Auontai (Tay) Anderson, a recent graduate of Manuel High School in Denver, is looking forward to spending his summer hanging out with friends at Elitch Gardens theme park, working at the local Krispy Kreme and campaigning for a seat on the Denver School Board district #4. The 18-year-old is pushing to disrupt the seven-member board that favors charter schools to the detriment of lower performing schools.

In an interview with The Denver Post, Anderson said, "I’m not comfortable with closing a neighborhood public school just so we can implement a charter school.” He continued, “There is just a lack of transparency on the board and a lot of people are not comfortable with that.”

Photo: Andy Cross / Denver Post

Anderson has demonstrated his ability to lead as student body president, command sergeant major of the 5th Battalion in Junior ROTC, chair of the Colorado High School Democrats and a former state central committeeman for House District 9. His decision to run against 46-year-old Rachele Espiritu was made after the district's 2015 decision to open a middle school at Manual High without listening to the concerns of students and parents. “We had no say or voice, but the board decided that we will get a middle school,” Anderson said.

At his campaign launch event held at Manual High School in late May, the unlikely candidate received overwhelming support and backing from community members of all ages. “Young people like him because he’s engaged and older generations relate to him as well,” said Colorado state Rep. Joe Salazar of Thornton. “I think he’s part of a generation of young people who are tired of elected officials saying they are going to do something for them and they don’t…and if the DPS board treats this like it’s nothing, well I hope this child whips their butts,” Salazar said.

His popularity among his peers runs in tandem with a larger national movement of increased social engagement and political consciousness by young people, energized by the Black Lives Matter movement and the Bernie Sanders’ campaign. “It’s impossible to discount him, people are just drawn to him,” said Kate Burmite, who is Anderson’s social media director. Burmite acknowledges that people will try to use his youth against him, but she believes that his fresh perspective, and youthful energy makes him the best choice to join an out-of-touch board.

African American Politician

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