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Chelsea Hedquist reporting Young people have always been involved in politics, mostly as interns. But here in Utah, we're seeing a new breed of young politicos, and they're taking over some of the state's top political jobs.
Communications director for the mayor of Salt Lake City can be a pretty intimidating job, especially if your boss is more than twice your age. But it doesn't seem to bother the man who handles all of Mayor Rocky Anderson's press -- 25-year-old Patrick Thronson.
"As long as you have a particular skill set, age doesn't really matter," he says.
That's a mindset obviously shared by veteran politicians across the state. Thronson is just one of several 20-somethings cropping up in prominent political jobs here in Utah.
"I think that this is an indication of the future," says University of Utah political science professor Tim Chambliss. He sees a trend of young people filling major jobs in Utah politics. One reason is the very nature of political work. "It takes a full commitment," says Chambliss. "It's more like a 70-80 hour week."
Hayden Hill is certainly no stranger to working long hours. She is 26, and the campaign manager for LaVar Christensen, the Republican challenger for the 2nd District Congressional seat.
"Probably the main characteristic, can you not sleep and not have a life?" says Hill.
Hill and others say that being young and single gives them more flexibility and time to devote to their jobs. "Without spouses or children we can pretty much give up our lives for four or five months," says Hill.
They may bring flexibility and enthusiasm to the table, but at 25, people like Hill and Thronson lack some of the experience of their older colleagues, and that can ruffle some feathers. "You just have to prove yourself, you have a voice at the table," says Hill.
There's no doubt the voice of the young generation is being heard.
