WCHS students get fired up for Democrats

By CYNTHIA AUKERMAN

News-Gazette reporter

Ryan Davis, a junior at Winchester Community High School, says that he and fellow Young Democrat, Ericka Kelley, a senior, can "get a little fired up" when it comes to politics. That's just a hint of the enthusiasm the two bring to their interest in politics.

The two just returned from the Democratic state convention in Indianapolis, where they were regular delegates.

Davis says, "It was a wonderful experience and the one place and time where you could say you don't like Republicans and not get pummeled."

As residents of Randolph County, the teenagers are used to being outnumbered by Republicans. But Ericka was raised a Democrat, and when she was a baby, her grandmother, Barbara Kelley, took her to work with her at Democratic headquarters.

"I'm following in my grandmother's footsteps," Ericka says. "She taught me to respect others' views."

Ryan's family was more split in its political leanings, but he's always been interested in politics. His research last year for the school's Model Legislature led to his decision to be a Democrat and ardent Hillary Clinton supporter. His family has faced economic challenges, and he believes Democrats have more answers for those problems.

Not that the two are totally happy with all Democrats.

Ericka explains, "The DNC (Democratic National Committee) makes me so mad, pressuring Hillary to drop out of the race! Hillary was run over."

Both Ericka and Ryan were committed Hillary delegates, and they still were her delegates at the state convention. While Hillary conceded after the last primary, she has not released her delegates.

Ryan says he cried the night Barack Obama garnered enough delegates to ensure his nomination.

Even though they were die-hard Hillary supporters, they are moving their allegiance to Obama now for the fall election.

Ericka says, "We are trying to accept him as best we can. We support him all the way."

The two Young Democrats relished being part of a historical campaign that saw the first woman and the first black to have a legitimate shot at a major-party nomination. Ryan loves Hillary's statement that while her campaign may not have shattered the glass ceiling blocking women's progress, it did put about 18 million cracks in it.

At the convention, nearly every hallway sported posters of Rosie the Riveter, and Ericka found those posters very "empowering."

And, yes, these teenagers know what Rosie stood for, even though her time was 60 years ago. They have had excellent teachers, and they are quick to credit them for encouraging their interests in politics. They call Al Williams a great history teacher, and cite Deb Merchant and Laura Northcut as valuable guides in their quest to pursue their interest in politics.

Sherry Houston runs the Model Legislature program, and that's where Ryan and Ericka have gained their desire to work on bipartisanship even as they stand up strongly for their beliefs. With guidance from Merchant and Northcutt, the Ryan and Ericka have formed a bipartisan club, Students for Democracy, which has 10 or so regular members. Students with Republican leanings outnumber the Democrat students.

Ericka says, "There's a line. The Democrats have taken some things too far, and so have the Republicans."

Ryan says, "Bipartisanship has to start somewhere."

With summer vacation, and the general election not until November, getting students involved now isn't easy. But Ryan and Ericka will be working for their candidates this summer, and they will even be going door-to-door canvassing for them.