.
“A strong education is the root of a successful community,” she added. “Right now, there is not a single teacher or activist on the school board. Steve Zimmer is both.”
De la Fuente said the club decided to endorse Steve Zimmer because of his “phenomenal experience and outstanding progressive record.”
Mehta said her biggest goal is to help increase the amount of power students have in this local election.
She added that Bruin Democrats is working to retain the student activist energy gathered during Obama’s campaign.
“We just need to re-harness the energy (from Obama’s campaign) and channel it in a new direction,” Mehta said. “We have a responsibility to implement the ideas of service, social justice and progressive politics at the local level.”
Many of the members of Bruin Democrats share Mehta’s desire to maintain the levels of student engagement and activism achieved throughout Obama’s campaign.
Kyla Coates, a second-year political science student, said, “Obama was just the beginning. We’ve worked to bring about change nationally and now it’s time to bring about change locally.”