Old age and treachery (and normal politics) will probably overcome (or overwhelm) her youth and exuberance.

 

Given the push-button, everything on a cell phone world today's 18-year-olds live in I suspect she will be shocked at the speed (or lack of) and process of government.

And this young lady may be the best thing since sliced bread, but on the surface, voting an 18 year old into office does nothing to bolster WV's image.

The same state that elected Byrd for 150 yrs. I wouldn't give them too much credit.

Dumbest state in the union. A dorky college student won mayor of Huntington a few years back. Sadly, and surprisingly, he was better than the terrible female incumbent he replaced.

 

Really, WV needs a fence around it.

 

I had a college professor in the 80's that used to say WV needs a fence around it and we can dump the rest of our American garbage there.

I think it's quite misguided to say all 18 year olds have no life experience. There's plenty of 18 year olds that have been through hell and back overseas that I'd imagine have far more meaningful "life experience" than many of us.

 

Saying that, I'm sure she doesn't have much, but since when has experience ever been a requirement for public office?

I think it's quite misguided to say all 18 year olds have no life experience. There's plenty of 18 year olds that have been through hell and back overseas that I'd imagine have far more meaningful "life experience" than many of us.

 

Saying that, I'm sure she doesn't have much, but since when has experience ever been a requirement for public office?

 

Fine. 95% of all 18 year olds have no life experience and don't know squat.

I am going to take a guess and say this happened because of gerrymandering of districts. She probably ran in a district that always elects Republicans. It could happen in a heavily Democrat district also. There are some districts that Osama Bin Laden would win in if he had the right capital letter (R or D) after his name.

 

Boone County Ky. elected a county clerk, or maybe it was a PVA, a few years ago who was a 22-24 year old just out of school accountant with zero experience or knowledge of real estate, etc. She ran against a mid 40's well known, well respected real estate attorney who was probably over qualified for the job. But the young accountant had an "R" after her name and that guarantees victory in Boone County.

 

VOR, you are right in that she won in an area that always votes republican. But keep in mind that she beat a TWO TERM Republican incumbent in the primary. That shows me something. Also, for a 17 year old to have the guts to actually run for public office when most of her classmates are trying to figure out how to get their beer on Friday night makes me think she is not your NORMAL 17-18 year old moronic kid.

Because even the smartest 18 year old is dumb in the "game" of life.

 

What I want to know is why isn't there some sort of age requirement to be able to run for such an office. 22 at least, something.

 

My guess is back when most states constintutions were written, most 18 year olds have probably experienced more life (probably already married for a few years, kids, possible death of a kid or spouse in those days, running a house hold and possible a business, etc.) than most 25 year olds today. Back then, an 18 year old making major legal decisions was probably not considered out of the ordinary.

 

Wasn't Jefferson very young at the time of the Revolution when he was tasked to writing the Declaration of Independence and had already been serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses for several years?