Student, health educator campaign
April 4, 2008
College Democrats of Missouri President Nate Kennedy said one of his main goals as an active member of the Democratic Party is to help young people become more involved in the political process within their communities.
Kennedy is running against Dean Andersen, co-director of the Boone County Coalition for Tobacco Concerns, for the Sixth Ward seat of the Boone County Democratic Central Committee.
“I have been active here in the party for a couple years now,” Kennedy said. “There was a seat open in the Sixth Ward, and I decided that I wanted to fill that void in the party.”
Kennedy has been the CDM president since February 2007.
The Sixth Ward Committeeman sits on the Boone County Democratic Central Committee and represents the Missouri Democratic Party in Boone County.
The Central Committee performs functions required by the laws of Missouri, the charter and bylaws of the U.S. Democratic Party and bylaws of the Missouri Democratic Party, BCDP Chairwoman Phyllis Fugit said.
“The Central Committee promotes the values of the Democratic Party and its candidates,” Fugit said.
Kennedy said he would be influential in several aspects of the Democratic Party in Boone County if elected.
“As a committeeman, I would help out the Democratic Party with visibility events, such as county fairs and parades,” Kennedy said. “I’d also help poll workers and election judges throughout the year.”
Kennedy also said he would like to bring more students into the democratic process.
“A lot of students live in the Sixth Ward,” Kennedy said. “They are already getting very active in organizations such as College Democrats and Young Democrats. I want to involve them further and bring in new young people to the process.”
If elected, Kennedy said he plans to create new ways for young people to get involved in the Democratic Party in Boone County.
“One idea I have is to recruit some students to become neighborhood leaders,” Kennedy said. “Their role would be to basically tell neighbors about the Democratic Party and any events the party is holding in Boone County.”
Kennedy said he would like to implement the neighborhood leader idea in the heavily student-populated East Campus area.
“Students tend to listen to other students,” Kennedy said.
Anderson, Kennedy’s opponent for the committeeman seat, was influential in implementing the smoking ban in Columbia.
“Dean has already done a world of good for the city of Columbia, and I believe he would be an asset to the Sixth Ward,” Health Educator Kim Webb said. Webb works with Andersen in health promotion services at the MU Student Health Center.
Andersen did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Kennedy said he respects Anderson and that the election is neither competitive nor aggressive.
“I think both of us could bring different things to Boone County,” Kennedy said. “I think I could be more influential with the younger demographic in Columbia, but both of us care a lot about the city, and whoever gets the position will do a great job.”
Elections for Sixth Ward Committeeman will be held April 8.
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