Pupils get the chance to be Mayor of Leeds for the day
School children from across Leeds are competing to become Mayor for a Day and help switch on the Christmas lights.
Potential mini-mayors have drawn up their manifestos and the winner will spend a day at the Civic Hall in their role as mayor.
They will get the chance to meet senior officials and councillors and be asked to speak at a meeting of all the city's 99 councillors.
Other highlights will be a ride in the Lord Mayor's limousine and helping to switch on the city's Christmas lights.
Youngsters have been setting out their ideas for how the city should be run as part of Local Democracy Week, a national initiative organised to improve young people's understanding of local government.
To help the mayoral candidates develop their ideas three themes were chosen – green travel, the new Leeds Arena and regeneration.
Voting is being organised through the schools.
Last year's young Mayor, 13-year-old Connor Prior is a pupil at Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School.
Measures to limit damage to the environment were the main plank of his manifesto.
His policies included families cutting their carbon footprints by a quarter, increasing fines for people who drop litter, doing more to tackle rubbish in schools, encouraging people to recycling more and developing a school policy on the environment.
Coun Richard Harker, executive member for learning, said: "I'm really pleased that so many schools across Leeds are getting involved in Local Democracy Week and taking part in Mayor for a Day.
"Many of the ideas being put forward by students in their manifestos are imaginative and I think the voting is going to be really close."
Coun Richard Brett, council leader, said: "Unfortunately not enough young people are interested in politics, but Local Democracy Week is the perfect opportunity to explain to them what we do.
"And, we're really interested in what young people have got to say – their views are just as important as the adults of this city and the Mayor for a Day competition is a perfect way of finding out what youngsters think and what their priorities are."
The candidates and their campaign slogans are:
Sophie Connolly, Boston Spa School – Let's Get Leeds Rocking; Michaella Biscomb, Brigshaw High – Everyone has to give a little, take a little, to gain a lot; Alice Brain, Bruntcliffe School – Easy Green Street; Beth Rosanna Tonkin, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High – Greener by days, Greener by bikes; Raneek Hull, City of Leeds High – Leeds is the place you can experience the four corners of the globe; Katrina Hendry, Corpus Christi Catholic College – Be green be seen, forget the hike take a bike; Christopher Thomas Carr, David Young Community Academy – Working Together to Create a Greener and Greater Leeds; Zoe Tarry, John Jamieson School – Get Leeds Moving; Bryony Jameson, Morley High – Leeds Arena Calls You; Jonathan Corner, Prince Henry's Grammar School – One Goal, One Passion; Rebecca Fox, Roundhay School Technology – Roll into School and Tunnel Through Leeds; Joe Matthews, St Mary's Menston – A Landmark for Leeds; Steven Gierke, Temple Moor High – A new door to entertainment in Leeds; Hannah Durno-McMonagle, West Leeds High School – Arena for Leeds; Rebecca Levett, Wortley High – A vote for me is a vote for a greener world.
Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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