Iowa’s youngest mayor says he’s loving his job and he plans to run for another term. Jeremy Minnier was 18 in November of 2011 when he won a write-in campaign to become the mayor of Aredale. Since then, he’s graduated high school and is now in college. He’s done scores of interviews, including a trip to Los Angeles to be on Jay Leno’s show. Minnier says it’s a fun being a small-town mayor.
“Every day is an adventure,” Minnier says. “There’s always something new or somebody new to talk to meet. It’s been a great experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Minnier says people in the town of 74 wanted a change with the way city government was being run and an ad appeared in the newspaper in nearby Hampton asking for people to write his name in.
As mayor, Minnier says he’s had a lot of support. Minnier says coming into it, he didn’t know what to expect but it’s all played out well, with lots of help and advice from people.
Coincidentally, Minnier’s brother-in-law, Shawn Dietz, was also elected as the mayor of Hampton in November of 2011. Minnier says he’s met with Dietz to discuss things going on in both communities.
He says once in a while they’ll talk about things and exchange ideas about things happening in each town, as they face similar challenges. Minnier recommends younger adults get involved in their communities.
Minnier says he’s worked with a lot of people, with a lot of them his age wondering what they are getting out of it. He reminds them, while they aren’t getting an hourly wage, it’s helping to make the community a better place. Minnier’s two-year term expires at the end of this year and he says he’s running for re-election.
He is wrapping up his first year in college at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, where he plans to get a horticulture science degree.
By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City