High school senior running for Knox County Board

By Kyle Christensen
Courier Staff

Knoxville High School senior Noah Emery is campaigning for a seat in District 4 of the Knox County Board.

At only 18 years old, Emery will be contending against presently residing Republican candidate Lowell Mannhardt, in the primary elections on March 21, 2006.

Next fall, Emery plans to attend Monmouth College, anticipating a major in political science and eventually establishing a career as a teacher within the same field.

“I’ve had an interest in politics since my freshman year,” Emery said.

Two winters ago, this fascination quickly became a genuine ambition; when searching through a local area website with his older brother, he soon became aware of the prospective position.

This past September, he openly announced he would be running and was formally filed as an entrant in December of 2005.

Emery described the entire board itself as that of “a big city council,” with each official in charge of supervising designated sections of the community, such as public policy and health care.

Despite his unconventional age for an endeavor of this nature, Emery is still confident in his bid for the title, stating, “For being only 18, I’ve accomplished many things. I don’t see it as a problem, but I know it’s out there.”

Emery has already handled leadership on a smaller scale, as student council president and manager of the high school boys’ basketball team.

Emery’s efforts have garnered much support and sponsorship from resident businesses/ organizations, and have received extensive media coverage, including a lengthy feature story in “The Register-Mail,” the regional newspaper of Galesburg and central Illinois.

Whether victorious or not, Emery is determined to continue his involvement with politics in the future, and firmly stresses the importance of each individual’s participation in the process of government.

“If we see something wrong, we have to have the initiative to go out and prevent it.”

His sister, Andrea, is a current MC junior and public relations major, who serves as Copy/ Layout editor for The Courier.

Photo by Kelly Caruso