Most Bakersfield College students admit they have a lot of studying ahead to prepare for the Nov. 7 election, and many feel unprepared.
“I’ll vote in this election, but I’ve got serious research to do,” admitted BC’s SGA president Micah Card, 20, liberal arts major.
“I don’t want to say yet how I’ll vote until I know more,” Card said referring to the gubernatorial race between incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger and contender Phil Angelides.
“Schwarzenegger has done things for community colleges,” she said.
“I’m for Schwarzenegger even though he doesn’t know how to pronounce ‘California,'”said BC student and Republican Jared Attwell, 27, and undeclared. “He pronounces California ‘Call-low-fornia,’ but he’s a businessman, and he knows how to deal with money.”
Many BC students are not sure yet of the positive and negative qualities of incumbent govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger or of his opponent Phil Angelides, nor are they educated yet on the propositions.
“I don’t know who or what I’ll vote on; I haven’t even started to look into it,” said Patrick Valdez, 30, a liberal studies major and Iraq vet.
“I’m registered as an Independent; I vote for whoever’s best at the time.”
“I’ll vote, but I don’t know yet who to vote for,” said Anthony Doser, 20, theatre arts major and former SGA activities liaison. “I’m registered as an Independent; there’s a whole bunch that I don’t like on the Democratic side and a whole bunch I don’t like on the Republican side. I usually choose one of the lesser evils.”
“I’ll probably vote, but I still need to register, ” said Kenin Smith, 18, and a business major. “I don’t really know how I’ll vote. Phil Angelides is good, I guess. I’m not really big on politics, though.”
Some BC students are a little more sure of how they will vote.
“I’ll vote for Schwarzenegger; he’s done a good job,” said registered Republican Kelsey DiRocco, 19, and a business administration major.
“He’s been decreasing spending in unnecessary areas and increasing school spending it seems like to me,” DiRocco said.
“I’ll vote on the proposition that supports parental notification for girls under 18.”
“I’m voting ‘yes’ on Measure I,” said SGA senator Will Chandler, 20, and a double major in psychology and biology. “Other than that, I’m not sure how else I’m going to vote. I don’t feel quite comfortable with either candidate (for governor). It’ll be a last minute thing.”
Asked if he is voting on Nov. 7, Everett Brown, 19, political science major, said “yes.”
“I don’t know right now how I’ll vote,” Brown said. “I don’t like Angelides much; he raises taxes for everything. That’s not cool,” said Brown, a registered Democrat.
“I’ll vote democratic,” said BC student Tom Shimura, 32. “I don’t like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He shouldn’t even be in politics; he used to be an actor. I don’t think he’s got much of a political background. “I like Angelides. He supports construction, and I’m going into that. Some people say that’s bad, and construction is bad, but.” Shimura said.