Teacher presentation: Election2013 editable

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Election 2013

Teachers: this is an editable presentation. Use only the slides that apply to your location and grade levels. Please check the website for the student candidate guide, curriculum and other tools. www.generationnation.org



Election vocabularyVote

– Make a decisionCandidate

– A person running for officeOffice

– An elected role in governmentReferendum

– A public vote on a question, policy or issueLocal government

– People elected to make decisions about local services such as roads and schools


Political parties

Groups of people who have similar ideas

Major US political parties• Democrats www.democrats.org • Republicans www.gop.com • Libertarians www.lp.org

Some government offices are nonpartisan• The individual candidates can have political ideas but

don’t officially run as members of a political party• Includes town offices, school board and judges

http://www.democrats.org/

http://www.gop.com/

http://www.lp.org/


On the ballot

Grades K-2– Mayor

Grades 3-5– Mayor– School Board– CMS Education Bond

Grades 6-12– Mayor and City or Town Council– School Board– CMS Education Bond and Student Referendum


City and town government

A city or town is a unit of governmentCities and towns are located within counties

• 100 counties in N.C.

Each level of government has its own elected officials, staff, services, budget

City and town services• Includes police, fire, land use, transportation, economic

development, neighborhood improvements


MayorDifferent mayor in each city or town

– Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill & Pineville

Represents the city or town, chief spokespersonLeads City Council or Town Council meetings

• Votes in the event of a tie; can veto a voteWorks with city or town council

• To establish community priorities, set policy, approve budget and city or town tax rates, create local laws and other duties

2-year term Learn about the candidates

www.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013


Charlotte candidates

Patrick Cannon Edwin Peacock


Cornelius candidate

Chuck Travis


Davidson candidate

John Woods


Huntersville candidates

Jim Puckett Jill Swain


Matthews candidate

Jim Taylor


Mint Hill candidate

Ted Biggers


Pineville candidates

Libby Boatwright John Edwards George Fowler


School Board

School board = Board of EducationNonpartisan office, 4-year terms9 total seats on school board

• 6 District: officials represent just one part of the community (next election: 2013)

• 3 At-Large: officials represent whole county (next election: 2015)

Learn about the candidates and identify your district www.generationnation.org/documents/el2013cmsbd.pdf


Role of School Board

Hire/fire superintendentEstablish school district policyReview and approve budgets

• Annual operating and capital (construction)

Approve student assignment boundariesOversee the management of school system’s

major systems• Includes curriculum, teachers, transportation


District 1 Candidates

Rhonda Lennon Christine Mast



Thelma Byers-Bailey Richard McElrath


District 3 Candidate

Joyce Waddell



Tom Tate Queen Elizabeth Thompson



Eric Davis Edward Donaldson



Paul Bailey Bolyn McClung Doug Wrona


CMS $290 million bond

A bond is a way for governments to borrow money to finance capital projects.

• Capital projects = construction and building

Citizens vote for or against the bonds in a ballot referendum.

Learn about the bondwww.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013


Middle and High School

Additional ballot questions


City and town council

Vote for the candidates in your city or town only!Mayor and council in each city and townCouncil-manager form of government

– Professional manager administers policies and manages city or town government

– Elected council and mayor; 2-year termsRole

– Prioritize community needs, set policy, approve budget, levy taxes, create ordinances

Learn about the candidateswww.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013


Charlotte At-Large

At-Large = Represents entire city4 seats available

Candidates• Michael Barnes• Eric A. Cable • Claire Fallon• Vanessa Faura• Mark Frietch• Ken Harris• David Howard• Vi Alexander Lyles• Dennis Peterson


Charlotte Districts

District 1– Patsy Kinsey

District 2– Al Austin– Darryl Broome

District 3– LaWana Mayfield– Eric Netter – C. Travis Wheat

District 4– Greg Phipps– Michael Zytkow

District 5– John Autry

District 6– Kenny Smith

District 7– Bakari Burton– Ed Driggs


North Mecklenburg towns

Cornelius5 seats– Del Arrendale– John R. Bradford, III– Jim Duke– Dave Gilroy– Michael F. Miltich– J. R. Mount– Thurman Ross, Jr.– William C. Sykes– Woody Washam, Jr.

Davidson5 seats – Stacey Anderson– Beth Cashion– Jim Fuller– Rodney Graham– Brian Jenest– Rick Short– Connie J. Wessner– Vince Winegardner

Huntersville6 seats – Melinda Bales– Lawrence Brinson– Franklin Freeman– Charles S. Guignard– Ron Julian– Rob Kidwell– Sarah R. McAulay– Jeff Neely– Danny Phillips– Nick Walsh


Matthews6 seats– John F. Higdon– Gina S. Hoover– Christopher L.

Melton– Jeff Miller– Joe Pata– Kress Query– John Ross– John R. Urban

Mint Hill4 seats – Lloyd D. Austin– Dale Dalton– Carl Mickey Ellington– Rich Ferretti– Harry Marsh– Brenda McRae– Richard (Fig) Newton– Eric Random– Katrina (Tina) Weaver

Ross

Pineville 4 seats – Al (Billy) Baskins– Melissa Rogers

Davis– Jim Eschert– Deborah B.

Fowler– Les Gladden– Kevin Icard– David Phillips

South Mecklenburg Towns


Student referendum

It is important to learn, think, and decide about civic issues. What’s your opinion?

• Change control of the Charlotte airport?• Require citizens to show identification before voting?

Learn about the issueswww.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013


Get ready to vote!


Read and learn

Start with an issue YOU care about– Education, environment, safety, transportation,

economy/jobs, children, neighborhoods, teachersFind information about the candidates

• GenerationNation Student Candidate Guide www.generationnation.org

– Includes candidate debate videos and other information• Charlotte Observer www.charlotteobserver.com

Educational resources and tools• www.generationnation.org/index.php/learn/entry/learning-opportunity-election-2013

http://www.generationnation.org/

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/


Read, think, decide

1. Learn about the candidates

2. Think about the information

3. Choose candidates you like best

4. Vote

5. After the election, keep track of the

candidates & their promises and actions


Think

Does this information help me?Is it from a good, truthful source?Does it fit with other facts I know?How does it make me feel?Do I know enough to make a decision?

• If not, learn and read more• Tip: Focus on the individual candidates, their ideas and

solutions instead of political parties


Choose a candidate

Review– What did each candidate say? Did they…

• Have ideas or solutions…• …or complain a lot?• Ask questions?

Decide– Which one do you agree with the most?– Based on the information you know, do you think

the candidate will do a good job?


Vote

Who do YOU think should win in Election 2013? Make your voice heard!– K-12 students vote Oct. 22-Nov. 5– www.generationnation.org – Results announced November 5 (evening)

Voting options• Vote at school• Vote online, anywhere• Vote at Kids Voting booths at certain polling places on

Oct. 26, Nov. 1, Nov. 2, and Nov. 5



After the election Look for official election results

– Adult vote• Board of Elections www.meckboe.org and www.ncsbe.gov • Media www.charlotteobserver.com

– Student vote• www.generationnation.org and www.facebook.com/GenerationNation • Did students elect different candidates?

Keep track of the winning candidates– Do they keep their campaign promises?– Do they make good decisions?

Stay involved– Watch or attend government meetings, write letters or email officials– Teens, join the youth council www.generationnation.org/index.php/youthvoice

http://www.meckboe.org/

http://www.ncsbe.gov/

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/


http://www.facebook.com/GenerationNation
