Age ain’t nothin’ but a number for mayor candidate
February 16, 2009 by DANIEL BURNETT
Filed under News
Brandon Shinholser has his eye on becoming the next mayor of Athens.
For nearly a year, Shinholser has built a grassroots movement to propel his fledgling campaign into a viable candidacy.
He is actively campaigning and has assembled a team of supporters to spread his message throughout Athens. He has even filed with the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections.
And, he is 22 years old.
For Shinholser, however, age is not a major issue in his campaign.
“I come with as much experience as anyone else at bringing people together,” Shinholser said.
“I do not think that age should play much of a factor as long as I can discuss the issues, show leadership in debates and continue to connect well with the community.”
In fact, many of his political idols were criticized for their age. Critics said John F. Kennedy was too young. They said Ronald Reagan was too old.
But Shinholser thinks he is just right for Heidi Davison’s mayoral seat, officially vacant on Jan. 4, 2011.
“I decided to run for mayor because I want to better serve my country by committing to a cause greater than myself,” said Shinholser, formerly from Dublin, Ga.
As mayor, Shinholser said he would like to bring new people, including University students, to the table. He is currently a student himself, working toward a bachelor’s degree in legal studies through Kaplan University’s online program.
“I believe the students are really left out in Athens,” Shinholser said. “No one is providing a voice for them, and young Americans have just as much of a right to have a voice.”
Shinholser’s age is not the only aspect of his candidacy that voters may find unique. Although his political affiliation won’t be on the ballot, Shinholser is running as a Centrist.
The Centrist Party was founded in 2006 by John Reisman. As the party founder and chairman, Reisman said he could not be more proud of Shinholser.
“Brandon approached me a while ago with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, and we thought ‘what a great shot,’” Reisman said during a phone interview with The Red & Black last week.
Some of the main points of the Centrist Party include free enterprise, limited government and combating climate change.
The foundation of the party was built on the honor and integrity of the candidates themselves, and if a candidate is found to be corrupt, the party will not be afraid to stop them, he said.
So far, Shinholser has the green light from party leaders. If elected, he could be the first Centrist elected as mayor in the country, Reisman said.
“I am impressed with Brandon, he’s a fighter,” Reisman said. “We’re going to give him the support we can.”
But to win, he may need to earn the student vote. Although Shinholser said he plans to run an Athens community-wide race, the support at the voting booth of just one-third of University students could be enough for him to clinch the mayoral election.
In 2006, Davison garnered just more than 10,000 votes in the general election, and the 6,732 votes she received in the runoff were enough to secure Davison’s second term. With more than 30,000 students enrolled at the University, the students could be Shinholser’s key to the city.
“I think he brings a change,” said Andy Pierson, the student organizer for Brandon For Athens, a student group on campus. “He represents a large part of the community of Athens that have been overlooked.”
During the Winter Activities Fair held earlier this month, both Shinholser and Pierson spoke with students about the campaign. According to Pierson, students seemed intrigued and interested in the prospect of Shinholser’s candidacy.
“We’re really just working on giving students an equal opportunity to play a part in the politics of Athens,” Pierson said.
And Shinholser just might win.
Because of the two consecutive term limit for Athens’ mayors, Davison is ineligible to run again. As of Thursday, there was only one other candidate besides Shinholser who had thrown his name in the hat for mayor.
Charlie Maddox ran against incumbent Davison in 2006 and lost by just under 1,000 votes in a hotly-contested runoff. With Davison out, the only thing standing between retired Georgia Department of Labor official Maddox and an office in city hall is the 22-year-old auditor for the Holiday Inn Express.
As for Shinholser’s age, 61-year-old Maddox claims the point is irrelevant.
“It’s going to be interesting with no incumbent,” Maddox said during a phone interview last week. “Just because [he is] young doesn’t mean he’s not qualified.”
Challengers, however, may arise as election day approaches.
“I would imagine more candidates will drop in as it draws closer [to election day],” said Gail Schrader, supervisor of elections and registration for Athens-Clarke County. “You never know until the week of qualification who is going to drop in.”
But if history is any example, Shinholser’s race for mayor is not unattainable.
The residents of St. Joseph, Minn., elected 23-year-old college graduate Richard Carlbom in 2004. Michael Sessions was only 18 when he won a write-in campaign against the 51-year-old incumbent for mayor of Hillsdale, Mich.
But is Athens ready to give up Heidi Davison for a mayor less than half her age?
“I think so. If there’s ever been a town in Georgia that is ready to have a young mayor – it’s this town,” said Joseph Ovington, a senior from Watkinsville. “His interests and the interests of the students are aligned. He’s really going to do a good job.”
