Peers in Politics: CMU student vies for 71st District House seat

Mark Eagle is not like most students on the job hunt.

Instead of interviewing for the position he seeks, he is campaigning for it.

The Lansing senior is vying for the 71st District House seat’s democratic nomination.

“Our district has been lacking leadership for the last decade,” Eagle said. “I don’t want to sit back and say, ‘Oh, I could have made a difference,’ you know, 40 years down the road.”

If Eagle wins the primary, he will go head-to-head with the Republican candidate in the Nov. 2 general election.

Eagle is enrolled in Central Michigan University’s accelerated public administration master’s program, having completed his bachelor’s degree in political science last fall.

If elected, the 24-year-old will be the youngest representative in the Michigan House of Representatives and the only full-time CMU student to hold a state-wide public office.

Second try

Despite his age, Eagle is no novice when it comes to politics.

This year’s election cycle is Eagle’s second attempt to represent the 71st District, which includes all of Eaton County except Eaton Rapids and the townships of Hamlin and Brookfield.

In 2008, he won the Democratic nomination, but lost to Rep. Rick Jones, the incumbent, in the general election.

His campaign promises this time around include streamlining the budget-making process to avoid government shutdowns, reforming tax laws, providing more funds for higher education and protecting Michigan’s natural resources.

Eagle also would like to update the Michigan Business Tax to create jobs.

“It’s extremely complicated. People don’t understand it, so we need to overhaul that so businesses can start hiring people,” he said.

Eagle is running against Eaton County Commissioner Theresa Abed, Charlotte attorney Fred Fry and Bob Robinson of Vermontville in the Democratic primary election.

Possible candidates for the Republican nominee slot include Deb Shaughnessy of Charlotte and Cheryl Krapf Haddock of Grand Ledge, according to the Lansing State Journal.

Other ..

John Porter, vice-chair of the CMU chapter of College Republicans, is considering running for public office himself.

The Coleman sophomore plans on running for Coleman’s school board either this year or next, depending on the filing deadline.

Porter said Coleman’s size — less than 5,000 residents — puts the school district at a disadvantage in secondary education. The small size dictates the type of classes it can and cannot offer, he said.

“It really encouraged me to want to make a change and get my hands on anything I could to try and make it better,” he said.

Porter does not think an individual’s age should be a factor in determining one’s ability to run for public office.

He said a candidate should be considered based on experience and intellect.

“I think that a very important part of government is to have a say from each and every demographic and age group,” Porter said. “I absolutely have no problem with someone our age being in politics.”

Mount Pleasant senior Benjamin Barker is also considering running for a public office this year for a second time. Barker, treasurer for the Isabella County Democratic Party, earned 412 votes in November’s City Commission raise, coming in fifth out of seven candidates.

Barker said that, despite his close loss, he was happy with the progress he made and said the experience was amazing. He encourages young adults and students to run for public office if they ever get the chance.

Like his father, the current Union Township supervisor, Barker aspires to pursue a career in politics.

“It’s really important to keep the younger generation focused,” Barker said, who calls himself a “politics junkie.”