19-year-old elected mayor by three votes...

[Steve]

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=290804&sc=79

The tight race for mayor in Paradise became even tighter in the end as 19-year-old Kurtis Coombs edged out veteran politician Ralph Wiseman by three votes.

Defeated Mayor Ralph Wiseman said he would decide Wednesday whether to ask for a recount.

?The individual that ran against me ran a very negative campaign,? Wiseman said.

?He took things out of context ? these things are difficult to respond to. It?s politics.?

He said the next four years for Paradise would be challenging.

?I was very truthful and honest with the voters and told them what they could expect,? said Wiseman.

He said he told the voters what it would cost to pay for their expectations for the fast developing town.

?It would appear three more people wanted more than that,? he said.

His first decree is that he looks like a potato.

UPDATE

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=291428&sc=79

The recount resulted in a tie, the winner's name was drawn and the incumbent restored.

 

[Crono]

Paradise Falls?

 

[Krazy4Real]

Crazy!

 

[Gibson486]

I would say "WTF were people thinking"....but, it's politics and i really believe that they could spend the next 4 years run by a bobble head and still yield the same results.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

somebody said that it wasnt that people were voting for the 19y/o its just that they are NOT voting for the old guy because they really wanted him out of office no matter who was to replace him.

 

[Epic Fail]

18 year old mayor
Youngest US mayor

 

[PottedMeat]

"Hey did you vote?"
"Oh I knew I forgot to do something"
"Bah, it wouldn't have mattered anyway"

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: FuzzyDunlop
somebody said that it wasnt that people were voting for the 19y/o its just that they are NOT voting for the old guy because they really wanted him out of office no matter who was to replace him.

wow....that is the opposite effect in boston....every keeps saying hoe they cannot stand menino....yet he got majority vote in the primaries.

 

[Jeff7]

Took things out of context? Ran a negative campaign? In politics??? Why that's virtually unheard of!

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Took things out of context? Ran a negative campaign? In politics??? Why that's virtually unheard of!

Apparently, they voted for the WRONG KIND.

 

[Praxis1452]

Originally posted by: Epic Fail
Youngest US mayor

mayor at age of 11.

died at 24 due to a heart attack. heh, this guys life is just odd.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: Praxis1452

Originally posted by: Epic Fail
Youngest US mayor

mayor at age of 11.

died at 24 due to a heart attack. heh, this guys life is just odd.

In 1996, Brian Zimmerman died of a heart attack in Houston at the age of 24.

yea srsly, what the fuck? That's a shame, a politician with that much experience could be useful. Seems like he had the right idea...and he was only 11, what the fuck?

 

[Regs]

Almost as bad as losing to a dead man? People vote their wallets. They want better services without paying a dime for it. Sacrificing their yearly family vacation is not an option.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Epic Fail
18 year old mayor
Youngest US mayor

Brian Zimmerman died of a heart attack in Houston at the age of 24.

Was he a fan of Macaroni Salad?

 

[Nik]

The guy who lost the election is quoted in the first few paragraphs and sounds like a whiny beyotch.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: Nik
The guy who lost the election is quoted in the first few paragraphs and sounds like a whiny beyotch.

Most (bad) politicians who lose power are like this. They can be like children.

 

[kalrith]

meh...I would think an 19yo would be a better mayor than a dog.

 

[AreaCode707]

People aren't incapable just because they're young. Many of the famous and accomplished people throughout history had their greatest achievements before they were 25. Perhaps this fellow is one of them.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
People aren't incapable just because they're young. Many of the famous and accomplished people throughout history had their greatest achievements before they were 25. Perhaps this fellow is one of them.

Perhaps, but I would never vote for a 19-year-old for elected office. Frankly teenagers' combination of arrogance and ignorance is not an appealing one when it comes to positions of power.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
People aren't incapable just because they're young. Many of the famous and accomplished people throughout history had their greatest achievements before they were 25. Perhaps this fellow is one of them.

Perhaps, but I would never vote for a 19-year-old for elected office. Frankly teenagers' combination of arrogance and ignorance is not an appealing one when it comes to positions of power.

It would depend on the person for me. In this case it looks like the teen won because the incumbent was a slimebag and there wasn't another option.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: AreaCode707

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
People aren't incapable just because they're young. Many of the famous and accomplished people throughout history had their greatest achievements before they were 25. Perhaps this fellow is one of them.

Perhaps, but I would never vote for a 19-year-old for elected office. Frankly teenagers' combination of arrogance and ignorance is not an appealing one when it comes to positions of power.

It would depend on the person for me. In this case it looks like the teen won because the incumbent was a slimebag and there wasn't another option.

I agree. The quotes from the loser support the idea.

 

[Chunkee]

Beer and smokes for everyone!

 

[shortylickens]

When I heard 19 year old I was seriously hoping for a Hooters girl or something.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: Epic Fail
18 year old mayor
Youngest US mayor

I live 16 miles from Union, Corbin pumps my gas at their Shell station sometimes.

He is actually a pretty damn good mayor from what I have heard from other people that live in Union.

 

[silverpig]

More asbestos! More asbestos! More asbestos!