Spencer Perry Becomes "Youth Governor" of California

Name: Spencer Perry

Age: 17

Grade / School: junior

Q: What's the position you just achieved? How many youth compete for the position?

A: I have just been elected to the position of California Youth Governor. Each year more and more people compete in the election; this year it was as many as nine candidates.

Q: How is it selected? 

A: The election process is a little bit complicated; candidates begin their campaigns during ... at Camp Roberts. Here candidates present speeches and visit delegates as well hold as legislative sessions, all the while spreading their name and message. Of the nine who begin here, five go on to the next conference, depending on sponsorship from a political party. Candidates may have to run off for one of the four party nominations, and one unaffiliated candidate must run off as well. 

Q: Tell me a little about Y&G. What's the purpose?

 A: Youth and Government, in its simplest form, is a model legislature and court. It's a platform for high school students to craft bills, and carry them through the legislative process (committee, both houses and the youth governor's desk). However, there are many other program areas within Y&G besides the senate and assembly. There is a National Issues Commission, Trial Court, California Supreme Court, Board of Education, Page Program, Lobbyist Program, Legislative Analyst Program, Broadcast, Press and Constitutional Convention. Essentially, Y&G is a tool to teach civil engagement.

Q: How long have you been involved with the program?

A: This will be my third year in the program. I began as a freshman.

Q: What are some of your other accomplishments with it?

A: I've been vice president of the Albany chapter for two years. I've been selected to attend the YMCA Conference on National Affairs for two years. I've been a committee chair, an Adversary Corps member, a fundraising team captain and section leader, and I've been a candidate for office four times (this is the only election I've won).

Q: Why are you involved with it? 

A: I'm so involved with Y&G for a number of reasons: I enjoy my friends and connections in the program, I enjoy the benefits of working in politics, I enjoy the prospect of holding public office in the future, and I really like to debate. Not to mention, I really love how Y&G is a program with such an important and educational message, but still successfully reaches an enormous and diverse audience of high school students. 

Q: What kind of skills do you get out of it?

A: Some skills that come with involvement are public speaking skills, networking skills and collaborative skills.

Q: Do you have political aspirations?

A: I do have political aspirations. Others involved in the program have gone on to run for office, and succeed. I look forward to being one of those people. 

Q: Have your moms' efforts influenced your political participation? If so, can you give a little background about their efforts?

My moms have absolutely played a role in my political aspirations. With a lawyer and two civil servants as parents, I've had the opportunity to meet some elected officials, and seeing them at work has inspired me to strive for a job similar to theirs. As far as , the Perry v. Brown case is one that has been going on for a number of years, climbing the judicial ladder. Most recently, an opinion of three 9th Circuit judges has overturned Prop 8, but that opinion has been appealed by Prop 8's proponents.

Q: Anything else you want people to know?

A: YMCA Youth and Government is a program open to all California high school students, and the Albany Delegation meets every Monday at 7:30 at 1216 Solano Ave. 

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Here's some more background on Youth and Government, from the local teen coordinator Sebastian de la Rosa:

The Albany YMCA has been participating in Youth and Government for 25 plus years. Spencer is the first Youth Governor from Albany. This year 75 delegates (nearly all from Albany High School) participated in the program. 

There is a cost to participate, however, the Albany YMCA does not make any money from the program – in fact we operate the program at a loss. Financial aid is available and delegates participate in extensive fundraising to lower the cost. 

The program itself is a model legislature and court for high school students across California. Local YMCAs work in coordination with the statewide organization, California YMCA Youth and Government, to run the program. 

Participants, called delegates, form local groups, called delegations, which meet weekly from September through February.

Delegates learn the fundamentals of state government, skills such as public speaking and leadership and write original pieces of legislation. 

These original bills are presented at our annual Model Legislature and Court program where delegates actually create their own mock state government, complete with State Senators, Assemblypersons, lobbyists, legislative analysts, lawyers and judges, just to name a few. 

In addition, delegates elect their own leadership starting from Youth Governor to Sgt. at Arms.

The size of our delegation has grown pretty dramatically. Last year we had 50 delegates, this year 75.  The group is definitely growing. The past two years we have had more new delegates than returning delegates. 

I would have to attribute the success to the delegates who have really increased the quality and the amount of recruitment. In addition, the delegations officers (youth leadership) have committed more time to training and preparation which has led to a greater quality program. This has led to greater overall participation. 

As the lead advisor I have to say we are also very lucky to have great support from and .