The youngest city council member in Midway, Kentucky’s history talked about his experience campaigning at 20 years old at the University of Kentucky.
Ian VanSteenbergh, a senior majoring in public policy at UK, spoke Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Gatton Student Center at the Public Policy Society about how young people can get directly involved in politics.
According to the president of the Public Policy Society Samuel Thomas, the speaker event was part of the organization’s first meeting of the semester.
“Young people can do big things,” VanSteenbergh said. “We’re capable of creating the change that we want to see at any level and with any kind of organization.”
VanSteenbergh said he had begun emails to legislators when he was in eighth grade. He said he was surprised by how easy it was to contact local politicians and would regularly come up with ideas or issues to bring up with lawmakers every year.
“Did they do anything about it? They never did, but that’s also why I decided to run,” VanSteenbergh said. “I want to be the representative that listens and goes, ‘Here’s what we’re gonna do, and if I can’t get this done, I’m going to tell you.’”
VanSteenbergh said another reason he wanted to run for office was because he did not see anyone his age on the council despite council members talking about making decisions for future generations.
“How are you going to talk about the future and make decisions when everyone’s older? I would say that the median age was in their 60s,” VanSteenbergh said. “That really peeved me.”
While campaigning for city council in 2024, VanSteenbergh said he noticed people cared more about his ideas and plans rather than his age.
“They want you to fill the potholes, they want you to repaint the streets,” VanSteenbergh said. “Those are all things that I ran on. Let’s fix the infrastructure, let’s do things that are actually feasible and that the community cares about.”
VanSteenbergh said he is a Midway native and had experience in marketing and social media through working in real estate that helped him sell himself to the community. He said Midway was a town of about 1,700 people and 625 doors, and he knocked on each door twice.
In addition to being the youngest city council member in Midway’s history, VanSteenbergh said he was also one of the youngest and one of the few openly LGBTQ+ candidates in the state to take office. He said that being established in the community and knocking on doors helped him win rather than his age and identity.
“I campaign on getting stuff done and that’s what people care about,” VanSteenbergh said. “I did have a few attacks on (my age) from my opponents, but that was fine. I beat them anyway.”
One month into his term as a city council member, VanSteenbergh said he is working with the council on creating the city’s third park.
“If we can make it something that people are going to want, then that’s really special,” VanSteenbergh said. “The best thing I need to say is get involved in local organizations, whatever you’re passionate about.”
The Public Policy Society is a student organization dedicated to students studying public policy. Thomas said the purpose of having speakers come to meetings was to show members the opportunities they have during and after college.
Thomas, a sophomore majoring in public policy, finance, economics and accounting, said he hoped the talk was an example of what students can do even when they are still in college.
“I hope it showed them (members) that you can run for office at the age of 19 or 20, you can make a difference,” Thomas said. “It’s very impressive to see somebody so young running for office, somebody who’s willing to do things that people even in their 60s won’t do.”