A House Debate in Arizona

How three candidates are different—and alike—in a battle for Congress.

As the candidates walked into the room, the crowd chanted their names. Shouts of either, “Harry,” “David,” or “Nick,” accompanied each of the three candidates for House of Representatives, District 5, Tempe, Arizona, as they prepared for a debate in mid-October.

Incumbent Harry Mitchell, Democrat; David Schweikert, Republican; and Nick Coons, Libertarian, each waved and took their seats, along with the moderator, Robert Leger. Even though Leger and the candidates asked to the mostly over-40 audience members to restrain from clapping during the debate, applause frequently interrupted.

The main topics discussed were economy, taxes, immigration, border security, healthcare, and education. They all agreed that the most pressing issues are the economy and job creation.

Mitchell, the incumbent, called for tax cuts for small businesses, as well as reductions in estate, capital gains, and payroll taxes to stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Schweikert, who is running as a Republican, blasted a stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year, saying it did not help his community despite $31 million that was spent locally. His solution is to provide incentives to small businesses and institute a flat tax on income.

Libertarian Coons said the government should not be trying to stimulate the economy. He said government interference only makes the situation worse.

Mitchell supported President Obama’s health care legislation, also approved by Congress earlier this year.

“The previous system could not be sustained,” he said.

Schweikert countered that the new health care reform bill, “will bring us down flat.”

A teacher by profession, Mitchell said that there should be more emphasis on education. He criticized Schweikert for opposing a 1 percent sales tax increase that would have funded public schools in the Phoenix area. Schweikert defended himself by saying that he thought that the schools’ administration would not handle the money wisely.

Coons does not support public education. He says public education is badly run and favors supporting private education instead.

The two main candidates, Mitchell and Schweikert, didn’t disagree on everything. They agreed on the fence recently built along the border of Arizona and Mexico to keep out illegal immigrants. Also, Mitchell said that the controversial Arizona immigration law which calls on law enforcement to stop anyone they suspect of being in this country illegally, has created a bad image for Arizona. Both Schweikert and Coons agreed.

What the voters think will be decided on November 2. Check back here to find out which candidate will represent the 5th Congressional District in Arizona when the 112th Congress is seated in January 2011.

—Maya Williams, Arizona

PHOTO: At a debate in Tempe, Arizona, are candidates (from left) Nick Coons, David Schweikert, Harry Mitchell, and moderator Robert Leger. (Photo Courtesy Maya Williams)

Skills of a Kid Reporter

What I've learned will serve me all my life.

Being a Kid Reporter for Scholastic is an amazing experience! It’s also a big responsibility. But don’t freak out—it’s a lot of fun, too. You go to interviews, write stories and blogs, and learn important journalistic skills that will serve you your whole life.

My favorite thing to do was interview interesting people like author Juanita Havill and NBA referee Violet Palmer, the first woman referee in professional basketball. For both interviews (and every other one I’ve done), I had to do a lot of research beforehand to figure out the questions I wanted to ask.

During the interview, you have to listen carefully so you can ask additional questions based on what you are hearing. Your story is much better if you listen and learn while conducting your interview. I also had to prepare equipment for interviews, some of which were done in person and some over the phone. All of them were taped so I could get accurate quotes for my stories. (Remember to always ask the interviewee if it is OK to use a recorder.)

But interviews are just the beginning of assignments. After the interviews, I had to write the stories. That means deciding what parts of the interviews I want to quote and how to structure the story so that it has a good beginning, middle, and end. I also have to choose which pictures to send to my editor. In the case of my interview with Havill, I also wrote a review of her book, Grow: a Novel in Verse.

I like conducting interviews because it gives me a chance to meet people that I would otherwise never meet and to ask them questions that puzzle me. You can really get to know some interesting people, especially if you listen to what they are saying. How cool is that?

Talking about cool, one thing that happened after my story on Violet Palmer was that she mailed me an autographed picture of herself to my school. Now, as Kid Reporters, we are not allowed to ask for autographs. It’s unprofessional and in some cases, like on a red carpet or in a locker room, it’s not even allowed! But Ms. Palmer did this on her own. I didn't know about it in advance.

My vice principal gave me the envelope in front of everyone at school. I was so proud! To this day, her picture is framed and hanging on my bedroom wall. By interviewing people for Scholastic, I have improved my communication and writing skills, big time.

You can be a Kid Reporter, too. The application process is under way! Click HERE for information on how to submit your entry. And do it NOW! Deadline to mail in your entry is October 12.

—Maya Williams

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Maya Williams with an autographed picture of NBA referee Violet Palmer. (Photo Courtesy Maya Williams)

My Vacation In Argentina

Eating with family a big part of tradition in my parent's country.

This summer I went to Argentina to visit my family. It took me 20 hours and three planes to get to my hometown there.

The best part of my trip was spending time with my large extended family. And man, they spend time together, all right! In Argentina, you see almost the whole family (including grandparents and great uncles and aunts) almost every day!

At 1 p.m. each day, I had lunch with my grandfather, my aunt, my uncle, my cousins, and my mom and dad. We would sit at the table for hours conversing and laughing. At 9:30 p.m. every night we had dinner with the same people and sometimes a few additional members of the family. In Argentina, you never have a meal alone, quietly, or quickly.

My family also has a barbecue every single Saturday at my grandfather’s house. You don’t even need an invitation! If you are a member of the family in any twisted, complicated way, you’re invited. So are really close friends who are considered family.

Because of the importance of having family lunches, all of the shops close at 1 p.m. so that staff can have lunch at home and take a nap, called a siesta. The businesses open again at around 5 p.m. and stay open until about 9:30 p.m. So, as you can see, dinner takes place really late (restaurants open at 9 p.m. and stay open until 2 a.m. or more)!

Whenever I went downtown with my mom, we would run into at least five family members or friends every time. Sometimes we would sit down and have coffee, make plans for dinner, or just say hello to them. This isn’t a coincidence or anything—people don’t move as often or leave town as often as they do in the U.S., so everybody knows each other.

I love going to Argentina for vacation, but it wouldn’t be the same without my family!

—Maya Williams

PHOTO: My family at one of many long—and fun—lunches in Argentina.

Turn Off Lights To Shine

Phoenix elementary reads by the light of the sun.

Kyrene De La Estrella, a public elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona, is doing its part in helping the planet, by holding a Lights Out Week the week of Earth Day, which is on April 22.

Kyrene de la Estrella will use only its skylights for the entire week. The only exceptions will be if a classroom’s skylights won't open and can't be fixed. Turning off the lights not only helps the planet, it helps the school save money by using less electricity.

You don’t need to turn off ALL your lights to help the Earth. Turning off only a couple of lights in the lunch room also helps, Principal Dr. Jeff Williamson told me. He said Estralla turned off just a few lunch room lights and the students didn't even notice. I certainly didn't and I eat there every day!

Estrella teachers and students are also limiting their use of paper. More than 30 million trees are cut down each year to publish books in the United States, according to eco.libris.com, a group that asks people to plant a tree for every book they read.

My school saves plenty of trees a year. All of the schools from the Kyrene District are having a contest to see who can recycle more during the week of Earth Day. Estrella happens to recycle every day, but contests are always fun!

“I think that the recycling contest is a really good idea," said one student from my school. " Instead of throwing away all of the paper [used during the day] you can reuse it.”

The winner gets a tree planted in front of the school, where all of the other competitors will see it, and sigh wistfully.

Some people think that helping the planet takes too much effort, but a fellow fifth grader disagrees.

“[Helping the planet] doesn’t take much effort," she said. "Because little things make big changes.”

By helping the planet, a lot of schools’ students will be working together for a common cause—to help the planet. That’s what Earth Day is all about! What's going on for Earth Day at your school? Use the comment box below to send your stories and tips!

—Maya Williams

PHOTO: A student at Estrella Elementary in Phoenix, Arizona, reads by the light of the sun. All lights are off at Estralla for the week of Earth Day, April 22, 2010. (Photo Courtesy Maya Williams)