Why I'm Running for Public Office.

• Author: LASLOVICH, JESSE
• Position: At age 19 - Brief Article

I've had a lot of experience in government--student government, that is. I was even elected president of my high school student body. But I took a giant step last winter when I decided at age 19 to run for the Montana Legislature.

My generation has been labeled apathetic when it comes to politics. Indeed, many of us are, because we can't relate to the older leaders who run our government. But that shouldn't deter us from getting involved. We represent the future, and should have a say in the decisions that shape that future.

My dad used to be a county commissioner and my uncle is a political science professor, so politics runs in my family. I always thought I'd run for public office someday; it just happened sooner than I expected. When I heard that no one was interested in filing to run for the State House seat from my district, I decided to give it a shot. My former high school government teacher, who had encouraged my interest in politics, was planning to run, but she got pregnant and couldn't do it. So, with the enthusiastic support of my parents, I entered the Democratic primary for my district's seat.

I learned a lot about campaigning from Mike Cooney, a candidate for Governor of Montana who lost in the Democratic primary. He was elected to the Legislature when he was only 22, and went on to become Montana's Secretary of State. I worked on his...