Agran’s Young Supporter Is Rejected Too

Sixth-grader Mark Webster got a lesson in just how tough politics can be when he wanted to play Democratic presidential candidate Larry Agran in a mock press conference.

His teacher said the same thing state party officials have been saying to Agran: no.

Mark said now he knows how the former Irvine mayor feels when he is not included in the televised debates.

“I was a little upset,” said Mark, a student at the Oyster River Middle School in Durham. “I said he’s on the ballot, but my teacher said he’s not on any of the televised debates.”

Mark said what has happened to Agran, and to him, is un-American.

“If people get a chance to hear him in a televised debate, he could get elected,” said Mark, who met Agran on New Year’s Eve. “It seems . . . an unelected (party) official can choose who we vote for when the public hasn’t even been given a chance to decide.”

Todd Allen, Mark’s teacher, said he wanted to teach them the issues in the campaign and thought including lesser-known candidates would confuse the class.

“I admit I’m a victim of what’s available in the news media,” Allen said.

Mark played Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey instead.

“I’m delighted to have that young man’s support,” Agran said. “I think he’s committed to democratic principles, and it’s only regrettable his elders, his teacher and people who ought to be leading our party and our country don’t hold to the same principles this young man does.

“Maybe we ought to lower the voting age to 12,” Agran said.