Town Hall keynote speaker Reynaldo Valenzuela, Maricopa County’s director of mail-in voting, will address the importance of voting, its impact and how to cultivate service leadership.
While many youth council members and attendees may not yet be old enough to vote, the event aims to engage them early in the democratic process, ensuring they are prepared and informed when the time comes.
“We were inspired to choose voter and civic engagement as this year's Town Hall topic,” says Youth Council President Nathan Cai. “By collaborating with Maricopa County Elections, we aim to educate young people on the importance of interacting with local government – through voting and other avenues – from a non-partisan standpoint.”
Staff liaison Kristy Hahn-McDonald, says “The Scottsdale Mayor’s Youth Council and this Town Hall is a valuable opportunity for a high school student to learn more about their local government, engage with leaders and use their voice on topics that students are passionate about.”
Valenzuela has been working in the elections field for more than 33 years. He has served on numerous election panels and serves as a deputy member of the Election Officials of Arizona Association. He served for 15 years as one of two representatives from Arizona on the Election Assistant Commission Standards Board and Executive Board.
The Scottsdale Mayor's Youth Council aims to provide high school youth in Scottsdale with opportunities to learn about local government functions, tour city facilities, participate in meetings and events, and share their ideas about local government and issues with city officials.
