Nevada teens will try their hands at Washington politics

Wednesday, July 17, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.

Two Green Valley High School seniors will get hands-on civics lessons and get a shot at running for president next week during Boys and Girls Nation in Washington, D.C.

Chris McGee and Bridget Kelleher will represent Nevada in the nationwide program, along with Chris Smith of Yerington High School and Kadee Carpenter of Elko High School.

The four teens will meet key national leaders such as President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Attorney General John Ashcroft, as well as attend lectures, visit national landmarks and hold mock congressional hearings.

The teens will also run for mock national offices. McGee and Kelleher both have their eyes on the presidency.

"I might as well go big," Kelleher said. "I promised to be a good representative of the state, so why not show others what Nevadans can do?'

Kelleher and McGee, who both plan to go to law school, also have aspirations to run for the real office of president some day.

"The reason I know I have it in me is because both President Bill Clinton and President John F. Kennedy were Boys Nation candidates, and they realized they had it in them by going to Boys Nation," McGee said.

The four Nevada delegates, who are all involved in forensics and mock trials in school, are eager to meet Bush.

"I don't know if I will stumble over my words at the time," McGee said, "But I want to say it's an honor to meet you, no one could have have handled (Sept. 11) as well as you, except maybe (former New York City Mayor) Rudy Giuliani."

Smith, McGee's fellow delegate from the north, plans to get right down to business when he meets the president.

"I personally want to know how he feels about Yucca Mountain," said Smith, who is planning to introduce legislation to promote research on alternative sources of energy and recycling nuclear waste.

The Girls Nation delegates also plan on introducing legislation on Yucca Mountain as well as a bill to better enforce Title IX regulations for female athletes.

Kelleher is excited to see how teen senators from other states bring varying perspectives to the different bills.

"I really enjoyed Girls State, where we were able to see what it is like from the other side, Northern Nevadans and how they live," Kelleher said. "I can't wait to see what it is like at the national level."

Boys Nation and Girls Nation are sponsored by the American Legion and its auxiliary.