ELECTION 2004

• Cheney, Edwards trade sharp barbs • Case Western U. cashes in on occasion • Cheney, Edwards spar over Iraq, truth-telling in their debate • Campus becomes nearly carnival • Excerpts from Tuesday's vice presidential debate LOCAL • Old warriors disagree, but they do so amiably • Stand-in Portman center of attention • School election offers glimpse for future voters • Election 2004 section

TRANSCRIPT

• Go online for the complete debate transcript

Eight-year-old Parker Bates said the decision to vote for George W. Bush was an easy one. "I don't know anything about him, but I know Kerry's going to raise taxes," Parker said. "I think I heard that on the news or something."

Kiah McKenney, 8, went with John Kerry. "I don't know why, but I think he would be a good president," said Kiah.

"What I'm trying to instill in them at this age is that it's the process of voting that's important," said third-grade teacher Jeanne Buring.

Buring is teaching her students about government and the election process. She's brought a voting machine into her classrooms the last four presidential elections. She opened the voting to the entire school and got 100 percent participation.

"It's very important that we vote, because we won't have a leader if we don't," said 8-year-old Zachary Parrish.

Logan Mitchell, 8, posted a sign he made that said, "Vote or don't be complaining who the president is."

"I just wanted to find a way to attract people to vote," Logan said.

Boone County Clerk Marilyn Rouse supplied the voting machine. Buring helped each child operate the machine as her students took turns collecting voter registration cards from kids before they voted.

The political process is something Buring has been part of for years. Her husband, Don Buring, was the commonwealth attorney in Kenton County for nearly two decades before losing his re-election bid in 2000.

"He lost by just a few hundred votes, but we've never lost faith in the process even though it changed our lives," said Buring. "I believe in this. It's too important."

Lauren Lyons, 8, of Hebron, points to the candidate of her choice to register her vote in the North Pointe Elementary election. Third grade teacher Jeanne Buring, right, arranged to have an actual voting machine brought into the school for the election. (Enquirer photo/SARAH CONARD)

She does this exercise not only to show kids how important voting is, but to get them to take what they've learned home to their parents. "I hope they go home and tell Mom and Dad they've got to vote," said Buring. "Who runs for your local school board, your mayor, your fiscal court? You have to know who is running your city."

Kids Voting USA says Buring's method works. The nonprofit agency in Arizona has been teaching students about the importance of political participation since 1988.

"We had parents say, 'If my kid hadn't come home and told me they voted, I wouldn't be voting,'" said Paula Case, spokeswoman for Kids Voting USA.

Rouse said four other schools - Walton-Verona High, Ryle High, Yealey Elementary and Immaculate Heart of Mary schools - will also be voting on the machine this month.

When the votes were tallied at the end of the day at North Pointe, Bush was the winner, 541-147.

"The school's vote will probably mirror the county's vote, and that's fine," said Buring. "But I don't think it will be that way around the country. I told them we now have to watch what happens nationwide."

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