Boys State is now in session at UCA

The 66th annual session of the American Legion Department of Arkansas Boys State is under way at the University of Central Arkansas.

Young men from across the state gathered together Sunday to register and form groups of counties and cities in order to meet new friends and learn about local and state government.

Throughout the week, the boys will be campaigning for political positions and hoping for the most prestigious of titles, Arkansas Boys State governor.

Aside from preparing for the upcoming election, the Boys State delegates have heard from various speakers all week. Some of these speakers included state representatives and senators, school board members, the state land commissioner and a city attorney.

Wednesday during the general assembly, Boys State coordinators announced the winners of the preferential primary elections and which candidates would be participating in the runoff elections.

Polling places will open for state elections after lunch Thursday and winners will be determined as to who will hold what position during their trip to the Capitol on Friday.

Gov. Mike Huckabee will speak Thursday night during the general assembly, prior to the inaugural address of the 2006 Boys State governor-elect.

Early Friday morning the delegates will load the buses and head to Little Rock to spend a day in the shoes of the positions to which they were elected. The Boys State House of Representatives and Senate will convene that morning.

Upon returning to UCA that afternoon, the young men will learn who the Boys Nations delegates will be and a closing presentation will be held.

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(Staff Writer Jessica Montgomery can be reached by e-mail at jessica.montgomery@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1236.)