Michael Sessions
Encyclopedia
Michael Sessions is the former mayor
of Hillsdale, Michigan
, a city of about 8200 people. He was elected November 8, 2005. He was sworn into office on November 21. Elected at the age of 18, he is among the youngest mayors in United States
history.
On November 21, 2005, Sessions was sworn in as mayor of the city of Hillsdale. On the agenda for that night was an amendment to the current sign ordinance, an ordinance to set up a college zoning district, and the results of the 2005 city audit. Many media outlets were in attendance including: TV Azteca (Mexico), Nippon TV (Japan), Russian TV, The Detroit Free Press, and many local media outlets. Sessions has also appeared on Judge Hatchett
, Montel Williams
, The NBC Today Show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann
, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
, and Late Show with David Letterman
.
At the time of his election, Sessions received a $250 monthly stipend and said he would "devote after-school hours to the job [while attending nearby Hillsdale High School during the day] and use his bedroom as his office." Sessions graduated from Hillsdale High School in May 2006 and began attending Hillsdale College thereafter. He belongs to the Delta Tau Delta
fraternity.
Sessions appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
earlier in 2005 to read the Top Ten list titled "Good Things About Being an 18-year-old Mayor." Saturday Night Live
parodied this event, with castmember Andy Samberg
playing a caricatured version of Sessions as the mayor whose new laws would include "anyone who gives the mayor a 'swirlie' will be given the death penalty!" Sessions has performed at least two marriages.
In 2009, Sessions announced that he would not seek re-election because his graduation from Hillsdale College
in 2010 may lead him to pursue a career outside the area. Other 18-year-olds elected to mayoral positions that year were Christopher Seeley
of Linesville, Pennsylvania
(also born in September 1987) and Sam Juhl
of Roland, Iowa
(born in November 1987).
on July 2, 2007 to malicious annoyance by writing, a misdemeanor
, in which he wrote an email, under a false name, to his former campaign manager's mother, accusing him of indiscretions with regard to alcohol and women. Sessions agreed to a sentence of 40 hours community service and $850 in restitution
to the victim. Upon successfully completing community service, the charges against Michael were dismissed.
that he was suffering from testicular cancer
. He had noticed an enlargement on July 24 and had the mass removed six days later. Sessions also said that he would undergo dissection
of his lymph nodes in September. He is currently in remission.
According to the Adrian Daily telegram, Michael will be managing the Blissfield, Michigan, Downtown Development Authority/ Main Street program.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
, a city of about 8200 people. He was elected November 8, 2005. He was sworn into office on November 21. Elected at the age of 18, he is among the youngest mayors in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history.
Campaign
Sessions' $700 war chest from his summer job was enough to fund a door-to-door, write-in campaign. Sessions was too young to be on the ballot in the spring of 2005, so a write-in campaign was the only option. The initial count showed that after 62 votes for Sessions were disqualified, Sessions still led incumbent mayor Doug Ingles by two votes (670-668). In addition, Sessions was awarded one vote that had been in question by the elections office, which read simply "the 18 year old running for mayor", bringing the final margin to three votes. Ingles requested a recount, but withdrew the request at a special city council meeting.On November 21, 2005, Sessions was sworn in as mayor of the city of Hillsdale. On the agenda for that night was an amendment to the current sign ordinance, an ordinance to set up a college zoning district, and the results of the 2005 city audit. Many media outlets were in attendance including: TV Azteca (Mexico), Nippon TV (Japan), Russian TV, The Detroit Free Press, and many local media outlets. Sessions has also appeared on Judge Hatchett
Judge Hatchett
Judge Hatchett is a nationally-syndicated American television program produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. It starred The Honorable Glenda Hatchett and was modeled after other "court shows" such as Judge Judy and the long running The People's Court, as well as containing elements...
, Montel Williams
Montel Williams
Montel Brian Anthony Williams is an American television personality, radio talk show host and actor. He is best known as host of the long-running The Montel Williams Show, and more recently as a spokesperson for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance...
, The NBC Today Show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program that airs on Current TV, where it began airing on June 20, 2011. The program was broadcast on MSNBC from March 31, 2003, to January 21, 2011. On MSNBC, the show presented five selected news stories of...
, The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
, and Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
.
At the time of his election, Sessions received a $250 monthly stipend and said he would "devote after-school hours to the job [while attending nearby Hillsdale High School during the day] and use his bedroom as his office." Sessions graduated from Hillsdale High School in May 2006 and began attending Hillsdale College thereafter. He belongs to the Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
fraternity.
Sessions appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
earlier in 2005 to read the Top Ten list titled "Good Things About Being an 18-year-old Mayor." Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
parodied this event, with castmember Andy Samberg
Andy Samberg
David Andrew "Andy" Samberg is an American actor, comedian, rapper and writer best known as a member of the comedy group The Lonely Island and as a cast member on Saturday Night Live...
playing a caricatured version of Sessions as the mayor whose new laws would include "anyone who gives the mayor a 'swirlie' will be given the death penalty!" Sessions has performed at least two marriages.
In 2009, Sessions announced that he would not seek re-election because his graduation from Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
in 2010 may lead him to pursue a career outside the area. Other 18-year-olds elected to mayoral positions that year were Christopher Seeley
Christopher Seeley
Christopher Seeley is the mayor of Linesville, Pennsylvania. Born on September 15, 1987, Seeley is among the youngest mayors of U.S. cities to serve to date. He ran against long-time Linesville Borough Council Member Kevin McGrath. Seeley was nominated for Mayor as a Democrat at age 17, on May...
of Linesville, Pennsylvania
Linesville, Pennsylvania
Linesville is a borough in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,155 at the 2000 census. The town gets its name from its founders, which included William Line , who migrated from Carlisle, Pennsylvania circa the early 1820s, and his relative, Amos Line who was the...
(also born in September 1987) and Sam Juhl
Sam Juhl
Sam Juhl was the mayor of Roland, Iowa. Juhl was among the youngest mayors of a United States city to date. He ran unopposed. Elected November 8, 2005 with 48% of the vote, he took office January 9, 2006. At the time, he was a senior at Roland-Story High School. He plans to major in history when...
of Roland, Iowa
Roland, Iowa
Roland is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,324 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 'Ames, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area', which is a part of the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa Combined Statistical Area'.- Geography :...
(born in November 1987).
Controversy
Sessions plead no contestNolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
on July 2, 2007 to malicious annoyance by writing, a misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
, in which he wrote an email, under a false name, to his former campaign manager's mother, accusing him of indiscretions with regard to alcohol and women. Sessions agreed to a sentence of 40 hours community service and $850 in restitution
Restitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery. It is to be contrasted with the law of compensation, which is the law of loss-based recovery. Obligations to make restitution and obligations to pay compensation are each a type of legal response to events in the real world. When a court...
to the victim. Upon successfully completing community service, the charges against Michael were dismissed.
Cancer
On August 31, 2007, Sessions announced on-air at WCSRWCSR
WCSR is a community service radio station located in Hillsdale, Michigan. It operates on the frequencies of 92.1 FM at 6,000 watts ERP and 1340 AM at 500 watts in the daytime and 250 watts at night.-History:...
that he was suffering from testicular cancer
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
. He had noticed an enlargement on July 24 and had the mass removed six days later. Sessions also said that he would undergo dissection
Dissection
Dissection is usually the process of disassembling and observing something to determine its internal structure and as an aid to discerning the functions and relationships of its components....
of his lymph nodes in September. He is currently in remission.
2009 Election & Current Activities
Sessions chose not to seek re-election in 2009.According to the Adrian Daily telegram, Michael will be managing the Blissfield, Michigan, Downtown Development Authority/ Main Street program.
See also
- List of the youngest mayors in the United States
- The Youngest Candidate
- Youth rightsYouth rightsYouth rights refers to a set of philosophies intended to enhance civil rights for young people. They are a response to the oppression of young people, with advocates challenging ephebiphobia, adultism and ageism through youth participation, youth/adult partnerships, and promoting, ultimately,...
- Youth politicsYouth politicsYouth politics is a category of issues which distinctly involve, affect or otherwise impact youth.-USA:With roots in the early youth activism of the Newsboys and Mother Jones' child labor protests at the turn of the 20th century, youth politics were first identified in American politics with the...
- Age of candidacyAge of candidacyAge of candidacy is the minimum age at which a person can legally qualify to hold certain elected government offices. In many cases, it also determines the age at which a person may be eligible to stand for an election or be granted ballot access....
External links
- Michigan town elects teen mayor. High-schooler wins write-in campaign thanks to friends at fire department, Carl Quintanilla, MSNBCMSNBCMSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, November 9, 2005 - US high school teen elected mayor BBC News, Friday, November 11, 2005
- "This is the mayor in his other job - as a schoolboy"