THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240317
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision '96
SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 80 lines
Politicians should focus on education, a group of Hampton Roads voters said at a forum this week. The rest of the nation's ills, such as crime and the national debt, would improve from long-term investment in students, they said.
The group, 24 men and women ranging in age from 20 to over 70, gave their views Tuesday during an hourlong discussion on the upcoming elections at the studios of WHRO-TV, Channel 15. The program was designed by the Public Broadcasting Service to get citizens more involved in the political process. The Virginian-Pilot helped develop the line of questioning for the panel, which represented a range of occupations, political ideologies and ethnic groups.
The citizens said they wanted politicians to be more honest with them about what strategies work and what they cost, and they blamed voter apathy for maintaining the status quo in Washington. They wanted their elected officials to take a long-term view when planning solutions, rather than offering special interests who contribute to political campaigns short-term monetary benefits.
Education was a dominant theme through the discussion. Some said they didn't necessarily want more money spent, just appropriated more wisely or shifted from other expenses, such as prisons and entitlements.
``I don't think they're being honest about how important education is,'' Hiewet Senghor, a Hampton college student, said about the presidential candidates.
Tommy Ball, an accountant who lives in Hampton, said politicians try to sound tough on crime, but the policies they develop contribute to the problem.
``Educated people don't commit crimes,'' he said. ``And they talk about building more jails and prisons, and they talk about cutting education.''
As a young, single woman, Cheryl Morrow, an accountant who lives in Norfolk, said she has been told to get a gun for protection. But she said, ``I'm not in favor of guns or more jails. We are a reactive society not pro-active. We need to look at root causes, where the person took the first wrong step.''
Joel Johnson, a Norfolk college instructor, suggested voters get their information about educational strategies that work from other sources than politicians.
Talmadge Jones, a Suffolk civic league president, said ``throwing money'' at the problem won't work, but teaching children respect for teachers will.
And David Gimenez, pastor at a bilingual Virginia Beach church, said parents need to be taught to take responsibility for their children. ``Education of the family'' would go a long way to solving abuse, drug and crime problems.
While the group touched on other issues of concern, such as welfare reform and protection of the environment, many said they didn't expect the nation's problems to be solved by one election.
Pressed about the top priority for the 105th Congress by moderator Stephanie Stetson of the Community Networking Association, many in the group said campaign finance reform would be a good place to start. Once the system that allows special interests to lead the process is changed, the citizens contend, the politicians can be freed to develop legislation to benefit the nation as a whole.
``Who gets their ear?'' asked Adele Whitener, a store manager and Chesapeake activist, about who politicians are listening to. ``Not us, as individuals.''
Some suggested public financing or limits on contributions from political action committees and lobbyists.
Barbara Ballard, a Norfolk resident and member of the League of Women Voters, said registering more people to vote would help average citizens gain more influence with elected officials. She praised efforts such as the ``motor-voter'' bill that allows people to register at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Echoing many in the enthusiastic crowd - a difference from the anger expressed two years ago, the moderator said - Judy Damewood, a Hampton resident who is in the U.S. Army, suggested the new Congress focus on getting one big thing done right away.
Her vote was for campaign finance reform because it ``could actually be done and could have a tremendous effect for the country.'' MEMO: WHRO will broadcast the discussion from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Congressional candidates, journalists and political scientists will be
interviewed. The discussion itself will be aired on WHRV, 89.5 FM,
Thursday at 1 p.m.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION ISSUES CANDIDATES EDUCATION by CNB