Eminently presidential

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY – It was like a breath of fresh air. The excitement was palpable and the atmosphere intense as the candidates were nominated, gave their acceptance speeches and hit the campaign trail armed with clever commercials and colorful posters. Razor-sharp questions were fired from edgy reporters in a press conference as candidates were called upon to defend their positions, ever mindful of their mission: Win the hearts and minds of a divided electorate.

No, this wasn’t Bush versus Kerry, not by a long shot. No staged debates, no tiresome repetition of positions, no character assassination. Instead, it was teenagers looking presidential, reminding those present what democracy is supposed to look like. As they role played through SCIL’s Presidential Election 2004 on October 22, area kids showed their unfettered creativity, their youthful exuberance and their surprising understanding of this nation’s most complex issues. It made this voter wish that the actual upcoming election had such promising candidates from which to choose.

When teams from the county’s eight school districts arrived at Sullivan West High School for the second of this year’s SCIL competitions, all they knew was that their knowledge of current events would be called into play. Little did they realize that within minutes of their arrival they would be caucusing, brainstorming and stumping on the election trail, drawing on their communication skills, artistic talents and powers of persuasion.

SCIL was created as an arena for academic competition that would parallel the one already in place for athletics. According to Monticello adviser Peter Weinman, “SCIL gives kids accolades for academics. It brings out the best in everybody as students get to take all they’ve learned and synthesize it in new ways.”

For this day’s endeavor, each school created its own political party and formulated a platform, and their candidates articulated the party’s ideas in acceptance and platform speeches. While they spoke, each team’s diligent member of the press corps was busy formulating two questions to ask one of the candidates later in the day.

Monticello brought two teams whose scores were averaged together. Medum Choe, representing one of those teams as leader of the Rhino Party, argued for respect for the country’s soldiers. “Our beliefs are threatened and our party stands as a symbol of strength and leadership,” he posited. In her nominating speech, Alexandra Aiello described Sullivan West’s Patriot Party candidateTammy Kreznar as “A woman who will stay the course.” Kreznar took a strong stance on a woman’s right to choose and criticized the outsourcing of jobs.

Other candidates included Jeremy Mathsen, a.k.a. Thomas J. Wilmington for Tri-Valley’s Puma Party, Samantha DeKotes of Roscoe’s Birthday Party, Gemma DeChoisy of Livingston Manor’s Peace Party, Sean O’Neill of Fallsburg’s Libra Party, Harrison Siegel of Monticello’s Moderate Libertarian Party, Jessica Cherry of Eldred’s People’s Party and Gracie Lou Campbell of Liberty’s United Party.

While candidates were busy elucidating their ideas, their support teams were crafting campy videos, designing eye-catching posters, buttons and streamers and ramping up the electricity of their party’s campaign.

“I’m very into politics so I’m really enjoying this,” said Liberty’s Mike Wagener. Schoolmate Jared Levine added, “It’s great when kids from other schools get together to think about the election.”

A panel of esteemed judges including Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, Sullivan County Legislative Chair Chris Cunningham, Cochecton Town Justice Bob Meyer, Tusten Town Justice Tom Nuttycombe and this writer evaluated all the elements of the convention, including the speeches, videos, visuals, reporters’ questions and candidates’ responses.

Each judge addressed the audience at the end of the day and voiced his or her admiration for the teens’ political acumen on such issues as education, healthcare, unemployment and the war in Iraq.

SCIL coordinator Brian Tingley ended the day by announcing the results of the competition. The good news: no hanging chads and no Supreme Court decision needed to determine the day’s winners.

There will be four more rounds of competition for SCIL this academic year.

First place: Monticello 200. Second: Fallsburg 194.7. Third: Sullivan West 191.07. Fourth: Liberty 184.08. Fifth: Tri Valley 182.52.

After two rounds the standings are: First: Eldred 373.98. Second: Liberty 368.28. Third: Tri-Valley 357.62. Fourth: Sullivan West 340.37. Fifth: Fallsburg 333.2.

This week’s youths in focus inspire hope that as leaders of tomorrow they will bring vitality, sincerity and thoughtfulness to this much beleaguered world.