REPORT FROM UHMC— Yesterday a panel of politically active University of Hawaiʻi Maui College students hosted a special televised election forum, asking questions of candidates running for Maui County Council, State House District 9, and State House District 11.
The show was broadcast live from 10:00AM-1:30PM on MCTV Cable Channel 55, and will continue to be periodically shown until election night. Pacific Radio Group will also air excerpts from the program on their Internet news and information portal at mauinow.com
One goal of the election forum was to encourage students to take a deeper look at the issues facing Maui County, and engage in the voting process. “This is a great event for students to get involved with,” said UHMC student Emilie Howlett. “I knew that if I joined the panel, it would give me the push I needed to learn more about local politics.”
Malia Davidson, Program Director of Liko A’e and Student Coordinator of the event, said, “Students brought their academic research into a living classroom on live television for all to experience and to ponder as they prepare to go to the polls. Each candidate was exposed to UH Maui students and the quality education that these students received right here. This was a great opportunity for all of us, students, candidates, and our Maui County community.”
“This pre-election forum and our ongoing partnership with UHMC provide an invaluable opportunity for us to mentor the next generation of media professionals,” added Wendy Osher, News Director for Pacific Radio Group. “Such programming also provides the public with information to make informed decisions relating to our future and the future of Maui County. We look forward to providing live election results broadcast coverage during the Primary Election on August 11, and General Election on November 6, 2012–to be carried on MCTV Cable Channel 55, KMVI AM 550, and online at mauinow.com.”
Forum topics ranged from national issues like GMO labeling and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to county-specific issues like affordable housing on Maui, the reclassification of land use from agricultural to residential, and the efficient uses of Maui’s budget and resources.
Fred Guzman from Pacific Radio Group was the moderator. Candidates who participated included Gil S. Keith-Agaran, Joe Pontanilla, Netra Halperin, Colin E. Hanlon, Kaniela Ing, Joseph Blackburn, Lisa Gapero, Michael Victorino, Alan Fukuyama, Don Guzman and Erin McLaughlin.
This type of Election Forum is good and it is motivational for the students who are good enough to be the future politicians. Thanks for sharing this post about that University of Hawaii, Maui College Student's work.
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