Bold Teen Runs For Office

Derrick Seaver isn't old enough to vote -- but that's not stopping him from running for office.

The 17-year-old high school senior will likely be the Democratic candidate for a vacant seat in the Ohio State Legislature.

Seaver, who is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, turns 18 February 6th -- just a month before the March 7th primary. He spoke to Early Show Correspondent Jane Clayson from CBS affiliate WBNS in Columbus.

Seaver said he hopes his reasons for running for the Ohio Legislature are the same as other officials'.

"I care about the people that I want to represent," said Derrick. "I think my side of the issues would best benefit the people I'd like to represent."

He believes in two years of state funded community college, for those who need financial assistance.

"A lot of things - taxes and education - have become so partisan lately, that both sides have lost sight of the important issues," he said.

"I also would have the state provide counseling through schools for students who have witnessed spousal abuse or a parent suicide," he added.

Of course, virtually all politicians go to college before they run for elected office. But Seaver said the opportunity to run presented itself, and he seized it.

"There was no one representing my party in this upcoming primary," explained Seaver. "I don't feel I have to wait." He adds that if he loses he will go to college. If he wins, he might take two years off. Eventually he'll get a law degree.

Seaver knows his age will stop some people from voting for him.

"But I think after I get out there and meet a lot of people, and they hear me, watch this campaign develop, I don't think it'll be as big a factor as most think it will be."

The Ohio wunderkind points out that while experience in politics is important, it's not the only credential for the job.

"I have been involved in party politics for about the past four years -- as weird as that is, being only 17, 18 years old. But, again, I think...the credentials of a legislator depends on what they can do in the future, not just what they did in the past."

Although Seaver is pro-life and against gun control, he says he won't alienate Democrats in his constituency.

"My abortion stand goes back to my religion and I don't think that it will affect a lot in my district," said Seaver. He points out that a big part of being a good legislator is listening and being bipartisan.

"I was initially a Democrat following in the footsteps of a guy's life that I studied, and that was John Kennedy," he says."Through the years I found the Democratic Party to be better handlers of people's money. I appreciate their stand on a lot of civil liberties-type things, social issues."

Seaver hopes his campaign will get more young people involved in politics.

Seaver's father, Chuck, told the Dayton Daily News that his sn's campaign will mobilize the area's young voters.

"It's going to wake a sleeping giant. I think there are a lot of young people who want to be heard," said Chuck Seaver.

"I have, obviously, a lot of the students in my area behind me, as well as the Democratic officials behind me," Derrick Seaver says. "The amount of support has blown me back some, so it's been going real well."

His girlfriend is also supportive of his campaign.

"She thinks that this is tremendous. In fact, her father is involved in politics and is a county commissioner back home and she's behind me 100%," he said.

Interestingly, Seaver says he has no ambition to be a senator or president.

"I guess my biggest reason, you lose a lot of touch with the people that you're trying to represent and I don't exactly appreciate that," he added.

He vows to shake 50,000 hands by next November. "I'll get that done."