17-year-old freshman makes bid for state assembly

Max Tresmond wants your vote. And coming next November, he'd probably also like to borrow your notes if you're going to class, because he'll be busy.

Tresmond is a 17-year-old first-semester freshman, and when he turns 18 this summer, he's also going to be a Democratic candidate for the New York State Assembly in the November election.

A commuter from Hamburg, Tresmond is currently active in the Hamburg Town Democratic Committee. He is also running in his local district, the 146th, which serves the southern half of Erie County. After thinking about running last summer, he made his final decision last month.

"I'm running because I'm tired of legislation without equity," Tresmond said. "I think that my age proves that we are in such a desperate state that a young person would run."

Even though he's currently not old enough to vote, Tresmond is just old enough to run in the fall election. According to the New York State Board of Elections, New York State Assembly and Senate seats are open to any United States citizens at least 18 years old at the time of election.

Because it is very early in the campaign season for state assembly candidates, it isn't yet clear what kind of competition Tresmond will be up against.

Republican Jack Quinn, who won the seat by 52 percent of the vote in 2004 is currently the likely competition for the general election, but Tresmond could also face opposition in his own party in the primaries in the coming months.

"I haven't heard from any other candidates in the 146th," said Kathleen Callan of the Erie County Democratic Committee, "(but) it is a little early for everyone who is interested in running to express interest."

In 2004, two Democrats ran against Jack Quinn for the open seat in the 146th District; Francis Pordum won the party nomination, but Hamburg Supervisor Patrick Hoak still ran in the general election on an independent ticket. Together, Pordum and Hoak took 48 percent of the vote.

Tresmond is confident that he will take his party's nomination, and run on the Democratic ticket in the fall. Neither Pordum nor Hoak have publicly announced any plans to run for the party nomination.

If pitted against Quinn in the fall, Tresmond believes that his chances for victory are good, but that it won't be an easy win.

"It'd be a very heated race," Tresmond said. "I don't think he'll give up easily."

Quinn, the son of former congressman Jack Quinn, has not yet made any formal announcement about running to retain his seat this fall. As a former Erie County District Attorney, Quinn's basic platform is one that is tough on crime - a topic that Tresmond is also passionate about.

"I don't believe New York State is looking out for the best interests of our children," said Tresmond, who wants to see tougher penalties, even possibly life sentences, for child predators.

Beyond law enforcement, Tresmond's platform focuses on legislative reform at the state level, and he is also firmly against the SUNY tuition hike currently in Gov. Pataki's proposed budget.

"I wouldn't raise tuition, and I wouldn't raise taxes... we, as students, can't afford to put up with that. That $500 could make or break an undergraduate student," said Tresmond, who pays his tuition out-of-pocket.

Tresmond's solution to economic disparity in New York State is to promote the production and use of alternative fuels, a solution that also lowers consumer dependence on oil.

"Local farmers, local distillers, and local transporters" keep economic development in the region for the production of an alternative fuel like bioethanol," according to Tresmond. "We have to keep this local."

Tresmond is also against the creation of an ID card for crossing the Canadian border, calling the plan a "violation of our rights."

With the schedules of campaigning and classes, Tresmond said he wouldn't let one get in the way of the other.

"School will not get neglected; neither will the New York State Legislature," Tresmond said. If elected, he said he would not drop out or take a leave of absence from the University.

Tresmond is expected to make a formal public announcement of his candidacy for the 146th District State Assembly seat in the next week. The New York primary election is Sept. 12, and the general election is Nov. 7.