Recent graduate hopes to connect city with campus life
Traviss Witt
Issue date: 2/18/10 Section: News
Three months ago, Ray Arnold was attending classes at Eastern, taking exams and serving as the academic affairs chair for the Student Senate.
These days, however, his interest in government has taken the 25-year-old political science major into deeper waters: He's running for a coveted seat on the Richmond City Commission.
Arnold, who graduated last fall, faces some steep odds. So far, 15 other candidates have tossed their hats into the ring leading up to the May 18 primary. Of those, the eight candidates who collect the most votes will then move on to the Nov. 2 general election.
But Arnold isn't discouraged by the odds. A lifelong Richmond resident, Arnold said he hopes to build a grassroots campaign, capitalizing on his ties to the university and expanding those connections into the surrounding area.
"No one cares about the students of Eastern and the people of Richmond more than Ray Arnold," said Zac Caldwell, a senior advocate of Arnold who also serves in the Student Senate.
Arnold, who currently works as a manager at Jimmy John's sub shop, is the youngest candidate in the running this term. But Arnold said he views his youth as a virtue, saying he would like to encourage the university community to take a greater interest in city affairs.
"I want to be the voice of the new generation," Arnold said. "I know there will have to be a transition at some point, and I would like to give our generation more of a voice."
While at Eastern, Arnold served for four years in the Student Senate. He also interned at both the Madison County Extension Office and at Rep. Ben Chandler's office in Washington, D.C. He said this gave him an opportunity to see how government works at several different levels.
He said he's running for a Richmond seat because he wants to see the city become more fiscally responsible in how it spends taxpayer dollars. He said that the city budget has been poorly monitored, resulting in negative financial repercussions for the citizens.
These days, however, his interest in government has taken the 25-year-old political science major into deeper waters: He's running for a coveted seat on the Richmond City Commission.
Arnold, who graduated last fall, faces some steep odds. So far, 15 other candidates have tossed their hats into the ring leading up to the May 18 primary. Of those, the eight candidates who collect the most votes will then move on to the Nov. 2 general election.
But Arnold isn't discouraged by the odds. A lifelong Richmond resident, Arnold said he hopes to build a grassroots campaign, capitalizing on his ties to the university and expanding those connections into the surrounding area.
"No one cares about the students of Eastern and the people of Richmond more than Ray Arnold," said Zac Caldwell, a senior advocate of Arnold who also serves in the Student Senate.
Arnold, who currently works as a manager at Jimmy John's sub shop, is the youngest candidate in the running this term. But Arnold said he views his youth as a virtue, saying he would like to encourage the university community to take a greater interest in city affairs.
"I want to be the voice of the new generation," Arnold said. "I know there will have to be a transition at some point, and I would like to give our generation more of a voice."
While at Eastern, Arnold served for four years in the Student Senate. He also interned at both the Madison County Extension Office and at Rep. Ben Chandler's office in Washington, D.C. He said this gave him an opportunity to see how government works at several different levels.
He said he's running for a Richmond seat because he wants to see the city become more fiscally responsible in how it spends taxpayer dollars. He said that the city budget has been poorly monitored, resulting in negative financial repercussions for the citizens.
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