Anthony Weiner, a contender for mayor of New York City, might have other things to worry about than his sexting scandal.
Hank Searfus, a 17-year-old who will be a senior at Durango High School this fall, will be campaigning in New York this summer for Christine Quinn, a rival in the Democratic primary who would be the first female and openly gay mayor of New York. She is the speaker of the New York City Council.
Searfus has an unpaid fellowship with the Quinn campaign. The program also will teach him about political organizing.
He found the fellowship by researching the mayors race. Ive always wanted to be in New York, Searfus said. I looked up all the candidates. (Quinn) just stood for all the same things that I stand for.
Before Searfus left Durango for the Big Apple on Sunday, he was celebrated as the Dedicated Democrat of the Year during the La Plata Democrats annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner at DoubleTree Hotel on Saturday night.
Mark Ferrandino, the keynote speaker as well as the speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, wished Searfus well.
New York politics is fun and exciting stuff, said Ferrandino, a native New Yorker.
Ferrandino celebrated the effects local Democrats are having on national and state politics.
Searfus was praised as a tireless volunteer in the 2012 campaign season.
If you needed a question answered, you asked Hank, said Cherry Miloe, who presented the honor. I figured he was 26 years old because he is so capable. He was always (around).During the campaign season, Searfus, who is the son of Dr. Kicki Searfus, greeted President Barack Obama at the airport when he flew into Grand Junction on Air Force One for a rally.Another candidate that Searfus helped elect was Mike McLachlan to the state House of Representatives.McLachlan was the toast of the night for his gun-control votes and willingness to stand up to the gun nuts.McLachlan made sure his wife, Barbara, got some of the attention too, asking the crowd to give her a standing ovation.When he was in Denver for the legislative session, much of the hate was directed at her, McLachlan said.She had to deal with it, McLachlan said.Ferrandino said McLachlan played a decisive role in other issues, too.During a debate on making rural energy cooperatives increase the amount of renewable energy in their portfolios, McLachlan read a letter from Durango Mayor Dick White and the City Council, undercutting the oppositions argument that the measure had no rural support.Ferrandino said he is not expecting a backlash against the legislation passed this year, saying the measures had much popular support.When you look at the polling, whether its civil unions, gun safety, the public is there, Ferrandino said.Ferrandino, who is the first openly gay speaker of the house, said he wants to bring his family, husband Greg Wretsch and their 1-year-old foster daughter, Lila, to Durango for a weeklong vacation.
jhaug@durangoherald.com
