Youth Revitalizes Political Scene

Despite the stereotypes, young people are not all disaffected slackers in search of a tasty wave and a cool buzz. Doubt it? Just look to the three young men running for seats on the Santa Clarita City Council. The oldest is 26 and already part of the local political scene. The youngest just turned 18 and is still in high school.

Although their political leadership abilities are untested, the three are perfect council candidates in a relatively young city. About 40% of Santa Clarita’s residents are under 22, and local policy focuses frequently on how to keep young people occupied. For instance, plans to build a skateboard park have sparked public debate. As 18-year-old Michael Egan noted: “Who better to relate to youth but youth itself?”

Good question.

Even if none of the young men prevail at the ballot box, they promise to bring fresh perspectives and potential solutions to the front line of government. Age alone does not indicate political potential. Consider Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, first elected to the Los Angeles City Council at age 26. Unfettered by the prejudices and habits that accumulate with age, young politicians can inject a sense of hope and help erase the mental boundaries that strangle innovation.

For all the talk of making the world better and safer for young people, surprisingly little actually gets done to make it so. Part of the fault lies with young people who demand a political voice and then often fail to exercise it. That appears to be changing as more young people turn out to vote, bucking their popular image as political nihilists. The next step: younger candidates, whose inexperience is matched only by their aspiration.

Whenever the political spectrum is broadened, everyone benefits--regardless of age.