Party Pros : At Annual Mock Convention, Students Get a Firsthand Look at Politics

Amid wild cheering, horn blowing, foot stamping and sign waving on the convention floor, Brian Herrero of Simi Valley won his party’s endorsement Thursday to run for president of the United States.

Marco Lira, who lost the nomination by just two votes in the final polling of delegates representing all 50 states, was instead picked to run for vice president on the Sequoia Political Party ticket at Convention ‘96, a mock national convention held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

In his acceptance speech, Brian, 13, vowed to work hard to implement his party’s platform.

“I promise to keep kids out of gangs and off the streets . . . and not raise taxes to pay for these programs,” he told a cheering crowd of about 500. “I will not fail this great country.”

Brian’s mom, Marlene Herrero, watched proudly from the sidelines.

“This is a really great accomplishment for him,” she said. “It’s a milestone in a person’s life.”

Brian and Marco were among the 430 Sequoia Junior High students--joined by dozens of parents, school staff and volunteers--who participated in the third convention the school has sponsored since 1992.

Social studies teacher Ron Lucio headed a group of 20 teachers and 100 parents and Kiwanis Club volunteers to coordinate the effort.

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The daylong convention--complete with plastic boaters with patriotic hat bands, helium-filled red, white and blue balloons tied to every other chair, and an arcing helix of balloons over the podium--was conceived to capture students’ interest and imagination about government and politics.

“I hope this carries over so that when they are 18, they register to vote,” Lucio said. “I hope they will participate in the political process and make a difference. That’s my dream.”

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), the event’s keynote speaker, emphasized civic participation in his address.

“Get involved, because I do not want to see you cheat yourselves or cheat your country,” he urged the group. “And register Republican when you turn 18!”

Natalie Mastrolonardo described the speech as interesting. But, she added, “It kind of went on and on.”

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The students prepared for the convention with three months of research, studies and activities. Each student was a delegate assigned to a state. They wrote letters to their state capitals, seeking information about its distinctive qualities.

Vermont delegate Nick Black, 13, offered some of his acquired knowledge: “It’s known around the world for its maple syrup.” Fellow Vermont delegate, 14-year-old Chris Tripodo, said the buildup to the convention had taught him a great deal about politics.

“It’s more complicated than I thought,” he said.

Kevin Tande, 14, added, “It’s a lot more fun having a hands-on activity than learning from books.” The students’ platform reflects a mix of conservative and liberal values, including a two-week waiting period to own handguns, restrictions on abortions, tighter border control and expanded sex education classes.

“This is a conservative community,” said teacher Lucio. “It’s predominantly Republican, predominantly white, middle class.”

But he credited the students for doing their own research and coming up with their own viewpoints.

“They’re good thinkers,” he said.