Like Michael Sessions of Hillsdale, Mich., Sam Juhl of Roland has been busy answering questions to the media about what it will be like to be an 18-year-old mayor.
“Yeah, it’s been busy, “said Juhl, who said he has conducted about 20 interviews in the last two weeks.
Radio and television stations across the country have contacted Juhl to ask him how he is going to do it. They’ve called from Columbus, Ohio, from Tampa, Fla., and from Colorado.
Answering the same questions again and again has been somewhat tiring, especially when most of them came all at once after the election.
“It’s not too bad, “he said.
Juhl said he is gaining more insight as to what he wants to do with his two-year term since he has had to talk about it with so many people.
“I am obviously nervous, “he said. “Anytime you begin doing something, you can think of worse cases that could happen. ”
Juhl is likely the youngest mayor in the United States. He turned 18 on Nov. 2, just one week before he won. Sessions turned 18 years old on Sept. 22.
Now that media attention has slowed down, balancing school activities and mayoral duties is a reality.
For example, Juhl competes at heavyweight on the Roland-Story junior varsity wrestling team. He will have to miss at least one wrestling tournament for a statewide mayors’ training in January.
However, Juhl said he is committed to his duty as mayor.
“This is a great honor for him; we can be flexible, “said Jim Kinyon, Juhl’s wresting coach. “If he works as hard for the city as he does for the wrestling team, he will do quite well.”
Kinyon, who also is from Roland, said he is proud to have Juhl as mayor.
Juhl said friends and neighbors have jokingly started to call him Mr. Mayor.
“It is something I have to get used to, “he said. “…and everyone means it in a different way.”
Roland-Story High School Principal Steve Schlatter said Juhl has the support of the other Roland-Story students.
“I think they are pretty proud of him, “Schlatter said. “Everyone talks about the youth taking more of a role in our communities, and he did that.”
Juhl said he isn’t planning for many changes, but does see some things staying the same.
“It will be even more important for me to maintain staying away from alcohol, “he said. “I represent the city. I will have to stay out of trouble and maintain my status as a citizen all the more.”
Amy Wahle can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 472, or [email protected].
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