Wednesday, October 1, 2003
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Wednesday, October 1, 2003 |
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Starr's Mill student is elected 'governor' of new 51st state With a sluggish economy resulting in a decrease in state revenues, today's governors are finding themselves in a position where they have to make some tough calls that are not always popular with their constituents. Despite these tough times, one high school student decided to take on the challenges of being governor this summer and earned himself national recognition in the process. Matthew Duckworth's rise to political power started when the now senior at Starr's Mill High was selected by Fayette County's American Legion to attend Georgia Boys State. GBS was established in 1940 with the goal of making young men and women (Girls State sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary) knowledgeable about the rights and privileges, and duties and responsibilities of American citizenship. Duckworth was among approximately 400 other rising male seniors throughout the state selected to attend the program this summer on the campus of Georgia Southern University. The program is a 7-day experience that literally creates a 51st state where participants are elected to city, county and state government positions, laws are passed and then enforced by appointed officials and a judicial system. Some of the most sought after positions are the state level offices; especially the office of governor. Duckworth says the idea of running for governor was something he had not given much thought to until the last minute. "It was mid-week and we were gearing up for campaign speeches when I decided I would run for the office. I did a lot of speech writing, staying up until 2 to 4 a.m.," he recalls. On the fifth day of the program, the winners of each political party's primary election address the citizens of the state and a general election is held. Duckworth says he could not believe it when he was declared the winner. Secretary of State Cathy Cox officially swore Duckworth into office. "I was amazed I was elected after jumping into this at the last minute. However, I really put a lot of effort into my speeches and campaign platform. The vote was close; I ended up winning just by three [votes]," he said. At the end of GBS, program officials select two exceptional participants to send to Boys Nation, the American Legion's national program. Duckworth was one of the two selected to represent Georgia. Held in Washington, D.C., Boys Nation exposes participants to government at the federal level. Participants enjoy many privileges during the program including meeting the President. Duckworth says he decided to apply to GBS because his brother had participated in it two years prior and had a great experience. He says he would recommend the program to anyone interested in government or politics. "I learned a lot about how city, county and state government works. The experience taught me leadership values that I will use throughout my life. It was a very rewarding experience that I will not soon forget."
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