Posted on 02/05/2010 3:05:20 PM PST by patton
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim has challengers, but it remains to be seen if any of them are a threat to his office.
The least likely challenger is 20-year-old ODU junior Ryan Cooper, who plans on running in the May 4 mayoral election. AltDaily spoke via email to the ambitious young man about his chances of winning, how he plans on fighting crime, and how being a door-to-door salesman prepared him to be the next mayor of Norfolk.
AltDaily: Let’s start with the blunt, obvious question: You’re a 20-year-old ODU student taking on an incumbent of some 16 years. Do you believe you have a real chance at winning?
Ryan Cooper: Anything is possible. Especially if you work hard enough. If I spend my time efficiently and make the right moves of course I have a real chance at winning. But, to be honest, that’s not the most important reason for my campaign. Even if I don’t win, I will get the opportunity to speak directly to the next mayor of Norfolk, whomever it may be, about the issues that we have. If I bring up a problem in our city as it is today, then anyone else who wants to be mayor will have to address it not only during the campaign process but also after being elected. What has been seen cannot be unseen.
(Excerpt) Read more at altdaily.com ...
Well, he IS an entrepreneur from childhood on and he doesn’t say anything airy-fairy in the interview, so he might just have a shot at it.
He’s my kid.
So you can give me your word he won’t turn Norfolk into Dennis Kucinich’s Cleveland?
Funny thing about raising kids - they don’t come with instructions.
Or a service manual.
But no, I do not think he will.
Can’t be any worse than Luke Ravenstuhl who became Mayor of Pittsburgh at 26 (although he wasn’t exactly elected to the position until a year later).
Oh, I think Ryan is in for a job of work - but he will figure it out.
I live in a nearby city, and he would probably be better than Fraim. Fraim is a joke.
Cool. I told Ryan, you will probably not win, but you will get interviewed...
Did you see the video at the link?
How much is Norfolk spending on light rail?
Nope...bad wireless connection where I’m at right now...can’t see the video...but yeah, even if he doesn’t win, just running is an experience not a lot of people ever get, and it will season him...
umm... wth... he is 20. he is not a boy, he is a man.
have we moved the goal posts on responsibility so far that the definition of adult will ever increase in age?
technically, adult is normally associated with the age when reproduction is possible. (i believe there has been 12 year old kings with children of their own... many moons ago)
Certainly he is a man - did you think I wrote the article?
he doesn’t come out and REALLY say what his politics are.
my assumption that him being an early-age entreprenuer there’s an element of a ego-maniac at work;uber driven.
well, neato- he is getting air time! Always good, yes?
Any publicity is good. ;)
Neat kid, huh?
“uber driven” - well, not really. Just passionate.
The 3rd time his car got broken into, he called the mayor to complain. The mayor blew him off, “Go away kid, you bother me.”
Watch the video for his response.
You should be proud.
As an aside, line up a new gig as yet? I’m still grinding away tech righting.... : b
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