The Teenage Candidate
Larry Rose didn’t care very much about politics. As senior in high school, Larry spent his time studying and talking with friends. He also ran on the Westmont high track team.
Then one morning, Larry saw the newspaper. It said, “ New Neighborhood on stardust Hill.”
“What ?” Larry said. “ they can’t build houses on stardust Hill! The hiking trails are up there. I go running there with the team every day. A lot of people walk their dogs or ride their bikes on those trails.”
“ well, I’m afraid That’s going to change,” said his mother. “the newspaper says a developer is going to build 150 houses on Stardust Hill.
Larry was very angry. He didn’t want people to build new houses on Stardust Hill.
“ We should do something,” he said over and over again.
“ There’s nothing we can do,” said his friend Chris. “The only people who can stop the building are the people on the people on the city council They’re the ones who approve the plan.”
“ Well, then I’m going to run for the city council,” said Larry
“ You’re only 18, Larry. You can’t be a candidate,” Chris said with a laugh. “ No one is going to vote for a teenager.”
But that day after school, Larry stopped by City Hall. He learned that people were going to vote for a new city councilor in two months.
“ Can I run for a seat on the city council?” Larry asked.
“ You have to live in Westmont,” the man told Larry, “ and you have to be eighteen years old.”
“ Great” said Larry. “I can do it.”
Over the next few weeks, Larry put up signs all over town. “save Stardust Hill! Vote for Larry Ross!” the signs said.
Larry also spoke on a radio show. “ Westmont is a great place to live,” he said. “I want it to stay that way. I want to make sure we don’t lose our hiking trails.”
The other candidate for city council was Joshua Dunham. Joshua owned a gas station in town. He wanted new Houses on Stardust Hill. “I’ll be the first person to buy a house up there,” Joshua told a reporter.
Joshua didn’t do much to win. He didn’t put up signs. He wasn’t on the radio show “ Larry Ross is just a kid,” Joshua said. “A teenager isn’t going to win.”
On March 10, The people of Westmont voted . Larry was nervous. He was afraid Joshua Dunham was right. He was afraid no one would vote for him. But that night, the TV news said that Larry won!
“this is great!” said Larry. “I have a lot to learn about how to be a city councilor. And I may not be able to stop them from building on stardust Hill. But I’m going to do my best.”