Spring Break
When Not Studying Politics in the Classroom, He Experiences it in the State House
By Kate Giaquinto
Brian Poznanski '11 has a passion for politics. He spends one-half of his week in the classrooms of his major, learning theoretical lessons, and travels to the state capitol when he does not have class. But Poznanski is not an intern at the state house -- he represents the 26th District of Nashua in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
The state's youngest representative began his term last January at the age of 19. He says he ran because the average age in the state House is approximately 63 and "that's not the average age of the state population.
"I wanted to give a voice to young people and issues," he said, because "the young think differently."
The youngest representative himself, Poznanski shares the two-member district with the state's oldest representative. "She's a sweetheart and she is 93," he said.
Poznanski was recently in headlines after being cited for underage drinking at an October party in Bedford. He accepts responsibility for the incident.
"I made a mistake," he told The Crier. "But I learned from it and can't change it."
He would like to move on from the incident and "return to being a leader on campus which I know I'm able to do."
"It affected me more on campus than in my role as a state representative," he said. "My initial thought was not about my position as state rep, but how are my friends and peers, professors who know me, what will they think?"
Poznanski had been the primary sponsor of the so-called "Good Samaritan" legislation to be brought up in session this spring. This law would allow underage drinkers to seek medical assistance, if needed, without facing arrest.
Since Poznanski has been involved in an underage drinking incident, Dartmouth College's Democrats have had the task of finding a new main sponsor for this legislation. Poznanski's arrest has the state's college democrats upset.
"It wouldn't be feasible for someone who was arrested for underage drinking to advocate for a bill that, at least in a small way, grants amnesty to underage drinkers," the New Hampshire College Democrats communications director, Dartmouth College's Ryan Tincher '12, told The Dartmouth.
The state's youngest representative began his term last January at the age of 19. He says he ran because the average age in the state House is approximately 63 and "that's not the average age of the state population.
"I wanted to give a voice to young people and issues," he said, because "the young think differently."
The youngest representative himself, Poznanski shares the two-member district with the state's oldest representative. "She's a sweetheart and she is 93," he said.
Poznanski was recently in headlines after being cited for underage drinking at an October party in Bedford. He accepts responsibility for the incident.
"I made a mistake," he told The Crier. "But I learned from it and can't change it."
He would like to move on from the incident and "return to being a leader on campus which I know I'm able to do."
"It affected me more on campus than in my role as a state representative," he said. "My initial thought was not about my position as state rep, but how are my friends and peers, professors who know me, what will they think?"
Poznanski had been the primary sponsor of the so-called "Good Samaritan" legislation to be brought up in session this spring. This law would allow underage drinkers to seek medical assistance, if needed, without facing arrest.
Since Poznanski has been involved in an underage drinking incident, Dartmouth College's Democrats have had the task of finding a new main sponsor for this legislation. Poznanski's arrest has the state's college democrats upset.
"It wouldn't be feasible for someone who was arrested for underage drinking to advocate for a bill that, at least in a small way, grants amnesty to underage drinkers," the New Hampshire College Democrats communications director, Dartmouth College's Ryan Tincher '12, told The Dartmouth.
This article was published on 12/11/09 in the News section.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Toaster
posted 12/15/09 @ 2:57 AM EST
Nice soft soap but this guy is toast in 2010
professional CV
posted 12/15/09 @ 8:59 AM EST
It is good that the youngest representative himself, Poznanski shares the two-member district with the state's oldest representative.
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