Young members give fresh outlook to councils, school boards
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As debate about a proposed skate park dominated Dormont council meetings earlier this year, junior Councilman Matt Drabick learned an important lesson.
"Problems in small communities can become as divisive as those on the national stage," said Matt, a senior at Keystone Oaks High School.
Keystone Oaks is one of the districts throughout the South Hills that find opportunities for teenage constituents to have a political voice -- often before they have the right to vote.
Matt had a front-row seat to hours of comment and controversy that surrounded the skate park plans. Although he didn't have a vote, he was able to share his perspective.
"I have nothing against skate parks. I just think it would be a little large for our community," he said.
Dormont is fully developed and densely populated, he said, and tennis courts along Banksville Road would need to be relocated to accommodate the skate park.
Proposed by former resident Mary Pitcher in honor of her sons Vincent, 21, and Stephen, 19, who drowned in 2008 while on a camping trip in the Kinzua Reservoir, plans for Pitcher Park were approved by council in a 4-3 vote in April.
Matt, who earned a perfect score in math and reading on the SAT, plans to attend college for engineering, not politics. But his seven months on Dormont council have enabled him to see the value in knowing what is going on in the community.
"I do see the importance of being an informed citizen," he said.
Fellow senior Michaela Stump attended her second meeting this week as Green Tree's junior council member.
She said she'd like to see a more effective recycling program in the borough and facilities improvements at Green Tree's Wilson Pool, where she works.
And her perspective matters, said Mark Sampogna, president of Green Tree council. He said previous junior council members have inspired change in the borough, including the recent revamping of the hockey facilities in Green Tree Park.
"It's an honor to be a junior council member," Michaela said, but she doesn't intend to pursue politics as a career. She hopes to study biochemistry and pre-med.
"I'm not interested in being a senator or anything like that. I just think young people should be more politically active. A lot of federal mandates that are being decided now are going to affect us when we're older. If we start getting involved now, it will be better for us later," she said.
First Published October 7, 2010 5:52 am
