ONLINE SPECIAL: Utah Lt. Governor candidate interacts with students
Republican representative Sheryl Allen, runningmate to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Corroon, visited USU’s campus to present the platforms of their campaign to the College of Republicans on Thursday.
Though Allen is a Republican, she is confident in Corroon and his ability to improve the well-being of Utah’s population. She has been in legislative positions for 16 years and has considered herself to be a moderate Republican since high school. Allen said she initially doubted whether she wanted to run, but this was not due to running with a politician from the Democratic party.
“A lot of colleagues and Republicans are not happy with my decision,” Allen said. “Peter Corroon has proven his leadership, he is smart as a whip and he has earned his respect.”
Allen’s campaign team contacted USU’s College of Republicans in order to allow students to meet Allen and hear her goals should she become lieutenant governor.
Terry Camp, president of the College of Republicans, said, “It was interesting deciding whether or not to have Allen attend our meeting because she was running with a Democrat. But, I don’t mind what she is doing. I think it’s honorable.”
Allen believes visiting various colleges and their students is important, because while colleges and educational facilities are currently stressed in Utah, the students are the future and need to be educated. She said while the governor and lieutenant governor represent the entire state, they could not achieve many of their goals without student support.
Loni Hawkins, secretary of the the College of Republicans, said, “It seems like they’ve worked well together so far. I definitely found differences between what I grew up with and what she believes.”
During the meeting, Allen expressed her strong convictions toward education for the state of Utah.
“We don’t know where we are going in education, we need to have a ten-year plan,” said Allen. “The research is there, we just have to take it and implement it.”
Allen believes the key to well educated youth is through equality preschool education. She believes children learn more in education in the long run through the attendance of preschool.
Allen also expressed her approval of former governor Olene Walker’s push for extra reading programs throughout the state and said that is the kind of leadership she is looking for in a governor. We need a governor who is equal to the legislature, who does not just “go along,” she said.
The real question, Allen said, was how to prepare students for the future, aware of the complex society that students currently face. It is this question, said Allen, which we need our governor, whoever it is, to answer.
According to www.votecorroon.com, Corroon and Allen want to invest in the education system by improving teacher training and accountability programs, encouraging parents to involve themselves in their child’s education, and aim to decrease class sizes. Corroon’s platform on his website states that he wants higher education to be attainable for all who desire a degree.
– allie.jeppson@aggiemail.usu.edu
– catherine.meidell@aggiemail.usu.edu