City residents between the ages of 18 and 20 may soon be able to run for office in College Park if officials approve a change in the city code that was discussed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
District 4 Councilman Marcus Afzali, a 25-year-old university alumnus who was the first graduate student to be elected to College Park’s city council, said he feels that the city’s current code, which restricts residents younger than 21 from seeking public office, is unjust.
“I think it’s a basic issue of fairness,” Afzali said at the meeting. “Anyone who is old enough to serve our country in the military is mature enough to run.”
Although he acknowledges that the idea of a student running the city government might trouble city residents, Afzali said he doesn’t think such a situation is very likely.
“I just don’t see the huge student rally — ‘let’s take over’ — happening,” he said.
Discussion among council members at the meeting was brief, with those who spoke up supporting the change.
District 1 Councilman Patrick Wojahn said the importance behind the age change goes beyond equality.
“This isn’t just a matter of fairness but also trusting the electoral process and trusting our voters to make the right decision,” Wojahn said. “You don’t show you don’t trust [a candidate] by barring them — it’s from not voting for them.”
District 1 Councilwoman Christine Nagle said she would support the age change from 21 to 18 so long as there is also a way to ensure that residents running truly have an understanding of the issues facing the city.
“I’m not totally against it. I would be offering up that if we lower the age range, we increase the residence requirement to two years,” Nagle said, suggesting that residents who have lived in the city for two years would have sufficient knowledge of the issues facing the local government.
A similar two-year residence requirement was added to city code in Frederick but was rejected by state courts, according to District 2 Councilman Bob Catlin.
As for the suggested residency requirement change, Afzali said he neither supports nor opposes the idea because it isn’t feasible.
“I appreciate what [Nagle] is trying to do by trying to find a middle ground,” Afzali said. “But if it’s already been deemed illegal, it’d be silly of us to try it.”
Catlin, who is against lowering the age to 18, said after the meeting that in previous city elections where students have run for office, they have sought votes only from other students, not residents of the city.
“It’s just distracting,” Catlin said, adding that he doesn’t believe an 18-year-old student could adequately serve as a city council member.
“It helps if you have some knowledge of how the city functions,” he said.
Student Government Association City Council Student Liaison Becca Lurie said she thinks lowering the age to 18 is the right thing to do.
“The way I see it is if someone knows enough and wants to serve the public, why stop them?” she said. However, Lurie doesn’t think many students will run for office.
Junior history major Katie Iciek is hesitant about the idea.
“I’m not sure if 18-year-olds are mature enough to make good decisions,” she said.
Sophomore communication major Kyle Hendley disagreed with Iciek and echoed Afzali’s comments about fairness.
“If you’re considered a legal adult, you should be able to assume all the responsibilities of a legal adult,” Hendley said.
Tracey Powell, a senior communication major, agreed that the age should be changed to give younger people the right to express their opinions in a public office.
“Age is the only thing stopping them,” Powell said of 18-year-olds, who she believes will more than likely attempt to run for office if the city code is changed.
The age change will be voted on at a future city council meeting.
mccarty at umdbk dot com
