VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Anthony Bittner is running for political office - but this Skyview High Senior has no interest in Student Council.
Earlier this week, Bittner filed paperwork to run for the Washington State House of Representatives, 18th District, as a 17-year-old Republican Party candidate.
Bittner, however, is not the ordinary Vancouver 17-year-old. He plans to attend college, he says, but worries that he won't be able to find a career afterward.
"Like many in my age group I'll seek higher ed with no guarantee there will be job opportunities upon my graduation," he said.
Bittner turns 18 next month, in time for the Clark County primaries. The teenager has based his candidacy upon a sore subject around Vancouver - jobs, or the lack thereof.
In fact, the unemployment rate in Clark County hit 14.1 percent during the month of January, according to state economists.
Bittner's parents are small business owners in Vancouver. He said they're about to close down one of their businesses, and he blames taxes.
"Instead of lowering the taxes on small businesses, they're just giving them someone elses money that's not going to solve anything, they're just spreading it around the problem, you're not fixing it," he said.
The teenager does not aspire toward a career in politics, he says, like many a candidate before him. Bittner said he hopes to follow in his parents' footsteps and become a small-business owner.
"Politics is an important part of my life right now, though," he said.
Bittner cooks up lots of his ideas at the Good Pizza Company, where he works for Andrew Preinesberger, who offered a friendly warning to any potential rivals.
"These kids have just as good ideas as the adults who are going through the motions," Preinesberger said. "Anyone else who has to run against him, look out, you know."
Brandon Vick is one of five candidates running against Bittner in the Republican primary. Running a campaign is a challenge for anyone, Vick said, regardless of their age.
"It takes a certain person to run for office. It takes a lot of dedication, a lot of sacrifice. If he's willing to do it just like the other candidates, more power to him," said Vick.
Chris Bittner, Anthony's father, said his son's motivation was genuine and made him proud.
"The more I talked with him about it, he had such a strong conviction," Chris Bittner said, adding, "I actually think he's going to win."
The young candidate was out on the stump Wednesday, doing what candidates do. He was asking for votes.
"I represent real hope, real change and I want to represent the 18th District."
