Chetan Hebbur, a senior at NYU, has announced his candidacy for New York’s City Council.
NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Chetan Hebbur is giving professional politics the old college try. The 21-year-old New York University senior wants to succeed Rosie Mendez, who is bound by the council’s term limits.
If he wins, the Democrat would tie former Bronx councilman Joel Rivera for the title of youngest city lawmaker in the history of the Big Apple. Rivera was 22 years old when he was elected in 2001.
Hebbur is relying heavily upon on his fellow NYU students to secure his position on the ballot to represent the East Village, Lower East Side and Murray Hill.
“You only need a tiny slice of the pie and there are 50,000 students at NYU,” he told the New York Post.
A math and economics major, Hebbur also works full time as a marketing consultant at an advisory firm. The Dallas native has dubbed his efforts as, “anti-campaign.”
“I plan to do things a little differently and create change,” he said.
He hopes to harness the anger of NYU students towards President Donald Trump and transform it into a movement.
“I want to get my peers on the same page and actively make a difference in our community,” he said.
Hebbur plans to use the internet and social media to encourage more government transparency. He hopes to launch an online portal where residents can vote on policy proposals, and one which will allow him to measure local support for every piece of legislature that flows through the City Council.
He’s chastised the current council for proposing progressive policies but not implementing them.
Hebbur cited New York City’s Save a Life, Carry Naloxone campaign, which promised expansion of access to the life-saving overdose anecdote to 700 pharmacies. “I went to 12 local Walgreens asking about it, but no one knew what I was talking about,” he said.
He’s aware the electorate might be turned off by his age and cast him out as a candidate too green to hold office. Hebbur thinks his age is irrelevant to the job.
“My message can resonate with people of all ages and even party affiliations.”
