19 year-old gamer becomes mayor of Oklahoma town
Teen goes from zoning out to zoning laws
By Ben Silverman
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Like any red-blooded American teenager, John Tyler Hammons digs rock music, fast cars, video games and...fiscal planning?
Apparently so. The AP reports that the University of Oklahoma freshman trounced 70 year-old Hershel McBride to become the mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma, making it the first city in the nation to be governed by a self-admitted gamer.
But while he could own any of his peers at Halo 3, the fresh-faced leader is turning his sights on cleaning up the town's politics by establishing an independent ethics commission and locking down campaign finance reporting.
"I'm sure the (city) council will work with me on these issues," he said. "I campaigned on this, and this is something I intend to push."
Tired of the same old political shenanigans, the townsfolk are backing their new man.
"He doesn't have the baggage. He doesn't owe anybody anything," said cafe owner Gary Armstrong. "It's sort of a fresh start for Muskogee."
Best known as the subject of country legend Merle Haggard's 1969 hit "Okie from Muskogee," the unassuming city of 38,000 is considered the archetype of virtuous, small town America, a "place where even squares can have a ball."
Sarevok wrote:People don't wince when a cricketer or football player joins politics. I imagine in a few years they have to get used to video gamers doing the same,
Dude, he's not a professional gamer, he's a freshman at UoO who happens to play video games.
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Durandal wrote:There goes the argument that Barack Obama's message doesn't resonate with rural Americans.
The kid's a Republican, though.
Actually, apparantly he ran Republican because his opposition was Democratic. He was in the Young Republicans and Young Democrats, another article that I saw said.
And I don't see why he's considered a gamer foremost compared to a student foremost. I could trounce him at games that were around before he was even born and ones that were alike.
"Went from zoning out to zoning laws." While I'm skeptical of the maturity of any 19-year-old when it comes to managing something large, especially a town, this idiot piece was obviously some flunky journalist trying to strum up a story for the goofy "would you believe it?" bullshit section of the news, regardless of whether the facts went with his narrative.
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IP's right. Here's the Associated Press article; they did a much more professional job.
Muskogee, Okla., teen ready for mayoral challenge
By SEAN MURPHY – May 16, 2008
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — Nineteen-year-old John Tyler Hammons has a lot on his plate as he prepares to take over as mayor of this eastern Oklahoma city, but he's trying to keep his priorities straight.
Juggling calls from people around the country Thursday, he took an important one from his mother. She wanted to know what time he would be home for dinner.
The University of Oklahoma freshman is moving out of a dorm and back in with his parents as he gets ready to be sworn in next week as mayor of this 38,000-person city made famous by the Merle Haggard song "Okie From Muskogee."
Eventually, he plans to rent an apartment or house with a friend and transfer to Northeastern State University, which has a local branch campus.
Hammons wants to hit the ground running as mayor, but there has been no shortage of distractions since he won Tuesday's runoff election with nearly 70 percent of the vote over Hershel McBride, 70, a former three-term mayor. He replaces Wren Stratton, who decided not to seek re-election.
Besides numerous interview requests, Hammons has received a proposal for a book deal, invitations to appear on national talk shows and three offers for a reality television program.
As mayor, his first priorities are the creation of an independent ethics commission to monitor elected and appointed city officials. He also wants to establish campaign finance reporting requirements for those running for office.
"I'm sure the (city) council will work with me on these issues," he said. "I campaigned on this, and this is something I intend to push.
"First and foremost, Muskogee is my one and only interest right now," Hammons said from his office inside the city's municipal building.
The senior class president at Muskogee High School in 2007, he served as president of both the Young Republicans and the Young Democrats clubs.
"I threw my name in both rings ... and lo and behold, both groups elected me," he said.
Hammons, a registered Republican, is Oklahoma's youngest at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. But when it comes to serving as mayor of Muskogee, an unpaid position, he plans to govern in a nonpartisan way.
"Politics stop at the door," Hammons said. "If someone wants to talk politics, I will literally leave the office and leave the building if I have to. In this office, it needs to be Muskogee-oriented."
Residents appear willing to give the young mayor a chance.
At the Club Lunch cafe in downtown Muskogee, owner Gary Armstrong said locals have grown weary of politics as usual at City Hall.
"He doesn't have the baggage. He doesn't owe anybody anything," Armstrong said as he served up a plate of roast beef and mashed potatoes. "It's sort of a fresh start for Muskogee."
While Hammons says his focus now is on the city, he isn't ruling out seeking higher office in the future.
"I've always had it in the back of my mind to be governor of Oklahoma one day," he said. "That's always been a dream of mine. If I am lucky enough to be governor, I'll probably flirt with the idea of trying to become president."
His ambition doesn't stop him from enjoying the typical diversions of a 19-year-old: video games, movies, fast cars and rock 'n' roll.
As for dating, the skinny, baby-faced Hammons said he's waiting to see what kind of offers come his way.
"Right now I'm between girlfriends," he said, "so I'm looking to fill that position."
As for dating, the skinny, baby-faced Hammons said he's waiting to see what kind of offers come his way.
"Right now I'm between girlfriends," he said, "so I'm looking to fill that position."
That is so classic and yet groan inducing at the same time that i just have to chuckle a little bit. I would certainly bet that "I'm the Mayor" has to be one of the more unique pick up lines that somebody could use in a 20-somethings bar.
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Not being much older than this guy is myself, my first reaction was pretty much 'Haha, awesome', but the more I think about it, the more I wonder -- exactly what kind of qualifications and background is needed to effectively administer a town of 38,000 people? Moreoever, how did he get elected over the incumbent mayor?
If 26,600 out of 38,000 people voted for him over a three-term candidate , his predecessor must have really screwed the pooch to incite such a massive lack of confidence. I'm more inclined to think that he was elected as a result of his opposition, as opposed to his own merits. Part of me wants to be wrong, though. Just so I can move back to Elroy, Wisconsin, with its population of 1,578, and throw my name in the next electoral hat.
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Maxentius wrote:Not being much older than this guy is myself, my first reaction was pretty much 'Haha, awesome', but the more I think about it, the more I wonder -- exactly what kind of qualifications and background is needed to effectively administer a town of 38,000 people?
I think a lot of that depends on whether or not there's a City Manager at that town. From what I understand, a lot of small town mayors don't actually get into the operational details of running a city - they basically propose and push general policy at the council level, and then the manager implements it.
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Since it's an unpaid position I'm guessing it's more of that.
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I also like his attitude of "leave politics at the door, we have work to do". It would be so refreshing if more politicians were like that, even Obama doesn't go that far (granted, he wouldn't be winning if he did).
While I'm skeptical of the maturity of any 19-year-old when it comes to managing something large, especially a town, this idiot piece was obviously some flunky journalist trying to strum up a story for the goofy "would you believe it?" bullshit section of the news, regardless of whether the facts went with his narrative.
