What happens when you combine politics and youth? Does the next
front page of The New York Times read, “Delinquent,
Drug-Induced Politician Goes on School Shooting Spree with
Insufficient Evidence”? Though the headline isn’t too
far from what we’ve seen in recent history, the answer is
“no.”
In many instances, young politicians have served their
constituencies better than their older, “wiser”
counterparts. Granted, these young politicians are exceptional
cases, but at the same time they have also made exceptional
contributions.
One such person is Alex Padilla, who became the third-youngest
person ever elected to city office, and at the age of 26 became
president of the Los Angeles City Council. Just one of his
accomplishments includes securing $9 million to fund the Valley
Youth Initiative, a job-skills training program for San Fernando
Valley youth.
Also at the age of 26, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. was elected
to represent the 9th district of Tennessee. Ford is now serving in
his fourth congressional term, was recently appointed to the House
Budget Committee, and in 2002, teamed up with Rep. Tom Osborne to
author the “Call to Service Act,” a bill designed to
expand opportunities for Americans to perform national and
community service.
“So what?” you think to yourself. “Two guys
I’ve never even heard of got elected at a young age and are
doing some good stuff. How does that affect me?” Good
question. First, keep in mind that these people are still young and
have only recently begun their careers. Second, take into account
two older, more accomplished people who also started out in the
political arena at a young age ““ Michael Moore and Bill
Clinton.
For those of you who don’t know (but I hope you do),
Michael Moore is the author/comedian/director who gave us such
political satires as the Emmy award-winning show “TV
Nation,” the book “Stupid White Men … and Other Sorry
Excuses for the State of the Nation,” and his most recent
film, “Bowling for Columbine,” which has already won 22
awards and the International Documentary Association has called it
the “best documentary of all time.”
What may be even more impressive though, is that in 1972 ““
shortly after the ratification of the 26th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution allowing 18-year-olds the right to vote ““ Moore,
still in high school, ran for the Flint, Michigan School Board of
Education. He won, becoming one of the youngest people in the
country ever elected to public office. His early start undoubtedly
helped him become the extremely controversial public figure he is
today.
Do I even need to discuss former President Bill Clinton?
I’m just going to say that at the age of 30 he was elected to
the post of Arkansas Attorney General and two years later won the
governorship in 1978. I don’t think anyone will question his
accomplishments, or how in one way or another he has affected our
existence.
While age and experience can obviously make a difference,
nothing substitutes the ambition and determination youths like
Padilla, Ford, Jr., Moore and Clinton possess when they genuinely
strive to change their surroundings. Their improvements and ability
to voice their revolutionary opinions inspire peers to take a
stand, oftentimes leading to great social change.
Dylan Loewe, a 20-year-old UCLA third-year political science
student, has been inspired. Similar to Michael Moore, he is taking
action by running for the Las Virgenes Unified District School
Board. Instead of spending his summer vacation in Hawaii or
backpacking through Europe, he’s taking classes and
campaigning daily for his race on Nov. 4.
But Loewe isn’t just a student. He can’t even shoot
craps in Las Vegas yet and already his resume reads: deputy to
mayor pro tem of Calabasas City Council, member of the Legislative
Coalition, Curriculum Council and Calabasas School Site Council for
the Las Virgenes Unified School District, and political finance
consultant for the fundraising firm Dolan & Associates. Pretty
impressive, huh?
There are still many people who can’t get past his age
though, and see that as their main deterrent in voting for him.
However, Loewe remains confident, saying “I bring a youthful
passion to the campaign that older candidates cannot. I believe
this, combined with my experience and understanding of policy
issues, makes me most qualified.” Since he has already
garnered many impressive accomplishments and has many intriguing
ideas for improving the school district from which he recently
graduated, Loewe’s chances of improving his surroundings look
good.
I’m not saying that every 20-year-old should go out and
run for office ““ after all, I’m not. It just seems like
when someone does, you almost never hear about it. And given the
track record of some extremely influential people (e.g. Michael
Moore and Bill Clinton), I think aspiring young politicians deserve
front page coverage at least once in a while.
Sefanov is a fourth-year communication studies student.