One of the most confounding targets for any local campaign is the youth vote. How do we get young people involved? How do I tap into that? candidates always ask. In the end, unless you’re some sort of political rock star, is usually goes untapped.
The City of Cincinnati is seeing a surge of young people involved in local politics though. They just elected three young professionals under the age of 35.
From Cincinnati.com:
The faces of Cincinnati City Council will look a little younger Thursday with the swearing in of three young professionals, one among the youngest ever elected.
Chris Seelbach, Yvette Simpson and P.G. Sittenfeld promise new ideas, enthusiasm and civility. With them Cincinnati also gets: more understanding of what it’s like to live in the city’s urban core, as Simpson lives in the West End and Seelbach in Over-the-Rhine; a lean to the left, as all three are Democrats, for a total of seven on council; and almost unanimous council support for the streetcar.
Theirs are the faces of the generation, the “creative class” Mayor Mark Mallory and so many Chamber of Commerce and business officials say the city must attract and keep.
“I think you can have competence and shared values if you’re 27 or 77,” said Sittenfeld, the youngest at 27. “I think we’ll have a stronger impulse to be friends with each other and work together. And I think this election sends a message – we have a seat at the table.”
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Not surpisingly, all three new Council members are on Twitter.
Give their age, do you think that young professionals have any leg ups against older candidates?
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