It’s so refreshing to see young people interested in politics. A teenager just won the election for mayor in a small town in Iowa. The 18-year-old kid, Jeremy Minnier, won with 24 write-in votes, and the incumbent received 8 votes. He ran his write-in campaign because he thought the opinions of Aredale's 73 residents were going unnoticed.
Minnier will take office January 3. He believes he can accomplish some big things, including talking to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about septic issues. "We have some things with the DNR and their septic problems with everybody needing leech fields or needing pods put in their property for their septic. Another thing is rural water because we all have our own wells in Aredale. And . . . we can just improve the overall appearance of the city and make it a place people like to come to," he said.
Minnier is still in high school. He is in the high school band. He's president of his school's Future Farmers of America and he writes for the school newspaper. After school, he has a part-time job.
When he graduates from high school he plans to attend the community college close to home next year so he can continue his duties throughout his four-year term.
This is so cool! I don't think that I had political aspirations when I was that age, but this is a great opportunity for him. I think that his town's population has a lot to do with him getting the position. 24 votes vs. 8. That's not that big at all. This almost seems like a popularity contest in the town.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't even imagine being that young with such responsibilities. It is cool to see young people interested in politics like that. I hope he has success with that position.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder what kind of town its like though. It does seem like a small area, regardless though that is a cool feat!