By JAIME STUDD

For the Express

BROADALBIN — With local, state and national elections set to take centerstage in the coming months, the recent culmination of a semester-long project for some Broadalbin-Perth High School seniors couldn’t be more timely.

In September, students in the school’s economics and participation in government classes embarked on a mock campaign for a New York State Assembly seat.

What began as a campaign with approximately seven or eight candidates from each period of each class, will end this morning with the election of a single assemblyman.

On Thursday afternoon, the four finalists, one from each class, participated in a head-to-head debate that focused on some of the most pressing issues of the day, including the economy, capital punishment, welfare reform, education, tax policies and the legalization of marijuana.

According to B-P economics teacher Chris Kotraba, the project was meant to serve as an opportunity for students to gain valuable, real-life experience with regards to the inner-workings of government, the intricacies of a campaign and important economic issues.

Kotraba said the students spent a great deal of time researching the issues facing state legislatures and were asked to create platforms identifying areas of focus, budgetary priorities, personal agendas and reform plans.

Over the course of the semester, students drafted speeches, created campaign commercials, designed platforms and participated in several Crossfire scenarios and smaller debates, all of which served to narrow down the field to the four finalists — Nick Coveney, Brendan Perna, Tyler Raco and Madison Wilcox.

The remainder of the students were relegated to the role of media and campaign staff, drafting editorials and compiling newsletters. Today, they will also serve as the electorate.

While the candidates generally agreed on the need to address things like state aid to education and welfare reform, their proposed methods of tackling the issues varied widely.

When asked exactly how they would reform the state’s economic aid formula for schools, the distinct differences between each candidate was evident.

Solutions proposed ranged from the legalization of prostitution and gambling to generate taxes revenues to fund education and exploring energy-cost savings, to higher taxes on the rich and an equitable redistribution of state aid from downstate to upstate districts.

Next year, said Kotraba, the classes will also have to navigate the pitfalls of campaign finance and the various lobbies, in addition to the many aspects of the government, campaigns and the election process that are already part of the curriculum.

“We’re going to tweak it a little for next year,” she said.

According to one student, at least, this year’s mock campaign served its purpose as a method of learning.

“I learned a lot about how government works,” said Wilcox. “And often times, it’s more about how you say things than what you say.”

Asked whether he developed any political aspirations as a result of the project, Madison said, “I’ve thought about that, but politics is somewhat corrupt.”

Instead, Wilcox plans to study astrophysics or law.