Students on the ballot

​​Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in The New Political’s Winter Magazine: “Moving Forward.”

Though the Athens City Council race this past November saw a few younger and newer faces running for local government, none of the candidates were Ohio University students. 

The last time Athens saw a student serving as an elected official on City Council was Judge Pat Lang. Lang, currently serving on the Athens County Common Pleas Court, graduated from Ohio U in 1999 but not before a successful run for Athens City Council in 1997. 

However, he wasn’t the last student to make a run for council. Aaron Dauterman ran as a Republican out of his Bromley Hall dorm room in 2014, as reported in The Athens News. 

“Running for local office as a student was a very rewarding, but challenging, experience,” Dauterman shared in an email interview. “I was able to interact with a part of the Athens community most students never get the chance to see.”

Dauterman explained that one of the most difficult aspects of running his campaign was attempting to navigate the election trail with a full course load. 

“The campaign in it of itself was a challenge because there are a lot of rules set by the Ohio Secretary of State and the state elections commission, such as campaign finance reporting, making sure you have a campaign treasurer that is trustworthy and able to track incoming donations and expenses dollar for dollar, and overall campaign literature, canvassing, and electioneering laws,” Dauterman wrote. 

Iris Virjee, a 2020 Ohio U graduate, ran for City Council in this past election. 

“Pretty much every part of this process has been a new experience for me, so while it was incredibly intimidating, I can say now that I’ve learned so much, and ultimately come away more confident and driven than before, even despite my loss,” Virjee said. 

Virjee came in fourth out of five candidates with 11.22% of the vote in the 2021 City Council election, as previously reported by The New Political. Described as the “Smiling Skull bartender” in many headlines, Virjee transcends the title. 

“I grew up in a farming country, working-class, a bit crass, so even though I absolutely have the education and social experience to do the job, I certainly don’t look or act like the standard image of a politician,” Virjee said. “I’m proud of that, and I think a lot of people were happy to see someone relatable in the run, but the intimidation was still very present.”

Looking back, Virjee explained she would have never expected to see herself in the limelight of local politics, but stated it is important the local government represents the community.

“I absolutely believe students, or young people in general, should shoot their shot,” Virjee said. 

Dauterman mentioned how student’s voices are often dismissed but deserve to be heard. 

“It’s important that students have a say in local policy,” Dauterman said. “Whether it’s the noise ordinance, dealing with parking enforcement, and the city code enforcement office, students should have a seat at the table.”

Although student organizations of Ohio U representing the Republican and Democratic parties encourage students to challenge the status quo, they have not run any candidates in recent elections. 

“I definitely think a student running for local office is a great thing,” Brad Kennedy, current president of Ohio University College Republicans, said. “Regardless of what side of the political aisle you're on, a lot of people believe…meaningful political action or change can be accomplished through the involvement and enthusiasm of today’s youth.” 

Grant Perry, Ohio U senior and current president of the Ohio University College Democrats, said students in local government are vital to student engagement in local politics.  

“If there is a way to increase political participation on campus, it is to have students actually involved in the political process,” Perry said.

For what students lack in experience, they make up for in political vigor, Kennedy shared. 

“Younger people today, in the modern political climate, tend to be a little bit more proactive in their political ideologies, whether it’s rallies, polling, door knocking, participating in parades,” Kennedy said.  

Perry added that young blood in local politics is multifaceted. 

“Not only is it a student that’s on council, but you have a new generation of young individuals that have representation that they might not otherwise have,” Perry said.

Students play a major role in the local economy, Kennedy mentioned. According to an economic impact study conducted for Ohio U, the university, its students and statewide alumni added $2.9 billion in income to the state economy in 2016-2017.

 “I’ve been here during the school year and I’ve also been here over the summer and there’s a stark contrast going to Athens in… July versus September,” Kennedy said. 

Dauterman stated there’s a certain stereotype that is often cast upon the student population, that is vastly reductive and could harm a student’s campaign. 

“As students, we’re all sort of cast in the same light as the one ‘bad apple’ who decides to punch a horse cop during fest season, or the one that causes destruction of property following a Friday night drunken bender after a week of final exams,” Dauterman said. “While I know 90% of the student population doesn’t behave that way, most of the community doesn’t see that, or at least act that way.”

While Ohio U students play a major role in the Athens county economy, Virjee explained the job goes farther than campus. 

“It’s important to acknowledge and appreciate the diversity of people here, and how you can appropriately serve and represent them. Good intentions aren’t often enough,” Virjee said.

Although students are only temporary residents of Athens, they have a viewpoint unique to permanent residents, Dauterman explained. He is confident many students are facing the same problems he dealt with as a student from 2013 to 2016.  

Grant said the reason Athens may not be seeing student candidates is due to a lack of interest, adding that in his time here, “we have never talked about it.” But if someone from the College Democrats wanted to run, he said “they would have our support.”

Dauterman recommended that prospective student candidates keep the issues topical to the concerns of the folks they represent. 

“I see all too often, many students running for local office talk about issues of raising the minimum wage, a woman’s right to choose, gender equality, and national economic policy,” Dauterman said. “Roads, bridges, income tax, municipal levies, and local ordinance are the primary focus of the folks who have a seat on council.”

Virjee mentioned that in order to run a successful campaign, a candidate needs to realize that it’s not exactly about them. 

“If you’re just in it for the cool addition to your resume or to climb the political ladder, don’t. We can do better than the generations before us,” Virjee said.