UNM students with interest in TVI or APS have a chance to change the future of the two institutions by voting today.
By 10 p.m., tonight, voters will have decided on a $145 million APS bond and mill levy, four seats on the APS Board of Education and four seats on Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute's Governing Board.
For UNM dorm residents, a polling precinct will be open on campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the Student Resident Center.
Brian Eagan, press secretary for UNM's College Democrats, said he feels that UNM students who went to Albuquerque Public Schools should be concerned about voting. Eagan said that many UNM students who went to an Albuquerque school know about the problems of overcrowding, leaky roofs and old facilities.
"It's like comparing going to class in Mitchell Hall where the heating doesn't work or taking a class in Dane Smith Hall where the facility is new," Eagan said.
He said that the conditions of the buildings at Albuquerque Public Schools have an effect on the children who go to school there.
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"Money is desperately needed to support public education," Eagan said.
Some voters are torn by the bond and levy for APS because the bond will not raise taxes, but the mill levy will. If voters vote yes to both, 121 APS schools will be receiving money for various projects such as building new classrooms, fixing roofs and building media centers, according to a Bernalillo County Web site.
As for TVI, Eagan said voters need to ask themselves if their community college is serving them well. If it is, he suggests voting for the incumbents. If not, the other choice is researching the candidates and making a decision to change how the Governing Board conducts dealings at TVI.
"It's a great opportunity for students to exercise their political freedoms, because turnouts in elections like this are notoriously low," said Joe Krzyzanowski, TVI Employees Federation Representative.
He said he believes that just a few votes can make a difference. Members of TVI's Governing Board are the managers of the school, similar to UNM's Board of Regents, making decisions on issues such as the hiring of the president, approving new programs, building new campuses and establishing tuition rates.
"Even more than with a TVI connection, any UNM student who is a parent has an interest in voting for the quality of their children's education," Krzyzanowski said.
UNM College Republicans adviser Gilbert St. Clair said that UNM students who also attend TVI or who have transferred out should take part in the vote today.
"UNM students should vote for the same reason the residents of Albuquerque should vote -- to be a good citizen," St. Clair said.
APS Board of Education members in districts 1, 2, 4, and 7 are up for election. In District 1, Miguel Acosta is running against incumbent Dolores S. Herrera. In District 2, incumbent Matthew E. Archuleta and Robert D. Lucero are running for the seat. As for District 4, Leonard DeLayo Jr., the incumbent, has no opposition, and in District 7, Kathy J. Frazier, David S. Garrett, Gorgon Rowe, Francis P. Page, and interim incumbent Douglas E. Mitchell are in the running for the seat.
In the TVI Governing Board election, the candidates for District 2 are Louis H. Pitts, Scott J. White, Don R. Fisher and Janet Saiers. District 3 has two candidates -- Joaquin Lujan and Jeff Armijo. District 4 has David Benavidez and board incumbent Carmie Lynn Toulouse. Running in District 6 is Penelope Holbrook and Agatha Lopez.
For those who are interested in finding out more about the candidates or polling locations, visit http://www.bernco.gov.
