My friends in student government have their eyes on the prize. Ten to twenty years from now they fully intend to run for office, hold high powered political positions, or run national issue organizations. It's a long term strategy that has worked for political youth since the birth of the Republic.
But that doesn't mean it's the only way to skin a cat. Meet Michael Sessions, an 18 year old still attending High School who is the new Mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan. He won as a write in candidate, securing 670 votes... two more than the 51 year old incumbent.
I talk a lot about "credible candidates" to people interested about why so many positions remain unchanged from election to election. The theory being that a race needs a credible candidate, not just a challenger, if it's going to be competitive. Turns out this is not always the case... at least not in the Hillsdale Mayoral race. But credibility impacts more than just the race for office. Now that he is in he'll have to work with the nine person city council, who probably have little-to-no respect for their newly elected leader.
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It is also worth noting that credibility in a race is a function of how much time/money/effort the candidate puts into it. A virtually unheard of candidate can become credible by doorbelling, getting their message out, and dedicating their full attention to the race.
It sounds like at least 670 people found this young man to be credible, two more than the incumbant. I would say that's a strong vote of satisfaction that the council of Hillsdale would do well to appreciate.
I'm not sure this is as much a comment on American politics as it is a comment on the state of small town America.
Where else could a kid with $700 become mayor by shaking some old persons hand and putting up flyers in the high school gymnasium (one assumes)?
This is not so much a question of credibility as it is a question of the 65 and over crowd thinking he was a "nice young man" and a promise to not serve salsbury steak every Friday in the cafeteria.
Oh, and v1@grA!!!1!ONE C_H_E_A_P!!!
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