Editorial: In West Deer, youth in politics is an inspiring reality

When Pew Research Center asked people in 2014 how many had ever run for elected office, only 2% said yes.

Not just 2% that were representatives or council members. Not just 2% that had served previously and had left office. Only 2% had ever raised a hand and said, “I volunteer.”

Out of every 100 people, only two had ever chosen to participate actively in their government. Debating questions, reading data, listening to concerns. Only two opted to put themselves on the line — to be the person responsible for speaking up about what they believed to be the right thing to do when decisions had to be made.

In Pennsylvania, there are thousands of elected officials who represent the people. Two senators and 18 representatives. The state offices are governor and lieutenant governor, the attorney general, auditor general, treasurer, then the 203 House members and 50 senators. Then there are thousands of county commissioners, township supervisors, city council members, borough council members, school board members.

And yet they still represent just a shard of the population — while many of the people feel disconnected from their government and pressed by the decisions made on their behalf. That’s a problem.

So is the aging of the people who have stepped up.

The National Conference of State Legislatures shows Pennsylvania’s lawmakers don’t exactly reflect the demographics of the state. Baby boomers make up the largest block of the legislature at 57%, but only 31% of the population. Millennials are right behind in total numbers with 28% of the population and yet they represent just 7% of legislators.

That has to change to keep people engaged in getting the work done. Pennsylvania needs more people like Arlind Karpuzi. Not because of his politics or his goals. Not because of what he has done or what he wants to do. We need more Karpuzis because they are willing to participate at all.

Karpuzi was 21 when he was elected as a West Deer supervisor. Today he is 25, chairman of the board and wants more young people to get involved. And he is absolutely right — for multiple reasons.

Younger adults need to know that government is something that connects to them. While college students and recent grads might get excited about presidential or midterm legislative races because of campaigns to increase involvement, local government affects people in an up-close-and-personal way. It decides where you can live, how much that might cost, what services are available for your kids or pets or recreation. It’s pocketbook politics.

But it is also a step to greater involvement and greater capability. Serving in local government today is a good step for higher office tomorrow and not just because it looks good on a resume. Understanding how making laws works for a local community builds an understanding of the problem-solving necessary at state or national level.

More involvement and younger involvement helps build more and better leaders. We definitely need more than 2% of those.