Ledge Enquirer - Central High Students Have Q&A with U.S. Congressman

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By Mark Rice

As one of the student ambassadors leading U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, on Thursday's tour of the Phenix City Public Schools Career Technical Center and Freshman Academy, Central High School sophomore Sierra Eastridge was mighty impressed with the man representing Alabama's 3rd Congressional District.

"People like to say that when you work in Congress and you're a politician that you can't be down to earth," she said. "But even though he was professional, he seemed like a really down-to-earth person."

Central senior Jeruel Hunter put the federal lawmaker's visit in perspective.

"It shows we're pretty important," he said. "You don't get a congressman to come down every day."

Sierra and Jeruel were among the student leaders who met with Rogers for a Q&A in Central's media center. Here are excerpts from the session:

Has anyone in your life, other than family, helped you get where you are today?

"I had several folks. In high school, I had a coach that meant a lot to me, somebody that -- more than anything about directing me in a way -- he made me believe in myself, and that's a big deal. One time, when I was in college, the guy who became kind of my political mentor was Glen Browder, who was the Democrat who had this congressional seat before most of y'all were born, and he's still a close friend of mine today. He was one of my professors at Jacksonville State University. Go Gamecocks!"

What are the most important issues facing our country?

"Well, I'd say two fronts. One is our national security. We've got real threats around the world that are a threat to us. When you look at what's happening in Ukraine, with Russia invading there and threatening our allies in the region, our NATO allies. When you look at China and North Korea in Asia threatening our friends South Korea and Japan and Taiwan. And then you go obviously to what's in the news in the Middle East, where you've got ISIS threatening and saying they will take over the whole region. Those are all threats that we have to deal with, especially like with ISIS saying, 'We intend to bring it to y'all,' meaning us.

"So our national security is something we're going to have to deal with in a more serious way. You're going to see a lot more attention to that in the next few years, and it will be a part of your adult life for your entire adult lives. These folks who hate us and want to kill us aren't going away anytime soon. That's one thing.

"The other thing is our economic situation. We have been in a slow, almost non-existent economic recovery since 2008, and many people would say we're still in a recession. That's got to be dealt with. We've got to find a way to turn this economy around, stimulate growth so that you folks would be able to have jobs and be able to feed your families."

As a congressman, what kind of community service have you participated in and are there any ways you'd like to see more done?

"Most of mine have been through political organizations and civic organizations … raising money for projects. But one thing I would like to see more schools do … require the senior grades -- ninth, 10th, 11th and 12th -- to get at least 12 or 18 hours of community service in order to be able to move on to the next level. I think that's great.

"My kids worked on the walk for cancer and a host of local community and civic activities. I think all that stuff reminds us that we're part of not just our small circle of family and friends but part of a larger community, and there's a lot of folks who need and value what you have to offer. … It may be working a soup line. It may be selling tickets for a Kiwanis breakfast that raises money for poor children to have presents at Christmas time. So it's very valuable."

Spending so much time in Washington, D.C., how do you stay connected to the community here?

"I commute. My family lives in Calhoun County. I have a wife there. I have three kids, two at the University of Alabama and one who's still at home. I come home every weekend. You see me in the Winn Dixie store and the Walmart, just like I was before I went to Congress. We're in the same church. We live in the same neighborhood. And, trust me, people are not shy about sharing their thoughts with me when they see me at Walmart or whatever. (Crowd laughs.) I personally make it a point to go there even if I don't need anything. … I want to hear what they're thinking and what's bugging them.

"Plus, we're in session usually three weeks to four weeks in a row, and then we get a week where we're not in session. That week is for us to do things just like this. I'll spend every day doing town-hall meetings, speaking to civic clubs, touring schools. … All that stuff keeps me connected with the real world, which is where I live.

"Trust me, there's nothing real about Washington, D.C. And it helps me keep my finger on the pulse, so I can reflect that with my vote, because, the truth is, I represent 700,000 people, and I can't make all of you happy, but I want to make sure I have a good feel for how most of you feel about every issue.

"So when I vote, it's the way you want me to vote, not the way I want to vote. I can tell you that I've cast some votes that I disagreed with, but I know my district. … That's why they call me your U.S. representative. I'm supposed to represent you, not dictate to you."

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