By Will Aaron

While many students are preparing for their first test of the semester, one sophomore is planning his campaign strategy to win a seat on Lexington’s governing body.

Daniel Burton, a secondary education sophomore, has officially joined the race for a seat on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council representing the 3rd District, which includes UK.

The Lexington native is moving from working on others’ campaigns to creating his own in hopes of tackling some of the issues facing Lexington, he said. During the last four years, he’s helped campaign for Gov. Steve Beshear, Mayor Jim Newberry and various other Democratic candidates.

“As I watched our city’s issues get bigger and bigger, the proposed answers seemed smaller and smaller,” Burton said. “I’ve always felt it was my duty to stand for what I believe.”

Burton said some of his top priorities would be addressing Lexington’s sewer system problems and the city’s carbon footprint on the Bluegrass. Also, with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games coming to the region in 2010, Burton wants to ensure that Lexington presents itself well.

In the long term, Burton said his goals for the city include economic development to attract more career opportunities that encourage citizens to stay in Lexington.

“I want to help create opportunity in our city. I really want to stay in this community, a place where my kids and grandkids can stay,” Burton said. “Lexington deserves more than she has been given.”

Balancing his academic life with the responsibilities of the position if elected is possible, Burton said, as many council members have other work and family responsibilities and are still effective members of the council.

“If they can do it, so can I,” said Burton, who also works as a resident adviser in the Greg Page Apartments.

Burton has canvassed neighborhoods and explained his platform to potential voters, and he said support is growing for his campaign. If elected in November for the 3rd District council seat, Burton said he would be able to accurately represent a district that contains a large number of college students.

“I can only do so much from the sidelines,” he said. “If I don’t do something, who will?”