ARAVIA, GA (WALB/Gray News) – A 21-year-old Georgia woman has become the youngest female mayor in not only her state’s history, but the history of the United States.
Brooke Huckabee is the mayor of Arabi, Georgia, a town of just under 500 people.
Huckaby is also a college student studying agricultural technology at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and works part-time for the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
“What really inspires me is the lack of interest from people my age. They don’t pay much attention to politics. That’s what motivated me to jump in and get ahead of the game. The older generation can’t always handle things for us,” she said.
When he first ran for office, some questioned whether Huckabee was capable of leading given his youth.
“How can I gain experience without stepping in the ring?” she said.
Huckaby said his father, a former mayor, has served as his mentor since taking office in January.
Lindsey Sword served as city clerk under both mayors and said she enjoyed working with Huckabee.
“Oh, that’s great! We have a lot of older council members and it would be nice to have someone who can think more innovate and bring youth to the community,” she said.
Huckaby said a typical day would include schoolwork, signing work orders for the city, working at the Department of Agriculture and assisting scientists with agricultural research.
“I feel like I’m living three different lives sometimes because I’m jumping between all these interviews, classes and work. I wouldn’t say it’s been a struggle to balance it all, but it’s a challenge and I feel like I can do it,” she said.
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