College Democrats plan goals for '08
The MU College Democrats are aiming for a blue state in 2008.
Feb. 1, 2008
College Democrats of Missouri President Nate Kennedy speaks at the first College Democrats meeting of the semester on Wednesday in Strickland Hall. Kennedy was optimistic about the prospects for Missouri Democrats in 2008.
The MU College Democrats discussed their goal for a “blue state in '08” at their first meeting of the semester on Tuesday.
In an effort to get students involved, four speakers gave options for how to volunteer for local, statewide or national campaigns.
The first two speakers were candidates running for office in Missouri. They offered students a chance to get experience on a campaign.
The first candidate was Anthony Arton, who is running as a Democrat for state representative in District 121, which covers part of Johnson County.
He asked students to help him raise money, offering the College Democrats 10 percent of any money they raised for him.
Arton was previously part of the College Republicans at the University of Central Missouri, but switched parties last summer.
“I couldn’t be part of a party that didn’t value health care,” Arton said.
The second candidate was Sean Spence, a Democrat running for representative of the 25th District.
He stressed the importance of hard work and commitment to building upon the foundation of Missouri, with special attention to MU.
Spence, an MU graduate, said he values MU student interests and would work to enhance MU as a highlight of the state.
“Leadership should understand how to maximize our potential,” Spence said.
Spence offered students a chance to go door-to-door with him and to help him send mail to constituents.
College Democrats Treasurer Amanda Shelton asked students to stop thinking and talking about change and begin enacting it.
She works for Project Change 2008, which looks for ways to enact local and statewide change.
She offered students a number of ways to volunteer, including phone banking, poll watching, data entry and internships for the Democratic Party.
The final speaker of the night was Jordan Stein of Grass Roots Organizing.
She endorsed a petition to put the Missouri Healthcare Restoration Act on the next statewide ballot.
This proposal would restore Medicaid coverage to the level it was before Gov. Matt Blunt cut it in 2005.
About 152,000 additional Missouri citizens would be covered, Stein said.
“We believe that the residents of Missouri should decide,” Stein said.
According to College Democrats President Caitlin Ellis, other speakers were scheduled to be at the meeting, but were not able to attend because of poor weather conditions.
Junior Nate Kennedy said that in light of Blunt’s decision not to run again, the Democrats have a chance to sweep all the seats up for election in Missouri.
He encouraged members to help raise money for the party and to aid in making Missouri a Democratic state.
The main focus of the evening was the goal that the College Democrats are setting for the rest of the semester.
“We want a blue state in ‘08,” Ellis said.
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