Young politicians work for change

Throughout Philadelphia, politics is coming of age -- a younger age -- as 20-somethings challenge the notion of political apathy that plagues their generation. Many of them dream of someday being a mayor, a state representative or a member of Congress, but they are taking small steps now to achieve their political ambitions. "I've slowly realized that politics is the best way for me to use my skills to change the world --ÿat least my little corner of the world," said John Hawkins, 28, legislative assistant to state Sen. Vincent Fumo and Councilman-at-Large James Kenney. Hawkins is also president of the Young America Political Action Committee, a bipartisan group of about 500 that seeks to reconnect Philadelphia's young professionals to the city politics. Their efforts include forums held with the area's top political figures -- like Sen. Arlen Specter and District Attorney Lynne Abraham -- to affix faces to the often distant political process. Christian Marrone, 25, special assistant to Fumo, values the efforts of the Young America PAC against the city as a whole. "In Philadelphia, I don't think that we really do enough to encourage younger people to be involved," said Marrone, who is currently working toward his Masters of Government Administration at Penn. "In Philadelphia, it's the buddy system -- you come up the ranks and pay your dues." he said. "We never have any new ideas -- it's always the same people." However, others see the city as wide open with opportunities for the younger crowd. "This town is a major city, but it's also small enough that the people in power are willing to help mentor you and make sure that you succeed," said attorney Kevin Greenberg, 29, who is active in political fund-raising. David Yarkin, 27, a spokesman for former Mayor Ed Rendell -- a potential gubernatorial candidate -- blamed the lack of initiative to reform Social Security on his generation's voting habits. "Seniors vote, and conversely, young people don't," Yarkin said, adding how the collective voice of the seniors is heard by those in power. "Young people who don't take an active interest in politics forfeit their right to complain about the system, and they also, to a degree, almost forfeit their right to be heard."

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