With the voter registration deadline for the upcoming March primary election looming on Feb. 17, political science students at California Sate University, Fresno are conducting a campaign to get students involved — including a candidates fair set for Feb. 23 on campus.

The Political Science Association at Fresno State began a Voter Registration Drive on campus Jan. 27 to encourage students to participate in the primary elections as well the general election in November.

The two-part Feb. 23 event, “Candidates Fair 2004,” will begin in the Free Speech Area and run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The candidates will meet students and distribute their campaign material.

Then at 2:30 p.m in the University Student Union, Room 312, each candidate will deliver a five-minute speech about their political stands and aims, after which the audience will get five minutes to direct their queries and questions to the candidate.

Both sessions are free and open to the public.

“The purpose of the fair is to give Fresno State students and faculty along with the members of the community an opportunity to interact with the candidates who are asking for their votes,” said Kym Leyva, president of the Political Science Association.

The candidates or their campaign representatives who are scheduled to participate in the fair include Michael Karbassi, Fresno City Council race; Larry Mullen, 9th Congressional District race; Sue Saigal, Fresno mayoral race; and John R. Crockford, 29th Assembly District race.

Other primary election candidates may still confirm, Leyva said.

The political science students are also visiting classes, meeting with the faculty, distributing flyers and setting up information booths at various places on campus to ensure maximum student participation in the elections, Leyva added.

The fair is co-sponsored by the Civic Engagement Valley Regional Project (CEVRP), which is part of a one-year grant under Campus Compact’s California Student Action for Change Initiative.

Leyva and her organization, in association with the Fresno chapter of the League of Women Voters, are also working with Fresno County officials to set up a voting booth on campus for the November elections.

Voter registration forms are available at the Associated Students office (University Student Union, Room 316) and other locations on campus.

For more information contact Leyva at (559) 271- 7774 or (210) 473- 2700 or e-mail: candidatesfair2004@hotmail.com.

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