A homeless 18-year-old high school senior is the youngest candidate running for a seat in the Denver Public Schools board. Reports claim Auontai "Tay" Anderson submitted his candidacy's paperwork for District Four for the Nov. 7 elections.
Anderson's only other experience in politics is a student government leader at Manual High School. He, however, reveals he's learned a lot from this experience so far, given that it is the state's largest school system.
"With over a decade as a student in the public education system and four years in student government, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate complicated decisions, and get things done," Anderson said, as per Denver Post. He also said his age offers a fresh perspective on issues and he knows the "strengths and weaknesses" of the school system as he experienced these first-hand.
Aside from being the president of the student body at Manual, Anderson is also the chairperson of the Colorado High School Democrats and he participated as a state central committeeman in House District 9. ABC 7 reports he's currently homeless and he's bunking at a friend's house.
"Tay (Auontai) Anderson, a senior at Manual High School, announced his candidacy for the elected position just... https://t.co/P9tcgP56es
— Friends of Manual HS (@FriendsofManual) April 7, 2017
Anderson decided to run following an incident between the Denver Public Schools and a middle school last year, where the school board decided against the school's needs. "If we can't have a student on the Board of Education to actually have full voting powers, then a student after high school will run for the Board of Education and that's going to be me," he said, Fox 31 reported.
The school is home for this 18-year-old, which is why he cares for the way it's managed. Anderson wants budget transparency and accountability as well as good pay for teachers.
The teenager, meanwhile, also intends to attend Metropolitan State University when he graduates high school. It's still unclear if incumbent District Four board member Rachele Espiritu will run for the same position to go against Anderson.
