Teen learns about political process firsthand

Kimberley McGee

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 4:25 a.m.

Valley High School senior Craig Huntington's summer vacation was similar to most boys his age.

He jet skied, worked part time and sometimes hung out with friends.

He also met the president of the United States, sat in Congress and created legislation to change government, although the last occurred during a mock session of Congress.

Last month Huntington was one of nearly 100 boys chosen from 48 states to attend the 56th annual American Legion Boys Nation program in Washington, D.C.

"It was pretty exciting," Huntington said of the weeklong leadership program. "It is one of my aspirations to become the president. Or a senator."

The program's intention is for students with political aspirations to experience democracy from the heart of where it was founded. Girls Nation participates in the mock-government sessions with the Boys Nation in July.

The boys bonded on their trip during the sometimes heated debates, Huntington said.

"There is no doubt in my mind that someone from my Boys State (experience) will be a senator, if not president," Huntington said. "They are the most intelligent and focused kids the United States has to offer."

The group took on roles of senators and held mock senate sessions, passed legislation and argued their political views as they do in the real world of government.

"We tried to get our ideas across to the other (mock) senators," Huntington said. "I knew this would be hands-on government, but I didn't realize the level that we would go to."

Brian Naranjo, spokesperson for the American Legion, said the program has inspired future leaders such as President Bill Clinton, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

"It's very realistic that out of 96 boys who attend, most of them will find themselves ... (as) an attorney general, senator, congressman," Naranjo said. "The track record is there."

Those who attend are the cream of the crop of the nation's political hopefuls, Ron Engel, director of Boys Nation, said.

Engel has worked closely with the girls and boys who attend the American Legion's programs, which teach high school students the mechanics of government.

"This year's class was one of the most focused groups we've had in my 10 years as director," Engel said. "They took the role playing very seriously."

The students, chosen for Boys Nation because of their good grades and political accomplishments in school office, gather information about issues of the day and present the class with legislation.

This year the Boys Nation participants discussed stem-cell research, abortion, flag burning and prayer in school, among other controversial topics.

"They were very driven to pass and debate bills," Engel said. "The number of bills they acted upon exceeded years previous."

Huntington was well-prepared for the debates, Engel said, as were most of the students.

Huntington had heard about Boys Nation from a neighbor two years ago. The mock-government program was exactly what the leadership driven Huntington was looking for to further his political goals.

"I know what I want to do," Huntington, who has a 4.7 grade-point average, said. "I'm still looking at what branch (of government) I want to work in."

Since he was 14 he has participated in summer leadership camps and student council throughout the school year year. During his hours of free time he assisted with his school's food drives and ran track and field at Valley High School.

His resume is already filled with volunteer work and internships. He has been a member of the Leadership Las Vegas Youth club, testified before the Nevada Committee on Human Resources about Senate Bill 367, which dealt with teenage pregnancy, last year and worked on the Student Advisory Committee for the Clark County School Board.

"I take advantage of programs that are available to me so I can learn as much as possible," Huntington said.

Huntington is honing his political skills as an intern in Republican Sen. John Ensign's office and plans to apply to Ivy League colleges this fall.

Ensign, who has worked with Huntington in his Las Vegas office, said, "Besides serving with complete competence and skill, he brings an enthusiastic attitude to his duties and eagerly assists my office.

"He clearly represents the talent and vision that we all hope for in today's youth."

Huntington may be a busy boy on the verge of entering the real world, but he is still starry-eyed about the government and its potential for greatness. The Boys Nation program affected him greatly, he said.

"We sit in real seats and play government," Huntington said. "It was unbelievable."

He had traveled to Washington, D.C., on family trips, but never to the offices of the men and women who debated and created the laws of the land.

"It's got so much history," Huntington said of the nation's capital. "You walk into Congress and see where incredible leaders have led our nation in some of the best and worst of times."

The boys met the president, as the program had arranged for each Boys Nation for the past 56 years.

Huntington described President Bush as a down-to-earth guy who seemed to care deeply about his position.

"He didn't have a speech prepared, but he gave us a heart-to-heart about the Oval Office and how things on the wall represented his dreams, his leadership and his goals," Huntington said. "He's a normal guy who is achieving great things."

The boys from the American Legion program also met federal and supreme court judges and state senators.

"It was a privilege and an honor," Huntington said.

The summer reality program brought his political goals a bit more in focus, Huntington said.

"I think our generation sees that there needs to be some changes in the government," Huntington said.

And he's just the guy for the job.