How I made it to city hall: Justin Nickels, 22, on being one of America's youngest mayors.

• Author: Nickels, Justin
• Position: VOICES

On April 7, 2009, I was elected mayor of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the city where I was born and raised.

My career in politics began when I was 17 and a senior at Manitowoc Lutheran High School. I read in the newspaper that elections were being held for five City Council seats, and I decided to place my name on the ballot. Even though I had been interested in politics since I was 13, when I volunteered for At Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, I really had no idea what a Council member did. But I cared about our city and its 34,000 residents, so I went to City Hart and became a candidate.

During the campaign, I learned that, first and foremost, people want elected readers who listen to their concerns. As I went door to door, day after day, voters told me they were most concerned about the economy, overspending, and the accountability of city officials.

I ended up winning, with 56 percent of the vote, against a 16-year incumbent--surprising many people in the process.

My four years on the City Council were an education in how a city runs: I learned how to balance a budget, work with people with different agendas, and fight for the things that are important to me, like curbing wasteful, spending.

Last year, I decided to enter the 2009 race for mayor. Manitowoc was $70 million in debt, and I felt that we needed to took at things from the point of view of someone who wants to work and raise a family here.

The campaign was tough, and the biggest issue I faced was my age. My opponents said I didn't have enough life experience to be mayor, that I was single, and didn't even pay property taxes. "I can't do anything about my age," was my usual, response, "but here's what I plan to do on the issues." I won the election by just 17 votes out of more than 9,500...