By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — “All politics is local,” as the saying goes. Given this, it was logical for the students in Shea High School’s Public Administration Program to begin their journey of learning about the political process on the national and international scene with a trip to City Hall.

Now in its fifth year, Public Administration Program offers Shea students an opportunity to learn about government through a combination of classroom time and volunteer internships at state and local government agencies. Operated through the school’s history department, it has become so popular that a second section was added for the first time this year to accommodate more students.
Michael Connolly, a Shea history teacher who has since retired, initiated the unique program, with help from a federal Perkins Grant and other grant funding sources. Interested students must apply to be considered for the program, which places an emphasis on good grades, interest in politics and a commitment to completing the unpaid internships.
Gary Gabriel, who retired from a globe-trotting job with the United Nation’s Development Program, was recruited as a volunteer instructor, along with members of the school’s history department. This year, history teachers Ed Kostka and Glenn Hopkins are each teaching a section, with instruction augmented by Gabriel, who has worked on behalf of the UN in such places as Latin America, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe.
“It’s a model program. It’s really a school-within-a-school,” noted Kostka, who said that, to his knowledge, this is the only such public administration academy in the U.S.
Both he and Hopkins said that teaching the program is rewarding because it tends to attract the best and the brightest students, many of whom are excited about the political process and presidential campaign. A number of the students have already signed up with the city’s Board of Canvassers to be poll workers in the Nov. 4 election.
On Thursday, the students walked from Shea to Pawtucket City Hall, where they met with Mayor James Doyle and Registrar Kenneth Magill. Between the mayor and Magill, they heard about the local political process and as well as the mechanics of using a voting machine and casting a ballot.
Doyle, a former history teacher himself, explained to the students how the city government, with its mayor and City Council, is structured similar to the national level, with the executive and legislative branches. “I’m the executive branch and the City Council is the legislative branch. If we’re working in harmony, things go well. If not, the progress is impeded,” he stated.
Doyle explained that he is in the midst of a campaign himself this year, against opponent Donald Grebien. He noted that campaigning for mayor is done essentially the same way as for president: “You’re appealing to voters.” He said that for him, this means going door-to-door, which he finds most effective, as well as trying to reach voters through campaign signs, mailed literature and newspaper advertising.
Doyle took questions from students, including one young lady who asked, “What made you run again?” Doyle recalled how, as a boy growing up in Pawtucket, his family lived in a triple-decker apartment house that was occupied by other relatives.
“Every night, I remember that my father would visit my uncle who lived downstairs, where they would have coffee and cake and talk politics,” said Doyle. He added that as he listened to their discussions, he found it interesting, which lead to his own long political career. “Some of you will get the ‘bug.’ I guarantee it,” he said.
Magill, who spearheaded legislation to lower the age of poll workers to 16, said the city is looking for more people to help out with what is anticipated to be a very busy election day. He added that anyone with bilingual experience, especially in Spanish, Creole or Russian, would be of particular help at polling places with a large ethnic population.
Magill noted that the city has roughly 37,000 registered voters and that turn-out is expected to be about 70-75 percent. “You can be of great assistance to a someone voting for the first time and who is unfamiliar with the process,” he said.
Magill talked to the students about referendum questions, using the example of how voters in 2006 passed a bond to construct the new animal shelter that is nearing completion in Slater Park. Noting that the project has been somewhat controversial because of current financial woes, Magill said, “It actually passed by a pretty overwhelming margin.”
Magill also handed out sample ballots and showed the students how to connect the lines to make a vote and how to enter their ballot into the voting machine. He urged the students, some of whom would be voting for the first time in the upcoming election, to educate themselves as much as possible about the candidates and what they stand for before they head to the polls.
In response to a student who wondered what happens in the event of a tie, Magill pointed to the recent Cumberland primary, where a City Council-at-Large race ended up as just that. He noted that the Democratic Party’s town committee had been allowed to cast the deciding vote, but questioned whether this was the best process. He added that he intends to meet with the city’s law department to look at this matter further in regard to the city’s own ordinances regarding tie votes.
For students like Alyson Catalan, who said she is interested in learning how government works, the Public Administration Academy has been “a great experience.” “I have an interest in politics, so I’ve benefited a lot from it,” she said.
Brian Lemus, a senior who wants to pursue a career as a math teacher, said he also is enjoying the program. He especially cited the internship part, saying he thinks it will provide him with valuable experience for college.
Michelle Carini, who said she is thinking about a career in politics or law, also gave high marks to the program. “We get to be involved in internships. I think this will be good experience,” she said.