UTPA hosts local and state candidates, encourages students to vote

EDINBURG -- College students have been notoriously known for not showing up to the polls to vote despite numerous campaigns designed to spark their interest.

That is not the case at the University of Texas-Pan American this election.

Several students who attended the university's Rock the Vote rally Tuesday said they have already cast ballots during early voting.

"(It's) a very important election," said Alexa Perez, 19, a UTPA freshman who voted for Democrat Barack Obama for president. "It's change for the country. We need it."

Mike Escamilla, a senior majoring in finance, said he already voted for Republican presidential candidate John McCain because he was "the lesser of two evils."

Escamilla, 36, said he looked at both candidates carefully before he cast his ballot, deciding McCain was the better choice.

"The fact is, when you compare the two together, McCain beats (Obama) by experience and working with other people," Escamilla said.

He and Perez were just two among scores of students who came out to the event on the university's chapel lawn. Candidates for local and state offices were on campus to talk with students and pass out fliers.

Sam Houston, a Houston lawyer who is running for Place 7 on the Texas Supreme Court, said he has visited campuses throughout the state and was impressed by the turnout at the UTPA event.

"This is by far the most well attended," he said.

He and Linda Yañez, who is running for Place 8 on the Texas Supreme Court, said several students have asked them about their races and what their responsibilities as justice would be. Both are running as Democrats.

"I think it's changing," Yañez said about students' interest in politics. "I think a lot of it has to do with Obama."

State Rep. Veronica Gonzales, D-McAllen, said she hoped the rally would help dispel the myth that young people don't vote.

Danny Rios, the lone Republican candidate at the event, said he was well received by students even though many declared they were Democrats. Some said they voted straight down the party line but then switched their vote in favor of him for judge in the 449th state District Court race.

"You can vote straight ticket and can switch (individual) votes," he said.

The push for getting people to the polls extended beyond the university.

Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade attended the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday morning, encouraging residents to take advantage of early voting to avoid long lines on Election Day.

Andrade, who also spoke to students at Edinburg's Lee Elementary School as part of an 18-county voter information tour, said she expects statewide turnout to exceed 2004's national average of 64 percent.

With more than 13 million state residents registered to vote, Andrade said, it could mean voters who wait until Election Day could see long lines.

"There's a lot of energy in Texas for this election," Andrade said. "We don't want you to wait."

Early voting, which ends Friday on what is typically its busiest day, also allows residents to vote at any of the county's 29 precincts, said Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Yvonne Ramon, who met with Andrade before the meeting. On Election Day, voters will have to cast their ballots in their own precincts.

____

Monitor staff writer Jared Janes contributed to this report.

____

Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.