The seven Baltimore County high school graduates vying for seats on the state?s Democratic and Republican central committees said they will urge students across the nation to file in a Web-based candidacy drive.
The seven students, who earlier this month graduated from Franklin High School, filed to run for the relatively low-profile positions in honor of their friend Jesse Elkins, who died May 12 in a car crash while driving two buddies home from an Orioles game. Elkins, an skateboarder and rock climber who aspired to become a lawyer, had registered to run for the Democratic Central Committee just days before the accident.
“It was just like snowboarding and everything else he tried ? he would try anything that was challenging,” said Leonard Kerpelman, Elkins? grandfather, who encouraged the students to run in Elkins? memory. “He was trying to get his toe in the door of politics.”
Kerpelman said the committee members, who serve four-year terms, choose replacements to fill midterm political vacancies and have more power than most people think. He said students who want to file for their state?s committees must act fast: Filing deadlines in the 39 states that have committees range from July 3 to 6.
The students, who waited up to six hours to file the proper filing paperwork, intend to run a standard campaign with fundraising, talk-show call-ins, signs and blogging, they said. Group leader Seth Levin said they are planning a campaign organization meeting when they return from a senior trip in Ocean City ? and want to meet with Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley to try to secure his endorsement.
“This is important for students everywhere, because no one is satisfied with the politicians we have now,” Levin said. “We need some new leadership and it should come out of the youth.”
