Kids go their own way

While people may assume children would vote the same way as their parents, that's not always the case.

Children who participated in the Kids Voting program by going to the polls in both the Brainerd and Pequot Lakes school districts overwhelmingly elected Mark Kennedy to the U.S. Senate while Amy Klobuchar was defeated. Brainerd students voted 721 to 578 in favor of Kennedy while Pequot Lakes students voted 240 to 122 for Kennedy, who is a Pequot Lakes native.

"It's always interesting that the kids don't always vote the way the parents vote," said Nancy Cross, executive director of Brainerd Community Action. "We are very pleased with the results."

A total of 1,583 students voted in the Brainerd School District's 29 precincts while 387 students voted in the Pequot Lakes School District, the first year Pequot Lakes participated in the Kids Voting program.

Brainerd students cast 707 votes for Gov. Tim Pawlenty and 487 votes for Mike Hatch. Pequot students also "re-elected" Pawlenty with 223 votes and cast 96 votes for Hatch. Brainerd students elected Bob Olson mayor of Brainerd and Brian Lehman mayor of Nisswa while Pequot Lakes students elected Justin Bolz-Andolshek mayor of Pequot Lakes.

Brainerd students chose John Ward for District 12A, Paul Koering for Senate District 12 and Greg Blaine for District 12B. They also elected Todd Dahl as Crow Wing County sheriff while Pequot Lakes students elected Eric Klang. Pequot Lakes students voted in Doug Rach as Breezy Point mayor, Jay Andolshek as Crosslake mayor and for Lehman as Nisswa mayor. Pequot Lakes students voted for Carrie Ruud in Senate District 4, Larry Howes in District 4B, Paul Thiede as their Crow Wing County commissioner.

JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.