By HILLARY CHABOT, Sun Staff
Lowell Sun

LOWELL -- For 18-year-old Ruth Betsy Sanchez, who grew up in the Acre neighborhood, 
City Council candidate Rady Mom's words resonated.

The Cambodian native came from nothing, much like everyone Sanchez knows. And he made 
himself into something, which she hopes to do.

"He's so willing to listen, and you can tell (he would represent younger 
people) because he's been there," Sanchez said. "I look up to him."

She heard him and 17 other City Council candidates talk about youth issues at 
the United Teen Equality Center-sponsored youth forum last night.

Teens with multiple piercings questioned the candidates for two hours on teen 
arrests downtown, mental health for young adults, and affordable houseing. 
The event was aired live on the Lowell public channel.

UTEC is a youth-advocacy group started in 1999 to keep teens out of trouble.

Sanchez, who is a registered voter, said she plans on making her voice heard 
Nov. 8.

"I'm looking for somebody who listens to everybody and not just their boss," 
Sanchez said of her perfect candidate. "I don't want them to just listen to the 
city manager and that's it."

She liked challenger Michael Zaim and incumbent Rita Mercier along with Mom.

More than 70 people attended the event, and teens hooted as some candidates made 
their opening comments.

"The reason I'll represent you is, well, I'm young and I'm fresh. Very fresh," 
said challenger Kristin Ross-Sitcawich, 34.

"Yow," someone in the audience responded.

Johnetta Hunter, 19, said she wasn't interested in voting before this year. She 
hopes the candidates offer something to people her age and give her a reason to  
support them.

"If they offered us more resources and stared doing something that would help 
us I might be out voting," Hunter said. "Like programs teaching about black on 
black violence and stuff like that."

Hunter, who graduated from Lowell High School, like Mercier because she talked about 
using money seized from drug arrests toward programs to prevent drug use.

Incumbent Eileen Donoghue and other candidates used the evening to encourage younger 
voters to take part in elections and the political process.

"The question you asked is what will I do to represent young people, but I think it 
should be about what you can do with us to get something done," Donoghue said. "I'm 
looking for you to come 50 percent."

Buxton Shippy, 20, said he realized younger people need to get more involved.

"I think what they are saying is true, we do have to do our part," Shippy said.

But Sanchez said she felt candidates haven't reached out enough.

"They should come down to UTEC when there isn't an event and just visit. They 
could say, "Now you come out for me," Sanchez said.

Aida Gonzalez, a 14-year-old Broadway Street resident, said incumbent Armand 
Mercier was on her "good list" and said Mercier, "added a little flavor."

Though she can't vote, she plans to get involved when she turns 18.

Jesse Velazquez, 16, who helped organize the vent underscored the importance 
of why voting is important for young people.

"A lot of the issues that face adults face us too, only sometimes harder. 
If they can't pay for housing, we can't live in a house," Velazquez said.

Hillary Chabot's e-mail address is hchabot@lowellsun.com