Some of them can’t even vote yet, but Gideon Bolson, Rachel Portnoy, and Colton Malkerson all put in several hours — or even days — every week volunteering for their candidates.
“Teens know the score. They know they need to be involved in the political process, not wait until they are 25 to be politically active. Now is the time,” says Orville Lindquist, the state program executive for YMCA Youth in Government.
For the past three months, Gideon Bolson, 17-year-old precinct captain, has been making phone calls and knocking on doors in his district for the Ron Paul for President campaign a few hours a week. The Republican debates broadcast on YouTube sparked his interest in the campaign, and volunteering has taught him about the political process locally and nationally.
Minnesota Parent: Can you describe your first impressions of the campaign office?
Gideon Bolson: It’s a nice small place, lots of flags. At first there were only two people, but it seemed kind of crazy. It’s a serious environment, not a fun time, but a good time.
MP: What surprised you most about working on the campaign?
GB: When I was going around door to door, there are lots of rich people in the neighborhood, and the most important thing to them was poverty. I thought it would be taxes and the war.
MP: How does being involved in a presidential campaign change your outlook on elections in general?
GB: It’s really frustrating. I’ve worked really hard; others have worked really hard. They donate lots of money, and then [my candidate won only] 10 percent in Iowa, and something like 4 percent in New Hampshire. [It] made me really angry when you work so hard, and you can’t transfer it into votes, you don’t see the results you were expecting.
MP: Why do you think that the youth vote is important in the coming elections?
GB: I think it’s important because you can see where the youth are headed. Youths don’t want the policy of big government and a huge burden with the deficit and Federal Reserve. It won’t change the outcome yet, but it will in the future.
MP: Are your parents politically active?
GB: My mom’s not. I try to talk to her about it, but she doesn’t like talking about politics too much, but I’ve kind of convinced her to vote for Ron Paul. I kind of discovered it on my own.
MP: Are your friends also politically active?
GB: No. I’ve talked to them about it, tried to get them to support my candidate, but they don’t care much. Right now, they want to have fun, so it hasn’t worked so far.
MP: Do you have a Facebook/ Myspace page?
GB: I just created a Facebook page, but I don’t use it too much yet. I have a Myspace page, and it’s dedicated to Ron Paul until the election is over. Social networking sites, like YouTube, Myspace, Facebook, they started the Ron Paul Revolution; they’re a great tool.
MP: What would you tell other high school students who want to get involved to do?
GB: Vote Ron Paul! Go on down to the campaign office and get some literature, and tell everyone about it, make sure everyone knows the message of freedom, prosperity, and peace.
Rachel Portnoy, 18, started interning at the Al Franken campaign in June 2007, and now works up to four days a week. Portnoy spends much of her time organizing an event called High School Night, where she gets other high school students to help on the campaign.
MP: Do you have friends who are also politically active?
RP: In terms of my friends, once they find their one person, then they are all for it. They are taking it really seriously, and in [their] free time they’re helping out. They’re doing something; they are researching; they’re learning.
MP: Can you describe your first impressions of the campaign office?
RP: The campaign office is beautiful. It’s the perfect size for our campaign. It’s very accessible, and I felt very comfortable walking in there. … That’s one thing why I’ve stayed so long, I’m so comfortable with the people I work with and everyone is so well rounded.
MP: What surprised you most about working on the campaign?
RP: What surprised me was how much [campaign staff] actually wanted to know the people working and how I wasn’t really pushed to the side. I was actually being used to my fullest extent.
MP: Why do you think that the youth vote is important in the coming elections?
RP: Because we are going to be the next ones affected.
MP: Do you have a Facebook/ Myspace page?
RP: Facebook is a major part of a political campaign. I thought it was really cool how my friends would see it and they would ask me about it, and then their friends would ask them if they would join. I think that’s how it spreads. I’ve learned that if you tell your friends about politics and you talk to them, they will become more politically active, more politically aware, and you will become more politically helpful.
MP: What would you tell other high school students who want to get involved to do?
RP: The reason I would tell high school students to get involved is because it’s really important that if you’re going to start criticizing or if you’re going to do anything or applaud, that you really actually go out and do it and follow through. I really feel it’s so urgent and important that they do this and take this seriously because it’s going to affect them. You don’t need to know everything about government and what’s going on; I didn’t, that’s for sure. I just knew that [Franken] was running. I didn’t learn until after I got on the campaign what his issues were, and that just made it all the more worthwhile for me.
Colton Malkerson, 16, began working on the Mike Ciresi Senate campaign in July 2007. Until Ciresi pulled out of the race in March, Malkerson put in at least three days a week. He joined the campaign to figure out whether he wants to go into politics in the future. His tasks included updating events on the web site and Facebook, accompanying Ciresi to events, and helping out wherever he was needed.
MP: Do you have friends who are also politically active?
CM: All of my friends at Breck are supportive. They do care, certainly. There are a few others at Breck who are sort of involved in campaigns, but not to the degree that I am.
MP: Can you describe your first impressions of the campaign office?
CM: When I first came in July, there were a few staffers and a few people, and we have just grown exponentially from there, it’s amazing. Everything is so open, if I ever have a problem or an issue where I need to talk to someone, I have zero reservations.
MP: Can you tell me a little about caucus night?
CM: It was really fun. They were giving speeches. Everyone was waving their signs. You just feel like you’re so involved and you’re right in it. Normally, I see everything happening on CNN or Fox or the local news, and you’re watching it on TV and you’re saying, “Boy, that’d be cool to be there.” But when you’re on the campaign you’re actually there and you’re experiencing it.
MP: What surprised you most about working on the campaign?
CM: I sort of came into the idea of politics thinking, well it’s mostly just advertisements and press releases and different blurbs here and there about what you want. But the most remarkable thing I have come out of this campaign realizing about politics is that you shake everyone’s hand; you talk to everyone. It’s amazing to see how personal politics is; it’s not just the news releases and the advertisements.
MP: Why do you think that the youth vote is important in the coming presidential elections?
There is so much going on in this world, health care is going to be a mess. Social Security might not even be there. We’re at $9 trillion in debt. These are huge issues, which, when it comes time to look at them and address them, it’s going to be our responsibility. You’ve got to pay attention.
MP: What would you tell other high school students who want to get involved to do?
CM: It’s so easy to get involved, all you have to do is just find a candidate you like, find somebody you really believe in, and you just gotta give them a ring and they’ll have something for you to do. There was a little time period where I was thinking, “Well do I want to go on the campaign or do I not? Am I too young?” but the moment I came into Mike Ciresi’s U.S. Senate campaign I was locked, and I was so happy that I was on it. So I think once students my age get past that barrier, they’ll really love it, and they’ll learn a lot.
Cierra Sather is an intern with Minnesota Parent.
