COMPTON, Calif. — Teenagers like Octavia Anthony and Ariana Garcia have been preparing to put candidates vying to be the next mayor of Compton to the test by hosting a forum and debate on Friday at the home of the Compton Kidz Club. 

At just 16 and 17, respectively, Anthony and Garcia will be the moderators for the debate.

"We are the future," Anthony said. "We are the ones who are going to have to live with these policies the longest. I feel it's fair that we get a voice, or you talk to us to see our perspective or how we feel about certain things."

Under the direction of teacher and mentor Fred Martin, they will not just be throwing up softball questions to anyone trying to hold office in Compton.

"I want to hear the candidates talk about actual plans because I think we hear too much of 'Oh, we're going to fix the potholes, we're going to clean up the trash," Anthony explained. 

"Everybody wants Compton to be better, but what is your plan, and how are you going to execute that plan," Garcia continued.

Since becoming a part of Compton Kidz Club, the ladies have been engaged in political activity on all levels, including meeting with former presidential candidate Tom Steyer.

In a city where there are about 100,000 people, less than 6,000 voted in the 2017 mayoral race. It is why Anthony and Garcia know if they can encourage just a few more young people to get involved, they really can have a say in who runs things.

"We know we are creating change with whoever is in the room," Garcia said. "If it is three people in [the] room, five, 100, 20, whatever, we know that those 20 people are going to be impacted after hearing what we have to say."

Anthony agrees.

"We are a force to be reckoned with," she said.