Ismael Fernandez joins other Latinos in the City Council structure of Idaho after he was elected as the youngest among its council members.

According to Univision, as translated by Remezcla, Wilder, Idaho's population is composed mostly of Latinos. As for the case of 19-year-old Fernandez, he can now consider himself as one of the contributors in proposing laws in the state of Idaho.

According to Fernandez, who currently studies Spanish and history, he didn't expect to win. "When the day of the election came, I told myself that I just didn't want to come in last," he said.

 

Going against other candidates who are more experienced than him, Fernandez said that his chance of winning is very bleak, but the 1,500 residents of Idaho chose him instead. He said that his grandmother played a great role in his campaign. As early as June 2015, Fernandez announced his interest to run. Although his advisors told him to wait until the right time to start his move, he said that he started to do some door-to-door campaigning with his grandmother, per Idaho Press.

Young as he may seem, his visions are clear and consist of everything the town needs at the moment. According to Remezcla, Wilder doesn't have a pharmacy or Walmart where locals can buy their basic needs, and everyone must go to Caldwell to get those things. Fernandez said that the conventional way of traveling to Caldwell may be fine with the younger generation but not with the elder citizens.

In his statement, he said, "I want to help them to get them where they need to go, maybe with [a] shuttle that will take and pick them up from rural areas. It's difficult for older people who can't drive to go out to bigger cities, like Caldwell, so they can get the things they need."

According to Idaho Press, Fernandez said that while other government officials expressed their appreciation for youth politicians, because of their lack of experience, there is a challenge of performing what is expected of them.

Fernandez's first experience in the world of politics began when he held a seat on the Juvenile Justice Commission. He gets his strength from his father, who died when he was just six months old, and his experience in being bullied when he was six years old. He helped pass the anti-bullying law earlier this year.