Junior Humzah Ahmad filed for a place on the ballot on Jan. 20 to fill the sixth seat of the Allen City Council.
“Allen has been prospering for many, many years now,” Ahmad said. “I don’t see many issues in my small town, but I want to continue its success.”
After living in Allen for the majority of his life, Ahmad decided to take a leadership position in his community. Ahmad qualified for the election race by meeting the age requirement by voting day and submitting $20.
“Young people, for one, are affected by our politicians’ decisions, no matter what they think,” Ahmad said. “For instance, like what happened with covid last year, our entire livelihoods are completely flipped around.”
Ahmad’s main campaign strategies are giving speeches at places of gathering and operating roadside signs. He works to give a voice to younger individuals as a part of his plan on the council. He also aims to target issues like the rise in crime.
“I would say one of my biggest supporters is congressman Van Taylor,” said Ahmad. “I’ve met with him a few times, and he thinks of me as a possible high-level politician in the future. He encouraged me to run for the open seats this year, and that meant the world to me.”
“[Humzah is qualified because] he pays attention to what’s going on in the community, and he wants to be in politics in the future,” junior Luke Shull, Ahmad’s friend of four years said. “So I think that this is a good start for him.”
Ahmed is a member of several political and debate clubs, like Young Americans for Freedom. He also founded his own club, The Financial Investment Club.
“I think for Humzah, he prides himself on having that knowledge based on what’s happening politically today as well as historically,” AP Government and Politics teacher Brandon Barter said. “I think he’s young, and I think he’s still figuring out his platform and his beliefs. But, I think as he hones those things in, I think that he could be somebody that people would look to.”
Ahmad uses the council election to work toward his goal of becoming an oncologist and U.S. Senator in the future. Since a young age, he has aspired to become a higher-level politician. The general election will take place on May 7.
“I understand that my age would definitely be a turnoff for voters, but I’m still gonna put my best foot forward,” Ahmad said. “In the end, I don’t really expect to win, to be honest. But I’m still gonna put my best foot forward and do the best I can.”
