AREDALE, IA - On weeknights most high schoolers are busy with sports practice, getting homework done or working a part time job, but one high school senior in our area had a much bigger task tonight: running his first city council meeting.
We first told you about 18-year-old Jeremy Minnier in November. He was elected mayor of Aredale after receiving 24-write-ins, enough for 74 percent of the vote.
Since our story aired Jeremy has received world-wide media attention, even doing interviews for papers as far away as China, but tonight he put all that aside as he officially became the town's leader.
“It's an exciting nervousness I guess,” said Minnier.
Minnier says the past two months have been a whirlwind.
“A lot of interviews, a lot of people calling, people just wanting to talk to me, calls on my cell phone, messages on Facebook, it kept me busy,” said Minnier.
Now he's ready to get down to business.
“There's a lot of things I’d like to see happen not saying that I can make them all happen but you got to start somewhere,” said Minnier.
Minnier says things like the city's sewer system and overall appearance are top priorities of his. He also wants to make sure citizens have a say in how their town is run.
“I was sent this little invitation in the mail from our young mayor,” said Deb DeBerg, Aredale resident.
DeBerg is attending Minnier's first meeting because she was invited, something all 74 Aredale residents received.
“They say our young are leaders of the future and the future is now I’m really proud of him for stepping up,” said DeBerg.
DeBerg hopes the new leadership breathes new life into the small city, helping it become more than it is.
“I'm just looking forward to the future of our city and helping our mayor do what he feels is right for us going in the future,” said DeBerg.
As for the mayor, he plans to stay close to home after graduation this spring but hasn't ruled out making politics more of a full-time gig.
“Before I didn't really have an interest in furthering into politics but maybe that will change,” said Minnier.
Politics do run in the Minnier family. Jeremy's dad was mayor of Aredale before Jeremy was born, and his brother-in-law was recently elected mayor of Hampton.
Jeremy tells us he plans to attend a community college close to home this fall and eventually start his own landscaping business.
