Clement, Dean face off on Sept. 11
Dustin Shane
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: Campus News
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TSU students living on and near campus can vote at Hadley Park Community Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The mayoral runoff will be between Karl Dean and Bob Clement, the two candidates who emerged from the primary elections on Aug. 2.
Clement, a longtime Democratic Congressman, serves on the board of Nashville State Community College.
Dean served as Nashville's Director of Law and was elected Nashville's Public Defender several times throughout the '90s.
On Sept. 4, the university hosted a mayoral debate on the Avon
Williams campus.
During the debate, the candidates addressed such issues as education and economic development. This was the last of formal mayoral debates.
Clement argued that the state of the city's public schools could be improved through better handling of funds and accountability.
Dean focused on the dropout rates in some Davidson County schools being as high as 50 percent.
"I'll probably vote for Karl Dean," said freshman Andrew Okeke from Nashville. "I like him because he wants to enforce the No Child Left Behind act.
"But he wants to spend too much money on the Music City Star Commuter Train, which I don't think is necessary," he continued.
Both candidates have expressed support for mass transit.
In the Sept. 4 debate, Dean mentioned his comprehensive plan for Bus Rapid Transit and Clement reminded the audience of the work he did in getting the Music City Star Commuter Train funding while in Congress.
The Nashville Election Commission reported that there are 2,053 people, ages 18-25, registered to vote in Precinct 21, which includes TSU's main campus.
Linda Suggs, office support representative at Hadley Park Community Center, expressed dismay at the low turnout rates among younger citizens.
"We don't get many voters from TSU," Suggs said. " A lot of students help at the community projects, but when it's time to vote, I don't know where they go."
Ashli Yett, a junior psychology major from Detroit, said that she plans to vote.
"It's important to vote," Yett said. "If you don't vote, you shouldn't complain."•
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