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
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Election vocabulary
Vote
– Make a decision
Candidate
– A person running for office
Office
– An elected role in government
Referendum
– A public vote on a question, policy or issue
Local government
– People elected to make decisions about local services such
as roads and schools
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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
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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
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City and town government
A city or town is a unit of government
Cities 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
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Mayor
Different mayor in each city or town
– Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews,
Mint Hill & Pineville
Represents the city or town, chief spokesperson
Leads City Council or Town Council meetings
• Votes in the event of a tie; can veto a vote
Works 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
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Charlotte candidates
Patrick Cannon
Edwin Peacock
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Cornelius candidate
Chuck Travis
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Davidson candidate
John Woods
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Huntersville candidates
Jim Puckett
Jill Swain
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Matthews candidate
Jim Taylor
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Mint Hill candidate
Ted Biggers
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Pineville candidates
Libby Boatwright
John Edwards
George Fowler
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School Board
School board = Board of Education
Nonpartisan office, 4-year terms
9 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
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Role of School Board
Hire/fire superintendent
Establish school district policy
Review and approve budgets
• Annual operating and capital (construction)
Approve student assignment boundaries
Oversee the management of school system’s
major systems
• Includes curriculum, teachers, transportation
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District 1 Candidates
Rhonda Lennon
Christine Mast
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District 2 Candidates
Thelma Byers-Bailey
Richard McElrath
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District 3 Candidate
Joyce Waddell
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District 4 Candidates
Tom Tate
Queen Elizabeth Thompson
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District 5 Candidates
Eric Davis
Edward Donaldson
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District 6 Candidates
Paul Bailey
Bolyn McClung
Doug Wrona
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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 bond
www.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013
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Middle and High School
Additional ballot questions
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City and town council
Vote for the candidates in your city or town only!
Mayor and council in each city and town
Council-manager form of government
– Professional manager administers policies and manages
city or town government
– Elected council and mayor; 2-year terms
Role
– Prioritize community needs, set policy, approve budget,
levy taxes, create ordinances
Learn about the candidates
www.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013
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Charlotte At-Large
At-Large = Represents entire city
4 seats available
Candidates
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Michael Barnes
Eric A. Cable
Claire Fallon
Vanessa Faura
Mark Frietch
Ken Harris
David Howard
Vi Alexander Lyles
Dennis Peterson
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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
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North Mecklenburg towns
Cornelius
5 seats
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Davidson
5 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.
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Stacey Anderson
Beth Cashion
Jim Fuller
Rodney Graham
Brian Jenest
Rick Short
Connie J. Wessner
Vince Winegardner
Huntersville
6 seats
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Melinda Bales
Lawrence Brinson
Franklin Freeman
Charles S. Guignard
Ron Julian
Rob Kidwell
Sarah R. McAulay
Jeff Neely
Danny Phillips
Nick Walsh
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South Mecklenburg Towns
Matthews
6 seats
– John F. Higdon
– Gina S. Hoover
– Christopher L.
Melton
– Jeff Miller
– Joe Pata
– Kress Query
– John Ross
– John R. Urban
 Mint Hill
4 seats
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 Pineville
Lloyd D. Austin
Dale Dalton
Carl Mickey Ellington
Rich Ferretti
Harry Marsh
Brenda McRae
Richard (Fig) Newton
Eric Random
Katrina (Tina) Weaver
Ross
4 seats
– Al (Billy) Baskins
– Melissa Rogers
Davis
– Jim Eschert
– Deborah B.
Fowler
– Les Gladden
– Kevin Icard
– David Phillips
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Student referendum
 It is important to learn, think, and decide
about civic issues. What’s your opinion?
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Change control of the Charlotte airport?
Require citizens to show identification before voting?
 Learn about the issues
www.generationnation.org/index.php/election/candidateguide2013
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Get ready to vote!
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Read and learn
Start with an issue YOU care about
– Education, environment, safety, transportation,
economy/jobs, children, neighborhoods, teachers
Find 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
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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