Local pols talk student issues

On Monday, 14 elected officials and candidates on the Nov. 4 ballot, from state senators to local mayors, will visit MHCC to talk directly to students.

The event will run 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 in Jazz Café (Room 2059 in the Academy Center).

“It’s mostly going to be about student issues,” said Skye Troy, ASG director of state and federal affairs. “Things like the ever-changing, higher tuition that students are faced with every single term, and how are you going to improve public safety? What are you going to do as a state senator to connect our community to our school?”

Troy spoke after she passed out fliers to any remotely interested customer at the St. Helen’s Bistro.

“No, I can’t stop,” said Troy about her efforts to promote the forum. “It’s bordering on something obsessive-compulsive now, because I’ve invited all these politicians to come to Mt. Hood. Now, I’m just worried about students showing up.”

Monday’s event, dubbed “Real Talk, Real Issues,” is her idea, created to help shorten the alleged gap between students and local government.  Troy said if all goes well, students “should be walking away thinking, ‘Wow, these are real people,’ and I really want them to know they’re here to serve us,” she said.

“Real Talk,” stands as a landmark on its own,  as it’s the first time MHCC has ever had this many elected officials on campus.

Troy said the idea came to her after working on the Vote or Vote campaign, to promote voter registration. She said she was troubled by the apparent disconnect. “I constantly heard people say: ‘That’s not important, voting doesn’t matter, these people are in office to serve themselves, not us.’ ”

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber will not make it to the event. “I tried to get a hold of the governor. That didn’t work, but I sure did try,” Troy added with a grin.

Candidates confirmed for Monday’s event are listed online.