First hand experience with government and the political debating process is what David Yaney, president of the Ontario Growth Association, believes Ontario high school government teacher Tyler Coley’s class will take home Thursday night.
The Ontario High School Government class will participate in the Ontario Candidates Night on October 10 in the Ontario Middle School Auditorium. Hosted by the Ontario Growth Association, the event is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. with Pizza Hut providing food prior to the debate at 5:30 p.m.
The role of the students in the event is to develop and pose questions to the candidates to create an interesting, informative political debate.
The high school government class participated two years ago and according to Yaney the only changes made this year will be that the students are given a guideline to follow regarding the questions. With a time slot capped at fifteen minutes per candidate the students have been instructed to refrain from personal questions. Yaney believes that keeping questions brief and geared toward the candidates views of the city and how they plan to assist the city in regards to economic growth will spark productive conversation.
Yaney state,”The last event went well, it attracted people from the city to be involved and to get a good feel for the candidates and what they are about.”
The list of invited candidates and the positions they are seeking include; Roger Heston,Council at large; Eddie Gallo, Council at large; Leo Hess, Council at large; Larry Arnold, Council at large; Nate Sunderland, Council at large; Dave Metzger, mayor candidate and Randy Hutchinson, mayor candidate.
The event is open to the public and Yaney encourages residents to attend.