Michael Sessions

Michael Sessions
Mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan
In office 2005–2009
Preceded by	Doug Ingles
Succeeded by	Douglas Moon
Personal details
Born	September 22, 1987 (1987-09-22) (age 24)

Michael Sessions (born September 22, 1987) is the former mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan, a city of about 8200 people. He was elected November 8, 2005. He was sworn into office on November 21. Elected at the age of 18, he is among the youngest mayors in United States history.

Campaign

Sessions' $700 war chest from his summer job was enough to fund a door-to-door, write-in campaign. Sessions was too young to be on the ballot in the spring of 2005, so a write-in campaign was the only option. The initial count showed that after 62 votes for Sessions were disqualified, Sessions still led incumbent mayor Doug Ingles by two votes (670-668). In addition, Sessions was awarded one vote that had been in question by the elections office, which read simply "the 18 year old running for mayor", bringing the final margin to three votes. Ingles requested a recount, but withdrew the request at a special city council meeting.

On November 21, 2005, Sessions was sworn in as mayor of the city of Hillsdale.^[1] On the agenda for that night was an amendment to the current sign ordinance, an ordinance to set up a college zoning district, and the results of the 2005 city audit.^{[citation needed]} Many media outlets were in attendance including: TV Azteca (Mexico), Nippon TV (Japan), Russian TV, The Detroit Free Press, and many local media outlets. Sessions has also appeared on Judge Hatchett, Montel Williams, The NBC Today Show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Late Show with David Letterman.

At the time of his election, Sessions received a $250 monthly stipend and said he would "devote after-school hours to the job [while attending nearby Hillsdale High School during the day] and use his bedroom as his office."^[2] Sessions graduated from Hillsdale High School in May 2006 and began attending Hillsdale College thereafter. He belongs to the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.^{[citation needed]}

Sessions appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman earlier in 2005 to read the Top Ten list titled "Good Things About Being an 18-year-old Mayor." Saturday Night Live parodied this event, with castmember Andy Samberg playing a caricatured version of Sessions as the mayor whose new laws would include "anyone who gives the mayor a 'swirlie' will be given the death penalty!" Sessions has performed at least two marriages.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, Sessions announced that he would not seek re-election because his graduation from Hillsdale College in 2010 may lead him to pursue a career outside the area.^[3] Other 18-year-olds elected to mayoral positions that year were Christopher Seeley of Linesville, Pennsylvania (also born in September 1987) and Sam Juhl of Roland, Iowa (born in November 1987).

Controversy

Sessions plead no contest on July 2, 2007 to malicious annoyance by writing, a misdemeanor, in which he wrote an email, under a false name, to his former campaign manager's mother, accusing him of indiscretions with regard to alcohol and women. Sessions agreed to a sentence of 40 hours community service and $850 in restitution to the victim. Upon successfully completing community service, the charges against Michael were dismissed.^[4]

Cancer

On August 31, 2007, Sessions announced on-air at WCSR that he was suffering from testicular cancer. He had noticed an enlargement on July 24 and had the mass removed six days later. Sessions also said that he would undergo dissection of his lymph nodes in September. He is currently in remission.^{[5] [6]}

2009 Election & Current Activities

Sessions chose not to seek re-election in 2009.^[7]

According to the Adrian Daily telegram, Michael will be managing the Blissfield, Michigan, Downtown Development Authority/ Main Street program. ^[8]

See also

• List of the youngest mayors in the United States
• The Youngest Candidate
• Youth rights
• Youth politics
• Age of candidacy

References

1. ^ Hillsdale.net
2. ^ W. Koch, "'Go-getter,' 18, ousts mayor in Michigan" USA Today, November 9, 2005
3. ^ Sessions announces he will not seek re-election
4. ^ "Point of Correction"
5. ^ "Sessions treated for testicular cancer"
6. ^ "Mayor Fights Cancer"
7. ^ "Sessions prepares for final days in office"
8. ^ "Former Hillsdale mayor to guide Blissfield downtown work"

External links

• Michigan town elects teen mayor. High-schooler wins write-in campaign thanks to friends at fire department, Carl Quintanilla, MSNBC, November 9, 2005
• US high school teen elected mayor BBC News, Friday, November 11, 2005
• "This is the mayor in his other job - as a schoolboy"

Persondata
Name	Sessions, Michael
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 22, 1987
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death