Sunday, April 18, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Learning to Spin

Children embrace concept of catchy, informative campaign slogans

Kerstine Gaudiel Rudy Ruiz Aquarius Font Alyssa St. John

Many of the youngest Las Vegans don't yet understand all aspects of the U.S. political system of nominating candidates and then running for office.

For example, "king" is an American elective office, according to enthusiastic but misinformed Katz Elementary School kindergartner Daniel Campbell, 5.

But Daniel and other youngsters who attend after-school programs at the Boys & Girls Club at 2850 S. Lindell Road do already understand the fun of trying to devise a good campaign slogan.

A slogan is a catchy phrase that tells what a political candidate is promising voters, the children are told.

Asked to coin a slogan they would use should they ever run for office, Boys & Girls Club members came up with a slew.

"I'll catch the bad guys," promises Daniel.

"I will be your friend," comes from 6-year-old Bobbi Granger, who is a first-grader at Wynn Elementary School.

"I will protect cats and dogs," comes from 6-year-old Chris Tonna, a kindergartner at Decker Elementary School.

Chris' brother, Nicholas, 7, attends second grade at Decker. He has an effective, but possibly illegal pitch: "Vote for me and I will give you money."

Nicholas says he would give the money to "poor people, and everybody, so they can buy food." Instead of a bribe, it could be social legislation Nicholas would get Congress to pass.

Military might is the emphasis of the slogan from Chance Bloomquist, 7, who is in second grade at Jydstrup Elementary School: "I'll make our country free. I'll make all the other countries free with my soldiers or military."

"Open the door for the poor," sixth-grader Ja'quez Warren, 11, of Cashman Middle School, writes concisely.

Education is the priority of Justin Hatol, 11, a fifth-grader at Dondero Elementary School, who minted the rhyme, "Young children need a well-taught education so they can live in a good nation."

"Be part of the solution, help stop pollution," is the rallying cry of Alyssa St. John, an 8-year-old in the third grade at Decker Elementary.

"Always do your best" is the age-old wisdom offered by Esther Suh, 9, who is in Decker's third grade.

"Always have pride" came from Kerstine Gaudiel, 11, who attends fifth grade at Vegas Verdes Elementary School.

Snappy plays on the candidate's name are a favorite with other students:

"Stephanie, oh Stephanie. She can fulfill your destiny." -- Stephanie Rodriguez, 12, in seventh grade at Sawyer Middle School.

"Soar through the air and save the poor. Vote for Aquarius, a Sagittarius." -- Aquarius Font, 9, in third grade at Jydstrup Elementary.

"Do your duty and vote for Rudy." -- Rudy Ruiz, 11, in fifth grade at Hancock Elementary School.

"Vote for Randy, he is dandy. (And your taxes will lower)." -- Randy Jimmerson, 11, in fifth grade at Jydstrup Elementary.