WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | William Byrd senior has eyes set on Vinton council seat
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Lyles currently chairs the high school caucus for the Virginia Young Democrats.
"I've always told him don't you dare vote party or platform. You vote person," says Grandma Betsy McDermott.
With elections two weeks down, it's time to gear up again. From a seat in the classroom to a seat on Town Council. That's what Aaron Lyles, a high school senior at William Byrd see's in his very near future.
Which is why at the age of 17 (he'll be 18 next March), he made it official this past Sunday by announcing his intentions to run for town council at the Charles R. Hill Senior Center in Vinton.
His campaign manager who's also young, 21, says it's about looking past age. "I think people toss around well, you're too young to run. I think someone being young, they have the heart for it," says Joshua Ball. The mayor of Vinton Brad Grose says he won't be endorsing any candidate, but is glad to see young people taking an interest. So are the students who go to school with Lyle. "I think it's pretty cool. I mean you don't see that pretty often," says Luke Thomas, a student at William Byrd High School "He could definitely pull it off," says Sam Thomas who's also a student at Byrd. Lyles' grandmother thinks so too. "I've always told him don't you dare vote party or platform. You vote person," says Betsy McDermott. When the time comes, this political hopeful hopes Vinton voters will see him not as a kid but a person with genuine concerns. "Sometimes you have to be the change you want to see," says Lyles. The high school student who campaigned for John Kerry when he was just 12-years-old says he is a willing worker. "We've already raised 600 dollars in a month," says Lyles. And if nothing else he says he bring to the table a fresh set of eyes.
"I'm not happy with the way things are going," says Lyles.
In Vinton, two town council seats will be up for grabs in May 2010 and someone already has their sights on them. If his message doesn't catch your attention, something else will.Comments Terms of Use: We welcome your participation in our community. Please keep your comments civil and on point. You must be at least 13 years of age to post comments. By submitting a comment, you agree to these
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