At 18, Dan Torres of New Paltz is running for a seat on his school board. The high school senior is seen above at home on Wednesday.
Times Herald-Record/CHET GORDON
By Jeremiah Horrigan
Times Herald-Record
Posted: April 06, 2009 - 6:00 AM
NEW PALTZ — Dan Torres is a veteran of three local and national political campaigns.
Last year, he negotiated a deal that brought unexpected money to New Paltz High School and to 200 other high schools in the northeast. He's got his own public-access TV show. And when he looks at the local school board that governs the district, he discerns what he calls an "age gap."
Meet 18-year-old Dan Torres, high school senior and candidate for that very school board. If elected, he'll be the youngest public official to be elected to office in New Paltz since 23-year-old Jason West became mayor five years ago.
Torres is running for one of three three-year seats on the New Paltz board. The nominating petitions are not due until April 17. Already though, incumbent Rod Dressel Jr. and KT Tobin Flusser, a veteran observer who has been active in the district, have indicated they are running as well.
Torres figures he knows more about today's high school life than any of the other expected candidates. But he also has some other experience. Last year, he persuaded the Olympia sporting goods chain, which has an outlet in New Paltz, to donate to the high school a portion of the proceeds from each item it sells with the New Paltz High logo. The Olympia chain ended up donating about $600 to the school and about $160,000 to schools throughout the region.
Torres was involved in President Barack Obama's campaign, traveling as far away as Pennsylvania to help get out the vote. He was also part of attorney John Sennett's unsuccessful bid for Ulster County district attorney and was also active the county Democrats' get-out-the-vote effort last fall.
When Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach met him then, he was startled.
"He's a remarkable young man who is wiser than anyone his age — I'd use the phrase 'old soul' to describe him."
Torres has focused his campaign on "bringing the district into the 21st century." That means no more paper report cards when electronic reports are available, more innovative energy alternatives and bridging the "age gap" whenever possible.
Dressel, who is 48, welcomed Torres to the race. "It is great to see a high school student who has been involved actually run for a seat," he said.
Last year, he negotiated a deal that brought unexpected money to New Paltz High School and to 200 other high schools in the northeast. He's got his own public-access TV show. And when he looks at the local school board that governs the district, he discerns what he calls an "age gap."
Meet 18-year-old Dan Torres, high school senior and candidate for that very school board. If elected, he'll be the youngest public official to be elected to office in New Paltz since 23-year-old Jason West became mayor five years ago.
Torres is running for one of three three-year seats on the New Paltz board. The nominating petitions are not due until April 17. Already though, incumbent Rod Dressel Jr. and KT Tobin Flusser, a veteran observer who has been active in the district, have indicated they are running as well.
Torres figures he knows more about today's high school life than any of the other expected candidates. But he also has some other experience. Last year, he persuaded the Olympia sporting goods chain, which has an outlet in New Paltz, to donate to the high school a portion of the proceeds from each item it sells with the New Paltz High logo. The Olympia chain ended up donating about $600 to the school and about $160,000 to schools throughout the region.
Torres was involved in President Barack Obama's campaign, traveling as far away as Pennsylvania to help get out the vote. He was also part of attorney John Sennett's unsuccessful bid for Ulster County district attorney and was also active the county Democrats' get-out-the-vote effort last fall.
When Ulster County Comptroller Elliott Auerbach met him then, he was startled.
"He's a remarkable young man who is wiser than anyone his age — I'd use the phrase 'old soul' to describe him."
Torres has focused his campaign on "bringing the district into the 21st century." That means no more paper report cards when electronic reports are available, more innovative energy alternatives and bridging the "age gap" whenever possible.
Dressel, who is 48, welcomed Torres to the race. "It is great to see a high school student who has been involved actually run for a seat," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment