Michigan Sophomore to Run for Mayor

A University of Michigan sophomore is planning a run for Ann Arbor mayor—pitting himself against a four-term Democratic incumbent and another Democratic challenger, the Michigan Daily reports. Eric Plourde says he will run as a Libertarian and has reassured voters he'll lighten his course load if he's elected (really).

That will probably be unnecessary, and Plourde himself is under little illusion that he will win. "Being in a minor party doesn't help. Being young doesn't help."

If by some small miracle he did win the election, Plourde wouldn't be the first college student to hold a mayoral seat. Last November, a 22-year-old Bloomsburg University student won an unopposed election with 914 votes for mayor of Bloomsburg, Pa. At age 19, Plourde wouldn't even be the youngest person elected to lead a city. That honor goes to the then 18-year-old mayor of Hillsdale, Mich., who beat a baby boomer incumbent in 2005. Oddly enough, Pennsylvania has also been home to two more elected mayors who can't legally drink alcohol. Must be something in that Michigan and Pennsylvania water.