Political boot camp

LYNN – Danilda Marie read about politics in her Classical High School textbooks, but, until this fall, she never knew running for election boils down to cold afternoons spent knocking on doors and with voters ending telephone conversations with “None of your business.”Danilda and more than 20 other Classical seniors left their classrooms and books behind in September and campaigned in local neighborhoods, helping local candidates make their pitches to voters in advance of next Tuesday?s election.Danilda said the 20 hours spent campaigning with School Committee member Maria Carrasco opened her eyes to local political realities.?There are not many Latinos running for office, and people have real strong opinions. When they say, ?no,? they mean it,” she said.In addition to knocking on Lynn residents? and potential voters? doors with Carrasco and other candidates, including Brendan Crighton and Wayne Lozzi, Marie and fellow seniors held campaign signs, dropped campaign literature at local homes, and worked on phone banks – an experience that offered Ebony Davis insights into the level of local interest in city politics.?On a scale of one to 100, I?d say it was 75 – I thought it would be higher,” Davis said.But senior Chris Santana said knocking doors with Carrasco impressed him.?People really wanted to know what she thinks,” he said.Seven of the 18 students in government teacher Denise Vinciarelli?s class on Thursday said they are old enough to vote. Five of those students said they will go to the polls on Nov. 5, and only one of the five has made up his mind about his choice for mayor.Cody Dexter said his hands-on experience with city politics increased his interest in running at some point for elected office.?I?ve gotten really into it. I want to improve the school system,” he said.Senior Lana Shaban assumed the 20 hours Vinciarelli and other teachers told her to spend with local candidates would be “boring,” but City Council at large candidate Miguel Funez?s friendliness caught her by surprise and inspired her to read up on the backgrounds and viewpoints of candidates running for council, School Committee and mayor.A dozen local candidates ?Crighton, Lozzi, Carrasco, School Committee members Rick Starbard, Patricia Capano, John Ford, Charlie Gallo and Donna Coppola; committee candidate Lorraine Gately; Councilor Peter Capano and council candidate Debra Plunkett – took time out of their campaign schedules to speak during September and October to the Classical students.Vinciarelli said the discussions motivated students to jot down their own quick definitions of politics and government with descriptions ranging from “corrupt” to “the opportunity to decide how you?re governed.”Senior Laurie Balcacer thinks politicians say one thing but do another once they are elected. Still, she appreciates the work involved in getting elected.?It was cold going door to door; people are rude,” she said.Classical social studies department head Zach Johnson said students acquired a fresh perspective on classroom discussions about elections and politics after hitting the campaign trail.?The goal of the project is to show our government students the inner workings of a political campaign and to have them understand that they are an integral part of the election process,” Johnson said.