The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Members of the Waitsburg community want their city government to be more connected to its youth.

In fact, former city councilor Bart Baxter made youth and community his platform during mayoral elections this month. His bid for top seat in city government was not successful against incumbent Walt Gobel, but his ideas were sound.

This Wednesday, as Waitsburg's re-elected mayor and city councilors are sworn in during the regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. in the Lions Club Community Building, a new, junior member of the team will join their ranks.

For the first time ever, the city council will welcome a high school student representative to the table. And Waitsburg junior Fletcher Baker has been selected for that honor.

"I'm very excited," the 17-year-old said Tuesday afternoon. "My teachers are always telling me I need to do community service, and this will look really good on my resume. I feel like I'm really going to enjoy it."

Baker won't be able to vote, introduce motions or participate in executive sessions, but he will be at the table for council discussions and decision making.

"We want to get kids involved," Gobel said. "It's more of an honorary post, but we hope having him with us will get more high school students engaged in the process."

Baker has been a Waitsburg student since his family, including parents Tim and Heather Baker, moved from Portland, Ore., to their home near Lewis and Clark Trail State Park when he was in 1st grade.

He has been a xylophone player with the school band since 6th grade. He's an active member of Young Life youth ministries and National Honor Society. And since 9th grade, Baker has participated in Knowledge Bowl and Youth in Government

His work through Youth in Government - which allows students to visit the capitol building in Olympia every year, write mock bills and argue them on the legislative floor -opened Baker's eyes to the thrill of politics. He is looking forward to gaining real experience on Waitsburg's city council this spring and going into next school year.

"I think it's a really good idea," Baker said. "If there's ever something where the council wants to get input from younger people, I can ask around at school and even set up a place where students could write down their thoughts on the issue."

Baker will be sworn in along with the city's newly elected officials during Wednesday evening's ceremony. He will continue as student representative during his senior year.