Harlem's mayor helps class get hands-on government experience
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Harlem Mayor Scott Dean swears in Matthew Jenkins, 7, Friday as the new president of Betty Kelley's second-grade class at North Harlem Elementary School.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
The adults have not been the only ones stumping for office. Seven-year-old Brianna Threet campaigned hard for three weeks.
She made and hung posters, gave out candy, made necklaces with her face on them and presented an impressive campaign speech to Betty Kelley's second-grade class at North Harlem Elementary School.
Though Brianna was nervous about her speech, she did well enough to win the spot as class vice president. To make it official, Harlem Mayor Scott Dean recently swore in Brianna and the rest of her elected classmates at Harlem City Hall.
"It was cool being up there," Brianna said proudly.
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Kelley holds a class election every year, with real punch ballot machines, in conjunction with the class's citizenship unit and the statewide mock-election program.
"It makes them and their parents aware of how important voting is," Kelley said, referring to Georgia's low voter turnout.
Matthew Jenkins, 7, was sworn in as class president and tried out Dean's chair in City Hall, even though the boy could barely see over the counter.
Harlem Mayor Scott, with the help of City Manager Jean Dove, swears in Brianna Threet, 7, as the new vice president of Mrs. Kelley's second grade class at North Harlem Elementary.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
Haley Newsome was elected secretary, Anthony Dean won the treasurer race and Walker Trodgeon took the sergeant-at-arms position.
"Now you have a big job in front of you - carrying out the office duties for the class," Dean told the pupils.
For complete coverage of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners and Grovetown City Council elections, read Sunday's edition of the News-Times.