Willette named to Youth Council
AUGUSTA — State Rep. Alexander R. Willette has been appointed to the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, established in 2002 to advise the Legislature on issues related to young Mainers.
“I’m delighted with this appointment,” said Willette (R-Mapleton), the youngest member of the Maine House. “Through the Council, the young people of our state have a powerful voice in Augusta. So far, the Council has dealt with a host of important issues — drug abuse, foster care, citizenship education and other issues. This is the first legislative council of its kind in the nation.”
The appointment was made by House Speaker Robert Nutting.
The purposes of the Council, as put forth in the law, are to advise the Legislature on proposed and pending legislation, state budget expenditures and policy matters related to youth. The Council also conducts periodic seminars on leadership, government and the Legislature and reports annually to the Legislature.
The law instructs the Council to examine issues of importance to youth, including education, employment, strategies to increase youth participation in municipal and state government, safe environments for youth, foster care, poverty, homelessness and access to services.
Willette said he would like to expand the Council’s scope to include teenage pregnancy prevention, a rejection of illegal drugs and an advocacy of personal responsibility, as well as lowering Maine’s high school dropout rate.
