GREEN CANDIDATE SPEAKS AT WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

Cliff Thornton, the Green Party candidate for governor, spoke to a
group of students at Watertown High School on the morning of
Wednesday, September 20. Mr. Thornton spent over an hour speaking
with seniors in Allen Marco's fundamentals of government class. The
class is currently studying state governance and Mr. Marco has
invited state politicians to speak to his students.

Mr. Thornton's campaign manager, Ken Krayeske, introduced his
candidate and explained to the class that Mr. Thornton had to collect
750,000 signatures around the state to be on the ballot for governor.

Mr. Thornton began his discussion with the class by talking about his
life, including his childhood in Hartford, his Army service, his 27
years of employment with Southern New England Telephone, and his
recent work with drug policy.

Explaining the Green Party ideas to the class, Mr. Thornton stated
that he feels that "the Green Party is the only party talking about
issues that are important to Connecticut."

He briefly discussed how he was nominated at the state convention.
Mr. Thornton then discussed many issues that were relevant for the
students such as education, the creation of student unions, the
changing of the voting and drinking ages, and involvement with the
Board of Education.

"You've got to have a sound education," Mr. Thornton said, and
proposed a policy of ten pupils per teacher in all classes. He also
proposed free tuition and fees for college, and asked "if 12th grade
is free, why not the 13th grade?"

Mr. Thornton involved the students in many of his discussions, such
as the creation of Canadian-like universal health care. "We are
trying to have everyone equal, as far as healthcare is concerned,"
said Mr. Thornton.

Mr. Thornton then answered questions from the students on varied
topics, including; the war in Iraq, gay marriage, views on firearm
laws, abortion, the legalization of cannabis, and the differences
between the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.

In response to questions about the war in Iraq, Mr. Thornton
answered, "with all due respect to the soldiers serving overseas, I'm
sick and tired of people talking about the war over there, and not
the war here." He said that in the last three months, there have been
over 120 shootings and killings in Connecticut. Mr. Thornton said he
would keep the National Guard in Connecticut, in case there was a
disaster here, such as a hurricane.

"I really enjoy talking to young people, I really want to encourage
you to participate in the things I was talking about today," Mr. Thornton said.