Derek Slap

Sen. Slap Congratulates Connecticut’s Newest Kid Governor,
Myra Stanfield of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD – State Senator Derek Slap (D-West Hartford) was on hand today to congratulate Norfeldt Elementary School 5th-grader Myra Stanfield as she was officially announced as Connecticut’s next Kid Governor – a yearlong position that comes with an office in the Old State House, a year-long series of public events, and a cabinet made up of other Connecticut 5th-graders.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor is an award-winning civics program for 5th- graders created by the Connecticut Democracy Center which immerses students in learning about state government, elections, voting, and civic participation through a real-life election for their state’s Kid Governor. 5th-grade students in public, private, magnet, charter, and home schools are welcome to participate. Students research community issues and create three-point platforms to address those issues, and make campaign videos.

Stanfield ran on and won on a platform of preventing animal abuse: she plans to raise awareness of the problem by collecting donations for animal rights organizations and holding a statewide adoption event.

In front of 400 students and staff in the Norfeldt Elementary Schoolauditorium , Sen. Slap and state Representative Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford) presented Stanfield with a citation from the General Assembly offering its congratulations and thanking her for her dedication to democracy and her willingness to serving West Hartford and the state.

“I’m a big believer in listening to people, to people of all ages, because we all have something to contribute to our democracy,” Sen. Slap told a packed auditorium at the Norfeldt School. “Myra’s election today is evidence of that contribution. Her youth is no barrier to seeking and making change. She’s not waiting until she’s 18 to register to vote and make a difference here in Connecticut. Myra is such an inspiration for all of us, I can’t wait to see her work as Kid Governor and beyond!”