Views from the mock top

Andrew Edwards

Though they have not yet completed high school, two Laguna Beach

teenagers have already risen to the rank of police chief and mayor.

Robert “Bo” Harman was the top cop in his city this summer, and

Michelle Darnall had her chance to run her town.

“It was definitely one of the biggest things that I’ll never

forget,” Bo said.

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman and Police Chief James Spreine don’t need to

look for new jobs. The teenagers’ brief careers in public service

were played out at Boys’ State and Girls’ State, annual events

organized by the American Legion that give youths a chance to

participate in a simulation of California government.

Bo and Michelle were honored by the Laguna Beach chapter at a

dinner on Sept. 16 for their attendance at the events. Teenagers from

surrounding communities who attended the programs were also invited.

Boys’ State was held in June at Cal State Sacramento and Girls’

State convened in July at Pitzer College in Claremont. At both

programs, teenagers created a mini-California and filled the roles of

city, county and state officials.

Bo and Michelle were chosen out of a handful of students at Laguna

Beach High School who were nominated to attend the convention by

school officials, Legionnaire Dave Connell said. Teenagers are

traditionally chosen for their academic prowess and interest in

politics.

“If [a student’s] main achievement was being the quarterback and

one’s main achievement was being the head of the Young Democrats or

Young Republicans, that would sway us,” Connell said.

Bo’s interest in politics stems from a natural curiosity of what

happens in his community.

“I just don’t like decisions to be made without my knowing what’s

going on,” he said.

Michelle spent her time at the convention in the city of “Harte,”

where she won a campaign to run for the Harte City Council and then

secured her position as mayor with the approval of the other council

members.

“I’ve always been pretty competitive, wanting to be heard,” she

said.

Like any other mayor, Michelle presided over City Council meetings

where officials drafted and voted on new ordinances. Unlike most

mayors, Michelle oversaw the approval of intentionally ridiculous

regulations, like one that required girls of her city to start

singing if they saw a member of the opposite sex, a rare sight at

Girls’ State.

“We’d all get on our knees and start singing to them, no matter

how old or young,” Michelle said.

As police chief for the city of “Huntington,” Bo’s duty was to

enforce his town’s ordinances, though his city’s officials kept to

the basics and declined to pass humorous ordinances, he said.

The programs have their roots in the 1930s when members of the

American Legion sought to counter fascist movements that young

Americans’ democratic ideals were a thing of the past, said Richard

Moore, commander of the local American Legion branch.

A share of the conventions’ alumni have grown to become successful

politicians. Former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Dick

Cheney are both Boys’ State alumni. Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards

went to Girls’ State.