YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
LAUNCHES GET OUT THE VOTE CAMPAIGN

Sarasota, FL:  The Youth Advisory Board to the Sarasota City Commission will spread voting awareness to residents in District One Saturday, February 21, 2009 by passing out absentee ballot request forms and providing information about the upcoming March 10, 2009 citywide election. The Board will meet at Goodwill, 1781 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, at 9am.   In addition to the six Board Members, City Commissioner Kelly Kirschner, City Auditor and Clerk Billy Robinson, and Deputy City Auditor and Clerk Karen McGowan will walk door-to-door during this awareness event. View door hanger.

The YAB is a group of students who strive to give youth a voice within the City of Sarasota.  “We were impressed by how many voters turned out for this year’s presidential election and we were hoping we could stir up that much involvement in our local election because it is so important to our culture and society,” said Rebekah Pfaff, Chairperson of the Youth Advisory Board and a senior attending Sarasota High School.  “We hope that we can inspire people to participate in the electoral process, especially in an election that has a direct affect on the daily lives of people living in the city of Sarasota,” said Pfaff.

District One, comprised of downtown and North Sarasota, had the lowest voter turnout  during the last City Commission election, March 13, 2007.  The YAB hopes to boost voter participation by going door-to-door encouraging registered voters to request absentee ballots and to remind them about the upcoming election.

A primary goal for the YAB goal this year is to increase the awareness of local elections and propel residents toward more involvement with their local government.  With this event, the Board hopes to see an increase in voter participation as well as greater awareness for the political and government actions that take place within the City.   “The purpose of this board is to show the importance of being involved in government,” said Vice Chairperson Kylie Gardner.  “And if we can show that importance to our community we can make a difference.” 

The Youth Advisory Board will continue to promote voter awareness within the City by reaching out to the youth of the City at the local high schools.

For more information contact Kylie Gardner:  941-724-0283 (cell).

 

 

For more information, please contact:
Jan Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-2613
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com