If you ask Jimmy Bouchard why he's qualified to run for city council, he'll tell you it has nothing to do with his age.

"I believe that I have just as much experience as any other candidate."

"I've grown up in Oak Ridge all my life ever since I was 3 years old, I've gone through the school systems, gone through the high school, I know the people, I help out with many different organizations throughout the city," he says.

A senior at Oak Ridge High School, in his spare time when he isn't volunteering with kids in his community, he likes to spend time at city council meetings. One day he decided to call the city clerk to see if he could run for office.

"She actually told me no, so at first right away I was bogged down and I almost just gave it up."

But he didn't quit. Instead, he went to the public library and got a copy of the state election laws.

"There is no law that says you have to be 18," he says. "You don't have to be 18 to campaign."

You have to be 18 to hold an office. Jimmy turns 18 on May 22, and election day is June 2. Jimmy says his main reason for running for city council is to serve.

"I believe a member of city council is there to represent the citizens and the issues that concern the people," he says. "It shouldn't be for personal gain and personal glory."

"I know the issues, I know what concerns people, and just living life, I know what concerns me, and what I believe are solutions to the problems we have here in Oak Ridge," he says.

Jimmy's main concern is the crime rate in Oak Ridge.

"The number one issue I'm passionate about would be reducing the crime rate in Oak Ridge," he says. "The crime rate in Oak Ridge is fairly high, and it keeps rising."

He also wants to revitalize real estate in Oak Ridge. So far, Jimmy has received a lot of support from the community and the other 10 candidates on the ballot.

"They said that they would love to serve with me if it comes out that we're elected as new city council members."

While Jimmy doesn't like to focus on his age, it has helped with his campaign.

"The campaign process has been pretty good for me because as a 17-year-old candidate, it's a very interesting story," he says. "I've gotten the headlines in papers and through the Oak Ridger."

He has even appeared on WBIR as a guest on Inside Tennessee. Jimmy is confident about his campaign, and hopes to fill one of the four city council seats. But he says he's not looking to become a politician.

"I don't believe that politics should be a career."

"I think it is a calling to serve the people, to serve whatever community you're running for and representing, and then you return back to life," Jimmy says.

After graduation, Jimmy will attend University of Tennessee Knoxville, where he has already been accepted into the nuclear engineering program.

Below are more news articles about Jimmy--

http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?S=10013050

http://www.oakridger.com/localnews/x110664408/Council-candidates-range-from-incumbent-mayor-to-17-year-old-student

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/mar/16/teen-running-for-council-seat-says-hes/