Craftsbury, Education, News, Politics

Next Generation of Voters Hosts Senate Candidate Debate at Craftsbury Academy

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CRAFTSBURY – Craftsbury Academy hosted a debate between candidates Katherine Sims (D) and Samuel A. Douglass (R) who are vying for Orleans County’s vacant Senate seat, The event in the World War II Memorial Gymnasium, Thursday, Oct. 23, attracted a diverse audience of parents, teachers, students and community members.

The debate was moderated entirely by Craftsbury students in grades 6-12. They focused on key issues that included education funding, gun laws, cell phone use in schools and funding for flood recovery.

The students’ questions were considered and well-articulated.

The candidates engaged in respectful yet spirited exchanges as they addressed concerns raised by the students.

MIddle school sixth grader Evelyn Patch asks Candidates Katherine Sims and Samual Douglass why they want to represent Orleans County in the Vermont Senate during a debate in the Craftsbury Academy gym, Thursday, Oct. 24.
photo by Lisa Stinson

Lillian Allen asked what candidates thought about adding non-hunters to the Fish and Wildlife Board. After the event she said she felt good about the answers and learned a lot about public speaking.

Douglass said the questions from students were good and very interesting.

Craftsbury Academy 10th grader Kosmos Gletsos told Katherine Sims and Samuel Douglass“ the possibility of a school shooting is real,” and asked about their “plan to prevent gun violence in Vermont schools and ensure we can go to school and come home again.”
photo by Lisa Stinson

Another student said he thought the answers from both candidates were good and was surprised they both seemed to agree on many things.

Arwen Alexander, in the 11th grade at Craftsbury Academy, asks Orleans County Senate candidates about their positions on decriminalizing drugs. “According to the Vermont Department of Health, we are among the states with the highest levels of substance abuse—specifically rates of heroin use by 18-25-year-olds,” she said.
photo by Lisa Stinson
Katherine Sims (left) and Samuel Douglasa engage in a spirited student moderated debate at the Craftsbury Academy Gym on Thursday, October 24, Several students remarked afterward that they were surprised at how similar the candidates’ positions were on some of the issues.
photo by Paul Fixx

Owen Foster, who’s in 11th grade, said, “They were both good candidates,” and he “wouldn’t be upset with either of them.”

Several attendees praised the students for their poise and noted the high level of discourse.

After the event, principal Lisa McCarthy said “Craftsbury Academy is thrilled to offer a platform for our youth to engage with the democratic process and for our community to hear directly from those wishing to represent them. We hope to be able to continue this tradition in the future.”

Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.

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