Document text
MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 6, 2003 Aiming for youth in the booth By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings While most college students take it easy during winter break, Evian DiStefano is hitting the road in an effort to register to vote at least 10,000 Oregon high school and college students. DiStefano, 18, of Talent, a 2003 Ashland High graduate and a freshman at American University in Washington, D.C., wants to register students so they can have a say on Measure 30, an $800 million income tax surcharge. Approximately $400 million would go to schools in the state. The election will be held Feb. 3. "We're trying to get enough votes to pass Measure 30," he said. "As we saw last year with the failure of Measure 28, we can't afford any money lost to education in Oregon. Oregon students felt the sting of budget cuts last year, and we as Oregonians won't tolerate such social irresponsibility." Tax foes decided to try to put the measure on the ballot after the Legislature approved the surcharge on income taxes in August to help balance the budget and prevent cuts to schools, social services and public safety. On Wednesday, the three-year surcharge was put on the ballot by the Oregon Secretary of State's office, which verified 118,000 signatures. Only 50,000 signatures were needed. DiStefano has already talked to several leaders and organizations in high schools and universities across the state to try to organize ways to insure more student turn-out. He plans to visit schools throughout Oregon during his vacation to gain support and help students register. "A lot of kids don't vote because they feel detached from the system," he said. " But we want to make it clear to them their vote can be heard on this issue, especially if the vote is too close to call." DiStefano feels this is a great way to make a difference in his home state during his winter break. "This needs to be done," he said. "We can't just sit down and expect things to happen." DiStefano is also co-president of the National Student Union, the only nationwide, entirely student-run organization in the country. It was founded in Ashland in response to the failure of Measure 28. Currently, the organization has 15,000 active members in high schools and colleges in 24 states, DiStefano said. The NSU is also working with several other activist groups to educate the public about Measure 30. Peter Buckley, campaign director for the Jackson County Democratic Party, was impressed to hear of an young adult trying to get his generation to vote. "It's absolutely fabulous," he said. "It's this type of student involvement that we need more of." Buckley said that locally, the Democratic party is recruiting more voters from 18 to 25. Many times, younger potential voters feel their votes won't make a difference, which is something that needs to change. "We lost the connection somehow," Buckley said. "To have a voice, they need to vote to demand it. Their vote does matter drastically." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams