Rep. Panetta shares his story with local students

Salinas >> Congressman Jimmy Panetta said he had no clue as he grew up what he wanted to do, until finally one day it just clicked.

A little more than 300 high school students from 11 different schools throughout Monterey County got a chance to hear Panetta's life story during Monterey County Law Day at Hartnell College on Tuesday.

Panetta, who was the keynote speaker at the event, also talked to the students about the importance of the separation of powers built into the Constitution and the power of the citizen voice through the election process.

"I think it's great that you have kids at this age who are interested in understanding basically the laws that obviously govern our nation, especially when it comes to separation of powers," Panetta said. "When they turn on the news, they understand that there are reasons why the courts are getting involved in some of the decisions that the administration is making and why Congress is getting involved as well."

National Law Day is held each year on May 1 and was created to celebrate the role of law in society. The American Bar Association designates a Law Day theme to highlight an important issue relating to the law or legal system.

This year's theme was "Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom," which enabled students to reflect on the separation of powers and to consider how the governmental system is working for citizens.

Panetta said people are going through a time where all three branches of the government are constantly being talked about in the news, especially with situations such as DACA, the repeal on the Affordable Care Act and why there is so much noise with the ongoing Russia investigation.

"I do believe that at this time we are seeing our system of checks and balances fully flex its muscles. And that's a good thing," he said. "I'm glad we were able to provide some information as to why that's happening."

The day was also led by Julie R. Culver, a judge for the Superior Court of Monterey County, who was part of a panel discussion with Panetta, Judge Stephanie E. Hulsey, Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal, Monterey County Public Defender Jennifer Davenport and Assistant District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni.

But, for some students like Rodrigo Guzman, a graduating senior at Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, it was a lot to digest.

"It was so much to take in about Jimmy Panetta being this big congressman and into the government going into a judge's perspective, to a public defender's perspective," Guzman said.

Arianna Mendoza, a junior at Rancho Cielo, said she felt that Panetta discussed a little too much of the judicial branch and wanted to know more about the other two.

"Judicial is supposedly supposed to be the most powerful branch but I think we should get covered more on legislative and executive and see what their powers were and get more taken into more detail on them," Mendoza said.

In addition to explaining the separation of powers, Panetta talked about his struggles as a high school student. He said he wasn't sure what he wanted to do when he graduated from Carmel High. For him, it was all about sports like football and not so much of the political stuff like his father, Leon Panetta, a congressman who went on to be President Clinton's chief of staff, the director of the CIA and Secretary of Defense.

Jimmy Panetta graduated Monterey Peninsula College and UC Davis with a bachelor's degree in international relations.

That was followed up with an internship at the United States Department of State and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. Panetta joined the Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer, completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan, worked his way into the Alameda County prosecutor's office and finally was a deputy district attorney for the Monterey County District Attorney's office.

Zeana Miranda, a junior at Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, said what stood out the most about Panetta's story was that nothing was handed to him.

"He went through it, he found things that he knew he didn't want to do and then found what he wanted to do," Miranda said. "It's not like you have to have everything set and figured out once you're out to college."

Miranda said she felt like Panetta made a connection with most of the students in the audience, especially the ones who are still undecided on a future.

"That can connect to a lot of people. A lot of people don't know what they want to do, yet," she said.

Miranda won first place in the Art and Essay Contest for her poster board that was made to represent the three branches of government. Aryana Penny, a freshman at Rancho Cielo, won the essay contest.

Both students were awarded with a $500 gift card to Office Depot and each plan to buy a laptop for school.

"This was a marvelous experience for our high school students as they're completing the school year," said Nancy Kotowski, superintendent at the Monterey County Office of Education. "They're able to take a moment out to really think about the future, to look at the path that they've taken thus far and to see what steps they can take to advance themselves."