10-year-old Clyde Toohey of La Grande is representing Eastern Oregon on the Kid Governor Cabinet
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, February 10th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – Eastern Oregon has a local student in the 2023 Kid Governor Cabinet. Clyde Toohey of La Grande was announced to the cabinet recently and has since sat down with Elkhorn Media Group Staff about being a part of this program.
(EMG) Thanks for being here today, let’s start with an introduction of your name, how old you are and what school you attend.
(CT) I’m Clyde Toohey. I am 10 years old, and I go to Central Elementary.
(EMG) Clyde you applied to be Oregon Kids Governor, why did you decide to do that?
(CT) One day my teacher just got an email, that said they had finally got this program up and running and she thought it would be something I would like to do. So, I thought about it for a bit and then I decided I’d like to do it, and then I kind of just did it.
(EMG) So you made a video and you talked about some of what your platform would be and what you would like to do if you were a kid Governor. What were some of the things you mentioned in that video? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfbER8HwJiw&feature=youtu.be)
(CT) My three-point plan was to get more physical activity during the day, get more after school clubs and also get better and healthier lunch choices.
(EMG) Why were those three things important to you?
(CT) Well, I like to have our schools healthy. So, the first one was physical activity and I just love to be active and activities are very important to me.
I like healthy lunches and good lunches. I mean, most of the lunches we have at our school aren’t the greatest, but they’re okay.
And then my third point was after school clubs because I like doing sports and other clubs like that.
(EMG) So unfortunately you were not named as Oregon’s Kid Governor, but you were appointed to the cabinet, what does that mean?
(CT) It means I will help Oregon’s Kid Governor Lea with her three-point plan, and I think try and carry out some of mine too.
(EMG) How long is your term in the cabinet?
(CT) It’s a one-year term and I already went to Salem for my inauguration. And then I’ve just got a couple more Zoom meetings with the other Kid Governor and the cabinet members.
(EMG) Do you think that when you’re older, you might run for a public office?
(CT) No, I don’t think I want to be a politician!
(EMG) So what do you want to do when you grow up, do you have any ideas?
(CT) I kind of want to be an inventor or something kind of like that. I don’t know.
(EMG) Why do you think it’s important for kids your age to get involved with stuff like this?
(CT) Well, to get leadership qualities and to be working on a team and really just thinking about how public matters.
(EMG) Clyde, I see that you brought your younger brother with you today, let’s talk to him for a second.
What is your name?
(WT) My name is Wiley.
(EMG) How old are you?
(WT) Seven.
(EMG) What grade are you in?
(WT) Second
(EMG) Do you think you will run for Kid Governor when you are old enough?
(WT) Yes, my brother did, so I think it would be a good idea.
(EMG) Are you proud of your brother for doing this?
(WT) Yes!
(EMG) Thank you both for joining me today and Clyde, enjoy your year in the Oregon Kids Governor Cabinet.
Learn more about Oregon’s Kid Governor at http://or.kidgovernor.org/
