Sept. 25 -- Twenty students in Ms. Theresa Fisher’s 12th grade politics class peppered DTC Chair Susan D. Cocco and her Republican counterpart, Georgiana Castellani, with questions about the political process and voting as part of a “guest speaker” program this week.
The students were anxious to find out how the Party Chairs got involved in politics and just what voting, a caucus and running for office was all about.
“ I found out in my teens that participating in politics was a way to make a difference, meet others like me and take a position different from my parents,” stated Ms. Cocco. I worked for candidates in high school and in college, and subsequently worked on the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in Massachusetts, my home state. Once I came to Ridgefield, I saw that the combination of the Town Meetings and the political process offered an unusual opportunity to make a true difference every day.”
As a challenge to the students, Ms. Cocco asked them if they had ever entered a contest, bought a lottery ticket or tried to win a prize; in response half the class said, yes, but only two students had ever won. “Voting, asserted Ms. Cocco, is when everyone wins. You win because you participated, you win because you were heard and you win when your point of view is approved. Sometimes your opinion even becomes the law. You win every time.”
The students offered several ideas for making Ridgefield more “teen friendly,” including suggestions for opening fast-food restaurants in town. Both Party leaders commented on the history of this topic in Ridgefield and urged the students to bring their concerns to the Board of Selectman and the Planning and Zoning Commission to learn more about how decisions are made.
Susan cited an example how Ridgefield residents made a difference in the purchase of the McKeon farm’s “cow pasture,” an accomplishment of the First Selectman Marconi’s administration. “The cow pasture was already offered for sale for development-at a price of over $3 million. Working with neighbors, Rudy identified partial private funding ($2 million dollars) for the pasture. Rudy contacted Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to get an additional $800,000+ for environmental purposes to come to Ridgefield. More private money was raised, and the Board of Selectman, acting for the voters, came in with another $150,000+ to complete the purchase price. Now it is preserved forever as open space for the town. You couldn’t ask for a better case of working together for the benefit of the town-and having your voice heard.”
At the conclusion of the class, students were encouraged to participate in the current municipal election and to register to vote as soon as they turn 18. “It is the greatest privilege and the only way to get a true experience of Democracy," according to Ms. Cocco.
Students who want to get involved in politics or the local elections have several ways to participate. Contact Susan D. Cocco, Democratic Town Committee Chair, at 431-6076, to volunteer for any of the races. Any student at Ridgefield High School with an interest in the Democratic Party can also join the newly-forming Young Democrats Club at RHS. Contact Advisor, Sudha Sankar at 431-9007 for more information.
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