VENTURA : Mayor Informs Schoolchildren About His Job

When Tom Buford came to visit Will Rogers School on Thursday, the thing that really surprised Beth Cox, 9, and Young Yang, 8, about the mayor of Ventura was his appearance.

“I thought he would be fat and bald,” Beth said, giggling.

Since beginning his term in office 14 months ago, Buford--who is slender with a full head of hair--has been on a crusade to visit all the public schools and many of the private schools in Ventura.

“I’m going to be mayor for two years, so I wanted to get out and talk to the kids and find out what’s going on,” Buford explained in classroom after classroom at the mid-town elementary school.

The mayor got treated to baton twirling performances in one classroom and song-singing fests in others, as the students showed off their productions for the school’s patriotic pageant later in the month.

But mainly, Buford faced a barrage of questions.

“Do you get paid any money?” one fifth-grader wanted to know.

Buford’s answer--that he makes $800 each month plus $300 for expenses--impressed the 10-year-old pupils.

“Whoa!” some kids cried out.

Children surrounded Buford on the playground at recess, asking him if he knew such music groups as All 4 One, or movie stars such as Chuck Norris. (He didn’t).

“Have you ever been to the White House?” 10-year-old Jason Innis wondered. Buford said he had not, although he has visited Washington.

“Hey, what do you think about O.J. Simpson, Mayor?” Dalonda Ikhimokpa, 10, wanted to know.

“Well, what do you think?” Buford replied.

“No,” Dalonda corrected him, “I asked you first.”

Buford demurred that Simpson must be innocent until proven guilty.

“He should have shot himself while he was in his Bronco,” one boy offered. “That’s what my dad says.”

At the end of his two-hour visit, Buford met with the school’s student council in the auditorium. The half-hour Q & A session left student body secretaries Beth and Young with the impression that being mayor is hard work.

“He has meetings a lot,” Beth said.

“And he gives a lot of speeches,” Young added.

“But he spends a lot time,” Beth concluded, “telling people what he does, and going to schools.”