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in tenth grade, Simons was on a planning committee to set priorities for the recommended improvements if the district could find the funds. The school did receive a state grant for seismic improvements which also funded other building repairs. From that experience, Simons said he learned that in tight budgets, "Prioritizing can be everything."
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When Simons was in eighth grade he attended school board meetings with his mother. An audit of the
Yoncalla High School building (built in 1949) revealed urgently neededed structural improvements, but the town had no funds for the repairs, and two school bond measures did not pass. By the time he was
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As mayor, Simons has met challenges such as turnover in city councilors, and the
February 2019 "snowmageddon" storm. Simons also spearheaded a town waste water project and improved roads. In addition, Simons led an effort that reopened the town's library, which had been closed since failed
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from 2019 to 2021. He was elected at age 18, the youngest person to assume the office. As mayor, he has led improvement of the town's wastewater system, reopened the town library that had been closed due to budget cuts in 2017, and completed projects to improve the town's roads.
208:"My history teachers in school are to blame for this. They were the ones who really encouraged participation in what's going on. They really emphasized how the 18-to-24-year-old demographic has such low voter turnout. They encouraged us to be the change in that."
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tax initiatives in 2017 caused libraries to close. He said his goals for the town in
January 2020 included improving drinking water in Yoncalla, and continuing to work on the town's infrastructure.
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In August 2018, Simons was appointed to the city council of
Yoncalla, replacing a councilor who left for health reasons. Shortly thereafter, Simons filed for the mayor's race.
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327:"Ben Simons was sworn in earlier this month as mayor of Yoncalla at age 18. Today happens to be his 19th birthday"
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486:"Yoncalla's 18-year-old mayor-elect took the call to vote a big step further"
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reported, "News of Simons' win sparked a wave of stories and interviews from
151:(born January 23, 2000) is an American politician who served as the mayor of
457:"No 'Parks & Rec' jokes: Oregon's teen mayor is here to get stuff done"
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276:"Former Yoncalla mayor offers advice for newly elected 18-year-old"
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514:"February 'snowmageddon' storm wreaks havoc in Douglas County"
394:"18-year-old mayor Ben Simons of Yoncalla prepares to govern"
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While serving as mayor, Simons has also actively served as a
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in spring 2020. As of 2020, he planned to transfer to the
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Class of 2018 valedictorian, Simons also was a member of
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Interview, "Think Out Loud", National Public Radio, NYC
243:His two-year mayoral term started in January 2019.
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359:"Oregon's teenage mayor takes office in Yoncalla"
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168:, a town with a population of about 1,000. The
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191:to earn a degree in business administration.
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218:In November 2018, Simons, a self-identified
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538:Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (June 30, 2018).
357:Swindler, Samantha (January 24, 2019).
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512:Cegavske, Carisa (December 29, 2019).
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569:18-year-old Oregon mayor takes office
455:Campuzano, Eder (November 10, 2018).
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484:Darling, Dylan (November 25, 2018).
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392:Egener, Max (December 16, 2018).
425:Garza, Evita (January 9, 2020).
325:@Oregonian (January 23, 2019).
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611:People from Yoncalla, Oregon
164:Simons was born in 2000 in
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606:Mayors of places in Oregon
183:full-time, to complete an
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52:January 1, 2019
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301:"Local Election Results"
181:Umpqua Community College
160:Early life and education
138:Politician · firefighter
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120:Yoncalla, Oregon, U.S.
256:volunteer firefighter
87:Stacey Atwell-Keister
189:University of Oregon
170:Yoncalla High School
16:American politician
616:Oregon Republicans
491:The Register-Guard
399:The Seattle Times
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213:— Ben Simons
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83:Succeeded by
77:Gerald Cross
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596:2000 births
285:October 12,
73:Preceded by
590:Categories
549:October 9,
523:October 9,
497:October 5,
466:October 9,
440:October 9,
405:October 9,
370:October 5,
262:References
220:Republican
149:Ben Simons
135:Occupation
129:Republican
111:2000-01-23
64:2021-01-01
56:2019-01-01
25:Ben Simons
431:KEZI News
305:KEZI News
280:KEZI News
48:In office
234:Roseburg
195:Politics
40:Yoncalla
574:YouTube
335:Twitter
236:to the
62: (
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331:Tweet
224:mayor
36:Mayor
551:2020
525:2020
499:2020
468:2020
442:2020
435:KEZI
407:2020
372:2020
312:2020
287:2020
240:."
101:Born
572:on
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