In a bold move to stir the political pot in Clayton County, the local Youth Commission hosted a slate of candidate forums, giving a platform for hopefuls vying for the county commission chair and sheriff to pitch their visions ahead of the May 21 primary election, per a report.
The commission, led by 17-year-old Miata Harris, aimed to keep the younger demographic in the loop on county affairs, she mused on her role in planning the forums, stating, "It's no secret Clayton County has been in the news a lot, especially for the situation in the jails — especially with our former sheriff," in a conversation with WABE, "Now that I'm almost voting age, what are the candidates looking like? Who is the best person to fix the county because we grew up here?".
Concerns raised during these forums by the youth commissioners and county residents touched on hot-button issues such as public safety and mental health services for the younger population, per reports, this is indicative of the changing tides of political engagement, with younger generations stepping into the ring to challenge and interrogate the priorities and capabilities of their would-be representatives.
The Youth Commission, including voices like 17-year-old Emani Madison, wrestled with the task of not only addressing broader policy questions but also the more localized neglect, "My neighborhood, we have a pool, but our pool hasn't been open in almost 10 years," Madison said, expressing her desire for elected officials to rejuvenate such community spaces, further emphasizing the necessity for governmental programs, according to WABE.
Ciara Dunn, the program coordinator for the youth commission, lauded the young participants for their civic engagement, stressing the positive influence they have on the community by stating, "It's definitely important for the adults to see youth in the community doing candidate forums being positive role models because oftentimes, it's highlighted [that] of troubled kids, but it's not always advocated or expressed or shown about youth actually making a positive impact and their community," as WABE reports.
