After clamoring for change in national politics last semester, the College Democrats have shifted their focus to their own backyard.

St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay visited the College Dems for their first meeting of the new year to start stumping for young support for the mayoral primaries in March.

Slay, a graduate of Saint Louis University Law School, said that he was pleased to be back, noting that the Frost campus has “changed for the better.”

For about five minutes, Slay spoke about the importance of the youth vote before taking questions from the 25 students who braved the wintry trek to the Laclede Classroom Building for the meeting.

“We saw what happened, particularly in the last presidential campaign, when young voters get involved,” he said. “I’m here tonight to see if I can get your support.”

Slay also addressed the city’s need for more expansive public transportation, higher-paying jobs and broader opportunities in education.

College Dems President Lauren Khouri said she hopes her organization’s involvement in St. Louis politics will send a message that “we’re men and women for others; for the local community.”

Khouri said that she hopes to bring other mayoral and aldermanic candidates to future College Dems meetings.

“We want to keep the momentum going.”

Khouri also indicated that the on-campus polling place that allowed students to vote in the national election in November will likely be open for the local primaries in March and the general election in April.

Khouri said that she thought students should play a role in shaping the politics of the community that surrounds them.

“We are here for four years; this is our community,” she said. “A couple hundred votes make an enormous difference, especially at the local level.”

Kate Sliney, president of the College Republicans, said that her group has yet to finalize plans for the coming semester.