Samantha Perlman, 24
Samantha Perlman has been working to get young people involved in their local governments. Now she’s getting involved herself. The 24-year-old is running to be the youngest woman elected in history to Marlborough City Council.
Credit of: Alyssa Katherine Faoro
What was the best piece of advice you received before you ran for office?
Run your own race. I think oftentimes, especially as young women, we compare ourselves to other people, feeling self-doubt or imposter syndrome. I think it was important for me to look at what I was trying to build in the community and not get sidetracked, instead think about the positive things that we can build together.
Just because it has not been done before doesn't mean you cannot do it that way. We do not have to conform to the norms of how politics has always existed in the past. Younger candidates, more women and diverse candidates are running – and we're changing the game. We've been socialized to act the ways things are, but we should think outside the box.
Women often doubt themselves when considering a run for office, and often women have to be asked several times before they decide to run for office. Was that your experience? When did the lightbulb go off for you that you wanted to run for office?
Early on, I was really interested in politics and government in school. Throughout college, I did many government internships to learn about how government can help people. I believed that if I wanted to make an impact in my community, I needed to be way older, have so many degrees and be the utmost qualified on paper.
I had been studying for the LSAT and thought I was going to go to law school. But I decided not to because I realized how much of an impact I could have locally in my community. My work is in the non-profit sector in civic education and engagement. In my past work, I empowered other young people to make policy changes in their communities and that inspired me to become increasingly active in my hometown.
Over this past year, I worked extensively on a civics education bill in Massachusetts. This led me to attend a press conference with several elected officials speaking. One of the elected officials speaking was a very young state representative.
He mentioned how he was advocating for civics in high school, and I kept thinking, “How old is this guy?” I just couldn't wrap my head around the fact that he was a state representative. I was so impressed.
As soon as the press conference ended, I just made a beeline to talk to him. I just automatically started introducing myself and my experiences, telling him, “I cannot believe you are a state representative, you're so young!” He turned out to be in his mid-twenties. I remarked, “I want to run for office one day too. I'd love to talk with you sometime and learn about your experiences.”
In that moment, I didn't realize that I was going to say I want to run for office. Before then I don’t think it was something I had considered. And he responded, “You are involved in your community and do all these things- why aren't you running now?”
His question stumped me because I did not have an answer. I remember thinking, “I don't know why I'm not running.”
From there, I started doing a lot of research about women running for office, which is how I found out about Emerge Massachusetts. I ended up applying for their 6-month training program and told myself that if I got accepted, I would run. Well, I made it into the class and was the youngest one in the cohort. Turned out to be one of the best decisions because of the incredible tools, mentorship and support network I gained.
What first got you involved in politics and government?
I enjoyed learning history in high school, even taking an AP Government class during an election year. But I just remember that there were very few students in the class, and I was the only junior. It was kind of ridiculous that there weren't more.
And it happened at the same time as student activism that sprouted in my high school. An administrator had been unfairly fired at our school, and he was such a resource to so many students. He was a beloved person and his departure upset a lot of students, including myself. When this happened, it sparked this movement of young people, juniors and seniors, who created a consortium of students and faculty partners who advocated for his reinstatement.
We ended up circulating information around the school and having sit-ins in the hallways about our frustration. My peers even testified at our school committee meeting. That was one of the first instances where I realized the importance of exercising your voice, especially the power of the collective voice and when we collaborate with each other.
In college, I studied abroad in South Africa. Here, I witnessed the student protest movement in South Africa where students fought to decolonize the University of Cape Town and other universities across the country. They were raising student fees and making it inaccessible for the Black and Brown students who went there. The curriculum was very Eurocentric.
Here, I witnessed youth leadership again and be an ally in that cause. And it made me realize our capacity to be change agents: “Wow, students who are my own age aren't waiting for anyone else to tell them what needs to happen in their community, but are taking the reins themselves.”
“Sometimes, we need people with courage to be the first. It has never been done before until you do it.”
You wrote an op-ed in support of a bill to prioritize civic education in Massachusetts, and you worked for Generation Citizen, a non-profit that champions civic education. As a city councilmember, what changes in your city do you think will get more young people involved in government?
We need to be inviting underrepresented and youth voices into the process. So as I'm building up my campaign, I'm having a lot of high school students who are helping. I want their ideas and their input, because they are the future, and we need to be asking them how our city can improve.
If elected, I would love to have high school students intern with me and just learn the process from the inside. Often I think government internships are a great way to learn more about the process. people should see all aspects of what policymaking looks.
In terms of civic education, I would love to help build out more civics in all of our schools, regardless of the grade level. When civics is action-based, and young people are learning about government by interacting with it on a local level, it resonates most with students.
Being a millennial, often people move elsewhere and wanting to be in cities. What happens like in these places where all the young people are no longer living? It’s important to help move those communities forward and have intergenerational coalition building.
What are the potholes in your city? What are the issues you feel are being neglected and you want to see addressed in your community?
One of the biggest things is voter education about what the city council does, and making it more apparent than getting residents to know their city councilors. I want to be really present in the community and have people reach out to me because at the end the day horizontal leadership is so important.
Marlborough is a rapidly growing city: 40,000 people, and it’s the crux of many different highways, we are having tons of businesses come in. I’m passionate about sustainable development and affordability. We have a huge Brazilian immigrant population and great diversity in the city and I want to make sure that we celebrate our various communities. We should ensure access to the city’s information is in multiple languages and be out in the community as much as possible. I think it's also important to have listening sessions in the community and make sure that we're at places where people already are and bringing that information directly to them. I’d like to have town halls and coffee chats around the city in different wards to build relationships with residents. Similarly, we need to protect open space in our city and support our seniors, especially as the makeup of our city shifts with new development.
Other issues that are important to me include:
Securing a fire station on the west side of the city and efficient road maintenance
Promoting human services and resources for residents to thrive in our city
Enhancing our downtown and investing in small businesses so it is a place for everyone with various restaurants and public art
Supporting our schools and the next generation of leaders in our city
Do you think you've had people doubt you at all for your identity? For your age or your identity?
I feel like people probably underestimate me because I'm young and a woman. But those qualities are an asset, right? I am an active listener and work collaboratively. I also have been taking this race very seriously- knocking on doors every single day to hear about the issues that matter to residents and to build those pivotal relationships.
It is also about reshaping the narrative of what an elected official really looks like. Sometimes, we need people with courage to be the first. It has never been done before until you do it. If elected, I will be the youngest woman to serve on the Council.
Growing up here, I have a lot of faith in where our community has grown. I also serve as Chair of our Cultural Council in the City and work at a non-profit where I engage with scholars- these are intergenerational settings that demonstrate my ability to get work done and collaborate with a vast array of individuals.
“Know that it's going to be an uphill battle, but it's going to be so rewarding."
What was the best advice you would give to another young Dem considering a run for office?
One quote that is continuously been going in and out of my mind is, “There is no change without challenge.” I think that's important for young people to remember, because running for office is hard. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It is difficult to put yourself out there, and often you're very vulnerable.
Know that it's going to be an uphill battle, but it's going to be so rewarding. The people that you're meeting along the way and the movement you're creating for those that follow you make it worth every challenge. Running for office is not easy but it is the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. You are stepping outside yourself to serve your community and it is enriching in ways that are indescribable.
Cannot wait to see more of you running!
The views expressed in this interview are those of the candidate, and do not reflect the beliefs and views of Ballot Breakers or its staff.