The College Democrats gathered for a town hall meeting with Jamaal Johnston, the democratic candidate for Virginia’s 60th district delegate seat, on Tuesday. The majority of Farmville lives in the 60th district.
“It’s important to have an idea what you guys are thinking about,” said Johnston, standing in the student union's Charlotte Room. “It starts with students.”
“He has come here today because he wants to know more about what the Longwood community wants in a candidate and the issues we care about,” said Joe Hyman, College Democrats president.
The attendants of the town hall asked questions on a variety of topics, including gun control, environmental regulations, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), community policing and education.
On education, when asked whether Standards of Learning (SOL) tests should be a priority, Johnston replied that they shouldn't.
“We’re putting a lot of focus on the results and not getting to what benefits all students,” Johnston said. “My focus on education is pretty simple … One of the things I’m interested in pushing as far as education is S.T.E.A.M. based education, folks in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.”
The College Democrats also asked what the biggest concern for Virginia education is today.
“Financing is always a concern,” Johnston said. “But beyond that I think having and retaining good teachers that are passionate about what they’re doing and interested in developing the kids will trump dollars.”
Spanish senior and Hispanic Latino Association President Brenda Pereira asked for Johnston's opinion on school vouchers in light of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ recent comments.
“I’m a product of the public school system,” Johnston said. “When you get to the voucher in the public schools, it’s a slippery slope because the charter schools have a lot of say-so over who is their students.”
When it came to gun control, Johnston said he wanted “common sense legislation."
He defined it as background checks and safety locks on guns, adding the assault weapons banned was ineffective.
Additionally, green energy and the economy were discussed when students questioned how Johnston would help Virginia’s environment. Johnston linked environmental protection to jobs.
“We need to transfer away from fossil fuels,” he said. “Technology is industry. Green technology is going to be a boom industry.”
According to Johnston, students are the driving force behind that industry.
“It starts with the students, prepare the workforce, prepare the students for green-based economy,” he said.
Pereira also asked about Johnston’s opinion on DACA.
“We have to take a people-first approach and removing those students is not the answer,” Johnston responded.
Pereira asked if Johnston would advocate for a more permanent solution, or if he would advocate for the renewal of DACA.
“I think you have to have a way to get them in permanently,” Johnston replied. “The challenge is you have a system in place, it’s kind of hard to try something brand new, but it’s doable.”
The topic of police brutality was also brought up. Johnston said he wanted to return to community policing.
“We’ve gone from a community policing model, protect and serve, to a us against them model. Gotta go back to community policing, plain and simple,” said the candidate.
Hyman said his organization wanted to continue to host candidates for the upcoming Virginia elections, set to take place on Nov. 7.
