Chad Perez, a student at West Hills High School, realized he had a piece of political memorabilia when he sat in recently on a question-and-answer session with U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine. During a speech to students from the Grossmont Union High School District, Hunter immediately noticed Perez, who was sitting in the front row at the La Mesa Community Center.

“This fine gentleman has a 'Hunter for President' button. Let me tell you, that's going to be worth a lot of money because there's not many of them,” Hunter said, jokingly. Hunter abandoned his long-shot bid for the presidency in January.

Hunter spent about 90 minutes speaking to and fielding questions from the students, who had plenty of queries about border issues, the economy and the war in Iraq.

The students were members of the executive council of Grossmont's Associated Student Body, meaning they were elected officers in student government.

Hunter did not mention Iraq during his speech, but it came up quickly once the students had a chance to ask questions.

Naomi Ocen-Odoge, president of the student body at Santana High School, wanted to know if Hunter believed reinstating the draft would be necessary to continue the United States' involvement in Iraq. Hunter said it would not because the military has a sufficient level of volunteers.

“The ones who are volunteering the most are the ones who have been in combat,” Hunter told about 50 students who attended the event last week.

Hunter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the war will bring long-term stability in the Middle East.

“If you have a grandson who's a Marine 30 years down the road, he's going to have less of a need to be deployed in the Middle East,” Hunter said.

Kevin Morton, a senior at El Capitan High School, wanted to know if Hunter – a staunch advocate of strict border policies – believed spending money to bolster the Mexican economy would be an effective way to reduce illegal immigration.

Hunter said it would cost too much money and that corrupt Mexican politics has created a Mexican society that favors monopolies and obliterates the middle class.

“It keeps entrepreneurs or guys with a better idea from getting their first hand on the ladder,” Hunter said.

Students also questioned Hunter about the weakening U.S. dollar in the global economy. Hunter said the problem is tariffs that are imposed by countries such as China and that the United States should match any tax another nation imposes on exports.

“It's up to the government to ask for a level playing field,” he said.

Several students said afterward that they appreciated the time Hunter spent answering their questions.

“I was kind of flabbergasted with the answers he gave us,” Ocen-Odoge said. “I didn't know he would get into that level of detail.”

Brandon Kashou, a student at West Hills High School, said he wished Duncan's campaign buttons were more than a novelty.

“It's a pity he couldn't stay in the primary after I heard what he had to say,” he said.

Alan Schnepf is a San Diego freelance writer.