I know, I know. Being a 14-year-old boy, my main interests should be motor vehicles and sports - but they're not. I have an unusual favorite hobby-politics. Yes, that's right, politics. I first really became interested in politics and government during the Alaska State Primaries election in 2002. I watched the primary elections with great interest and then actually became involved when the Wasilla mayoral election rolled around. I called each candidate and asked them a series of questions regarding everything from their party affiliation to their goals for the community. After I finished my questions, which was about five days before the election, I called Dan Kelly, who was the candidate with the same conservative goals that I had. On the following Monday, I offered to help him. I held signs and waved to cars with him. After the election, I helped him take down all of his 8 × 4 foot campaign signs. Although we didn't win the election, I did learn a lot about how a campaign is run, and Mr. Kelly became a good friend with whom it was an honor to work. Then around October 3rd, I contacted Alaska State Representative Vic Kohring and offered to help in his re-election bid in whatever way he could use me. I drove around with Rep. Kohring and assisted him in hanging forty 8 — 4 foot campaign signs. I also stuffed, licked, and stamped about four hundred envelopes with campaign letters. It was a real privilege to work with such an honorable man, and I was flattered when he offered to take me to the Republican Rally, Election Central, and to Governor Murkowski's Inaugural Ball. When I attended the Republican Rally, I personally met United States Senators Ted Stevens and Frank Murkowski (now Alaska's Governor). I had a good time working with Rep. Kohring, and he has become a good friend.

I go to the Wasilla City Hall and attend council meetings as often as possible and sometimes speak on important issues. I know that one voice can make a difference, whether it be a concerned citizen or a politician trying to sell his plan. I may just be one voice, but I plan to use my voice to climb the political ladder. Right now I'm the concerned citizen, but I plan to one day be the politician representing my constituents. After I finish college, I plan to run for a council seat or for mayor. There are a few things that need fixing on local level, but the state of Alaska really needs my help, so after my two terms are up as mayor, I would like to run for and get elected as a state representative or a state senator. Then, hopefully, as I become known and get a good reputation, I'll run for governor. As a legislator or governor, I could make a real difference; I will bring some solid conservative ideas and values to the Alaska government. Here is where I stand on a few issues in Alaska:

In Alaska, we have close to a billion dollar deficit. The people of the state will have to pay all that. Our state also has the highest spending per capita in the country. The only logical way to bring the deficit down is to stop spending so much. Alaska and every other state needs to control spending on government programs that result in some loss of our freedom.

We aren't here to serve the government; the government is here to serve us, but quite frankly we've become a nation that's too dependent on our government. Let's get back to the basics; the United States Constitution says that the government is here to protect the people with a military and to provide other basic needs of the people.

The only way I could fix things nationally is to move on to politics at the national level. After I serve as governor, I plan to run for a seat in the United States Senate. Government should be just as small and out of our life as possible. We shouldn't have to seek permits and licenses for every little thing. We have to watch our welfare programs very closely to make sure they don't become socialist. We must also consider making the Social Security program optional; let those of us who can wisely save our money, do so. We must resist those who want to pass laws that practically take away our Second Amendment right; an armed nation is a safe nation. On our immigration problem, we have to guard our borders to prevent all illegal immigration, and we must limit and do extensive background checks on all legal immigrants. If we just tighten our borders to all illegal immigrants, our taxes will go down because we won't be supporting them with our generous welfare programs. I support President Bush 100% on his tax cuts for everyone, and I differ with those who say that the tax cuts are for the "rich" only. It isn't true that only the rich will be getting their money back; the rich are the people who pay the biggest percentage in taxes and should therefore get more back. In fact, if the rich get more of their money back, they are much more likely to spend more, hire more employees, and be better motivated to work harder, thus stimulating the economy.

I have a lot of ideas, and I'm anxious for the day when I can put those ideas into action. By the time I'm old enough to vote, I'll be prepared to run for office. One person can make a difference, and I believe that if I can make a contribution to a city, state, or the country, that place will be a safer, more successful, and an overall better place to live.

I'm Jimmy Wright and I'm 14 years old. I'm currently in ninth grade and have been homeschooled since the fourth grade. I was born in Germany and also lived in the Netherlands, Pakistan, North Dakota, and Washington, DC. My family moved to Wasilla, Alaska, where my dad retired from the Air Force. Wasilla is in the heart of the Mat-Su Valley, with a combined population of approximately 50,000 residents.