Democratic Congressional Candidate Doris Matsui visited campus Monday night for a one-hour question and answer session with a group of 35 students, mostly from the College Democrats.

Robbie Abelon, former president of the College Democrats, said the event was a way for Matsui to thank the group for all of the help that it has been to her during her campaign.

The congressional seat became available when Congressman Robert Matsui, Doris Matsui’s husband, died in January.

Matsui said Abelon approached her staff on the day that she announced her candidacy and asked what his group could do to help.

He said it was important to him to help Matsui with this election because her husband was one of the main reasons for the career path he has chosen.

While working in Washington D.C. in 2002 as part of an internship exchange program, Abelon said he saw Robert Matsui often and when he found out that Abelon was from Sacramento he invited him to lunch one day with some of his interns.

“Meeting Robert Matsui and seeing an Asian-American in congress is what inspired me to get involved in politics,” Abelon said.

Staff members from Matsui’s campaign went to a meeting of the College Democrats after Abelon approached them and Matsui hired 11 members of the College Democrats to work as staff members for her campaign.

“I don’t think politics should be something that is a mystery to young people, so I want them to be involved with the political process. I know how important it is to involve young people in politics because they will be the next generation of leaders,” Matsui said.

Other groups on campus, like the College Republicans and Campus Peace Action, have not been as supportive of Matsui.

Sociology professor Paul Burke, chairman of the Sacramento chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America and a member of Faculty For Peace and Justice, said his group has endorsed Julia Padilla, another democratic candidate, because she has spent more time in Sacramento and knows more about what her constituents’ needs are.

He said Padilla has been to campus twice and participated in a debate with other candidates.

Matsui failed to attend the Feb. 16 debate.

Burke said his students attended the debate so they could be exposed to other candidates in the race and decide critically who the best candidate would be. After the debate he asked his students to analyze it and decide who they thought had won.

“The media announced Doris Matsui as a front-runner in the election before they took any polls and the coverage has made it very difficult for other candidates in the race, but it is important that voters pay attention to what each candidate represents,” he said.

Sean Fetters, president of the College Democrats, also wanted people to be informed about their candidate, which was the reason for the event.

Members of the audience asked questions about electoral votes, education, healthcare, social security and redistricting among other things.

Matsui said that she hopes to look at education more creatively and try to come up with a solution for the major cuts in spending that are happening at the state and federal levels because the cost is being passed on to students.

“I think it is important for you to get together and stand up for your education because it is your future that is at stake and I will support you,” Matsui said to the students.

The College Democrats have endorsed Doris Matsui from the day she announced her candidacy, Fetters said. They are the only group on campus who has endorsed her.

The College Republicans is endorsing Serge Chernay, one of five republican candidates, and Campus Peace Action is endorsing Julie Padilla.

Both Chernay and Padilla have made visits to the campus in the past three weeks to raise support among voters and show appreciation to the clubs for their support.