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Bishop kicks off voter registration campaign at Clearfield Job Corps

CLEARFIELD -- Job Corps student leadership had the chance to meet with Utah leadership when Republican Congressman Rob Bishop visited the vocational training center Tuesday.

Bishop made the visit to kick off the center's voter registration campaign, but the congressman urged the room of about 75 student leaders to go further than that. The Job Corps is its own voting precinct.

"There's an old saying, 'The world is run by those who show up,' " Bishop said. "The fact that you are here shows that you have that inner determination to make something better for yourselves. I am grateful to be here, as I am looking at the future of America."

Bishop wanted the students not only to be active participants in choosing their next local and national leaders, but also to become them.

"I am excited about the idea that you don't have to be trained to work in government," Bishop said. "Anybody can make a difference. It does indeed work. We have had 200 years to experience that. It takes people willing to start the process and that's what you are doing."

Many of the students in attendance were already familiar with the process of elections as they were voted into their current positions by their peers.

At the end of Bishop's address, students were allowed to ask questions. Most asked general questions about the congressman's feelings on Job Corps or his priorities in office. Student Lourdes Mariscal, 22, surprised him with a well-researched question on a bill Bishop voted against that would expand Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program.

"It expanded it to incomes that went 200 percent above poverty level, which I didn't think was excessive myself," Mariscal said, who plans on going into politics in some form.

Bishop explained that while he thought Utah used CHIP very well, he believes this bill, which would have allowed adults to use the program, would abuse the process.

"I am somewhat satisfied with his answer," Mariscal said "At least he explained why he did it, his reasoning behind his decision."

After the congressman spoke, Ben Horsley, Davis County Republican party chairman, further explained the election process that began Tuesday night with the political party caucuses, which many of the student leaders were planning to attend.

"People will gather together in their neighborhood meetings and elect the officers and delegates to represent them at conventions, which will decide nominees for each of the parties," said Horsley. "They have a voice, they just need to make it heard. If you show up, that's what matters."

Many of the students learned more about the political process and how it applies to them.

"They were both very well spoken," said student Brandon Fuque. "I didn't really understand platforms very well. They explained that they were foundation statements, basically (a candidate's) beliefs."

The ideas shared by Bishop and Horsley helped Zach Smith, who was recently elected Job Corps precinct chairman, understand why it is important to get involved.

"You shouldn't talk bad about the government if you are not trying to change it," he said.

Most of the students appreciated how Bishop took the time to visit with them.

"Although I may not agree on everything he does, I think it still is a positive thing," Mariscal said. "For him to actually recruit people from our center to become delegates -- that I am impressed with. Because I honestly thought he was just going to come here to do some propaganda for the Republican party."

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