MUSKOGEE, Okla. — While other kids were out on the playground, Mason Page was making plans.
A suit is his outfit of choice, and it's been that way since kindergarten. That's why Page's family finds it no surprise he plans to run for city council.
"He already had it planned out. A life plan when he was eight years old, to become president when he was 40: president of the United States," his mother Vickie Page said.
Muskogee's deputy attorney said the city has to follow Oklahoma's constitution, which said at time of filing a candidate needs to be 18. Although he'll only be 17 in November, Page has his own attorney, and said he sees this as a technicality.
"It's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission. That's kind of what we're doing here. We're going to make a difference, and if it turns out I can't file that's not going to discourage me," he said.
The city said given his age, Page's filing could be contested. But the high school junior tells 2 Works for You he's confident Muskogee is ready for a younger councilor.
"We'd have a lot more development, we'd have a lot more new ideas coming in. We've had some of the same ideas for the last few decades and it hasn't really gotten us very far," Page said.
The teenager volunteers at the state capitol, and said he's inspired by the young lawmakers currently serving Oklahoma.
"My campaign slogan is 2020 vision for the future. We think if we can start looking ahead and stop dwelling on the past we can really make some difference," Page said.
If Page is successful, his name could be on the ballot next February. The high schooler said his platform will include everything from government spending to poverty.
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