Candidates answer questions

Main Street signals to be installed soon

Anti-Porn Conference Held

Rexburg City Council elections approaching

Rexburg City council elections will be held Nov. 3.

However, there are a large number of people living in Rexburg that are not getting involved in the elections: BYU–Idaho students.

BYU–I students are often impacted by what the council decides. The new parking restrictions around campus were passed by the city council and are affecting students every day.

Students are eligible to vote in city elections after living in Rexburg for 30 days.

To register as a citizen, go to the county clerk’s office. A driver’s license or a bill with your Rexburg address is needed to prove you have been living at the address for 30 days.  

If you are already a Rexburg resident, it is possible to register to vote at the polls according to http://www.rexburg.org/electioninfo.aspx.

Donna Benfield, a city council candidate, hopes to get students involved in Rexburg.

“I feel strongly that Rexburg needs BYU–Idaho and BYU–Idaho needs Rexburg. I want to bridge the gap between both. Rexburg is ‘America's Family Community’ and that includes BYU–Idaho,” Benfield said. 

There are three city council positions open. City Council President Christopher Mann, and council members Bart Stevens and Randall Schwendiman’s four year terms are coming to an end. Mann is the only council member to run again for office.

Other candidates for city council include: Christopher West, Bruce Sutherland, Donna L. Benfield, Lynn M. Betts and Kelly H. McKamey.

Other candidates were cotacted but did not return a call.

Members of the city council that are not up for re-election are Rex Erickson, Richard Woodland and Adam Stout.

LDS Church Member seeks seat in Congress

Rob Cornilles (R), a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has begun his campaign for congress in 2010.  

Cornilles, a small business owner and life-long member of the Church, launched his campaign for Congress in August. Cornilles is running in Oregon’s first congressional district.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks in his devotional address last Tuesday, called for people like Cornilles to get involved in the “public square.”

“I have relied on an old military maxim that when there is a battle underway, persons who desire to join the fray should, ‘March to the sound of the guns.’ So it is that I invite you to march,” Elder Oaks said.

Elder Oaks also discussed religious affiliation in obtaining a political office. The constitution states, “No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public trust under the United states (article VI).”

Cornilles does not see any issues with his religion hurting his political campaign.

“Why would religious affiliation hurt a republican candidate who shares the same religion as the democratic Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid? It hasn’t hurt him, so why should it hurt me? If someone who opposes me because of my religious faith doesn’t at the same time oppose him, they are demonstrating it’s not about religion, it’s about politics,” Cornilles said.

Cornilles hopes to help individuals and communities within his district to “achieve their full potential” according to his website,cornillesforcongress.com.

“We need representatives in Congress who are of the people,” Cornilles said .

Student achieves internship with congress

Alexandra Walborn, a junior at BYU–Idaho, procured an internship with Congressman Peter Hoekstra from the second congressional district of Michigan.

Walborn has had the opportunity to be a disciple leader while she has been interning in Washington, D.C. When her co-workers found out that she was a member of the church, they responded with, “That explains a lot”.

“I think it is great how no matter where we go people are always watching us, observing how we will act under certain pressure. I'd like to think the reason those staffers reacted that way means I'm setting an example of discipleship here,” Walborn said.

According to Walborn, her co-workers have respected her because she has upheld her standards[i1].

“My co staffers have treated me differently; they don't swear in conversation with me, like they do in casual conversation with each other, and they seem to trust me more and more every day in the office,” Walborn said.

Obtaining an internship in Washington, D.C. is very competitive. Most congressional internship positions go to seniors, but Walborn has just finished her sophomore year, and will begin her junior year in January.

Walborn is a native to Shelby, Michigan, which is in the second congressional district of Michigan.

“I did have a couple of things going for me: first, each congressional office favors intern applicants from their[i2] own congressional district and second there is more competition in the summer than the fall,” Walborn said.

[i3]Walborn says she is an English major and wants to have a career in writing.

“I wanted to intern in D.C. to work to improve my writing skills and possibly see if I might ever be interested in press work.” Walborn says.

The qualifications for an internship in Hoekstra’s office require knowledge of American government, a subject that Walborn was not very familiar with, being an English major.

“I'm not a political science major, so it took some time to get caught up to speed with all the terminology. To anyone thinking about working for the federal government, don't feel discouraged from applying for an internship just because you aren't a political science major. All you have to be willing to do is pay attention to detail and come ready to learn.”

Interns in Hoekstra’s office are responsible to assist the staff, prepare correspondence for the legislative staff, answer constituent inquiries, conduct research, and help with day to day operations, according to Hoekstra’s websitehttp://hoekstra.house.gov/ConstituentServices/internships.htm