By Julian MITCHELL

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla visited senior students at Clark Magnet High School Wednesday morning to encourage voter registration.

Padilla made the trip to share his passion for voting. Padilla sees voting as a strong expression for American freedom and encouraged students to register.

Most speakers, including Clark principal Lena Kortoshian, spoke on the importance of youth voting, echoing the views of Padilla.

“Your time is now,” said Kortoshian to the students.

Glendale City Clerk Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian was also a proponent for students becoming politically active. Through this, he said, they can attempt to make changes. He cited Alexander Hamilton as an example of how a young person – Hamilton was only in his early 20s when the American Revolution began – can effect change.

Padilla’s arrival at Clark was well-attended. Among those at the school for his visit were Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, Glendale Unified School District President Jennifer Freemon, State Assembly member Laura Friedman, and Crescenta Valley Town Council President Harry Leon.

“No disrespect to the adults in the front, but I’m here for you,” said Padilla to the Magnet School students.

At the conclusion of the assembly, students were given ample time to go out and register or pre-register to vote, a program Padilla spearheaded. Since he was sworn in as secretary of state in 2015, Padilla has been vocal in his support of youth voter registration.

Under Padilla, California has increased its number of registered voters to nearly 20 million. Before Padilla took office, only 17 million voters were registered; 73% of qualified citizens.

Additionally, starting in 2020 California voters will be able to enjoy more time to vote. Voting locations will now be open for 11 days during election season. Furthermore, voters in Los Angeles County will be able to vote at any LA County voting location.

Secretary Padilla was happy to share his story of his humble beginnings with the intrigued students. The son of immigrants, he said he had not considered politics a potential job for him during his time at San Fernando High School.

“Plan A was playing for the Dodgers,” said Padilla.

He worked in the aerospace field, having earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Massachusetts’s Institute of Technology. Only in 1994, due to the passing of Prop 187, did Padilla start to pay attention to politics.

The then-passed proposition limited the amount of public resources available to immigrants and their families. Although it was later found to be unconstitutional, Prop 187 propelled Padilla into politics. He was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001 and went on to become the first Latino council president. Currently, Padilla is helping to implement the California Motor Voter Program. The program automatically registers qualified voters who receive an ID or change an address with the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Anyone who is uninterested in voting can opt out of the process. Qualified citizens can also register to vote online.

Padilla was reelected in 2018 and will not be on the ballot during the upcoming 2020 elections, but he encouraged everyone to go out and vote in 2020.

“If you like what’s coming out of the White House, go out and vote for it,” said Padilla. “If you don’t like what’s coming out of the White House or, frankly, Sacramento … go vote. That’s your voice, whether you’re rich or poor.”

  Julian MITCHELL